discussion question from the list below for your initial response. Be sure to identify which one you are answering by copying/pasting that question into your post. When replying to classmates, try to reply to those who chose a different question than you answered.

• Q1: Before a case comes to trial, the prosecutor may decide to accept a plea bargain, divert the suspect to a public or private social service agency, ask the suspect to seek counseling, or dismiss the case entirely for lack of evidence or for a variety of other reasons.

Do you agree with prosecutors having this wide range of discretion? Why or why not?

• Q2: The Eighth Amendment does not guarantee the right to bail, and the Supreme Court has upheld the use of pretrial detention in cases where public safety could be a concern, stating that defendants do not have an absolute right to bail.

Do you agree with this? Why or why not?

• Q3: A significant issue facing pretrial decision makers is how to ensure that all defendantsrich and poor, black and white, male and femaleare afforded the same degree of protection from unfair processing by the criminal justice system. How do you think this might be achieved?

• Q4: Do you think the present jury system is outdated? Why? How might a professional jury system be more effective than the present system of peer jurors?