You are a peace officer trainee assigned to your first post of duty. Your supervisor calls you into his office and tells you that he needs you to prepare content for a presentation at a local university for students in a criminal justice program. He explains that the public information officer (PIO), the individual previously assigned to give this presentation, is testifying in court and cannot leave. He further informs you that you will need to put the content together from scratch as he has never done this before.

The content is to be an overview of the criminal justice system and a description of these roles:

police officer or federal agent
district attorney's office or the United States Attorney's Office
defense counsel
federal, state, and local judges/magistrates
Discuss the stages (investigative, prosecutorial) at which each of the above interacts with a criminal defendant. Specify the roles of each and explain the process by which a suspect becomes a criminal defendant. Consider the following questions for your information:

When do you think the prosecutor's office should become involved in a case (pre-arrest or post-arrest)?
Do you think involvement by a prosecutor in the original stages of an investigation is a good idea?
Can a defense attorney ever become involved in a case prior to indictment or arrest?
When does a judge or magistrate's function begin? In addition, briefly discuss the sources of criminal law.
How does constitutional law affect the development of the criminal code?
What are common law crimes as opposed to actions criminalized by statute?

It looks as if what you need to do is learn how to conduct thorough and effective searches for yourself. That's what research is. You are searching for information that is so specific that you have to be prepared for the possibility that none of it may be online. Or some may be, and some may not. In addition to searching on the Internet, you also need to make best friends with the reference librarian(s) in your local or college library.

http://www.sou.edu/library/searchtools/
At this webpage, you can go immediately to the search sites (first three columns across the top) -- or even better you can scroll down until you see the section called HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET. Those are the links to start with. You'll not only learn how to come up with good search terms, but also how to evaluate the webpages you get as results. Some will be good and others will be garbage. You need to know how to tell the difference.

My favorite way to search is to go to Google's advanced search page < http://www.google.com/advanced_search?hl=en > and put my search words or phrases into the first or second search box (either "all the words" or "exact phrase"). However, there many other strategies for searching you can use, and the HOW TO SEARCH THE INTERNET section will help you best.

Please re-post when you believe you have answered your questions; someone here will then be able to critique your work.

=)

Do you think involvement by a prosecutor in the original stages of an investigation is a good idea?

To prepare content for the presentation on the criminal justice system and the roles of various individuals, such as police officers, prosecutors, defense attorneys, and judges, you can start by conducting thorough research. Here is a suggested approach:

1. Start by searching the Internet using search engines like Google. Use specific keywords related to each role and the criminal justice system in general. For example, for the role of a police officer, search for "police officer responsibilities in the criminal justice system."

2. Take advantage of reputable websites and sources such as government websites, academic institutions, legal databases, and professional associations. These sources often provide reliable and accurate information.

3. Consult reference librarians at your local or college library. They are experienced in conducting research and can guide you towards relevant books, articles, and other resources.

4. Use advanced search techniques, such as narrowing down your search results by using quotation marks for exact phrases or using search filters (e.g., searching only within certain dates or specific domains).

5. Evaluate the credibility and reliability of the sources you find. Consider factors such as the author's expertise, publication date, and whether the information is supported by reputable sources or references.

6. For specific questions, look for scholarly articles or case studies that discuss the particular topics or issues you need to address.

Regarding the specific questions you provided:

- When should the prosecutor's office become involved in a case (pre-arrest or post-arrest)?
To answer this question, you can search for the role of prosecutors in the criminal justice system and learn about their involvement at different stages, such as pre-arrest, post-arrest, and during the trial process.

- Is involvement by a prosecutor in the original stages of an investigation a good idea?
Look for articles or expert opinions discussing the advantages and potential drawbacks of prosecutor involvement in the original stages of an investigation. Consider both sides of the argument to provide a comprehensive answer.

- Can a defense attorney become involved in a case prior to indictment or arrest?
Research the role of defense attorneys and their involvement in criminal cases. Look for information on when defense attorneys typically become involved in the legal process and any exceptions or situations where they may get involved prior to indictment or arrest.

- When does a judge's or magistrate's function begin? Also, briefly discuss the sources of criminal law.
To answer this question, search for the roles and responsibilities of judges or magistrates in the criminal justice system. Additionally, look for information on the sources of criminal law, including constitutional law, statutory law, and common law.

- How does constitutional law affect the development of the criminal code?
Research the relationship between constitutional law and the development of the criminal code. Look for articles or legal opinions that discuss how constitutional principles impact the creation, interpretation, and enforcement of criminal laws.

- What are common law crimes as opposed to actions criminalized by statute?
Explore the concept of common law crimes and compare them to crimes created by statute. Investigate the history of common law crimes and how they are distinguished from offenses that are specifically defined and prohibited by statutes.

Remember to critically evaluate the information you find and ensure that it aligns with reputable sources and legal principles.