Lawyers for the people : The South African prosecution service

The prosecution service is a crucial link in the South African criminal justice system. The best detective service and prisons system cannot function properly if those guilty of committing crimes are not prosecuted successfully. The role of the prosecution service is vital if the criminal justice system is to extricate itself from its present crisis. With the right policies, proper management and adequate resources the prosecution service can rapidly boost its performance, thereby removing a crucial bottleneck in the criminal justice process. Given its important role, this monograph looks at the operation of the prosecution service, explores its weaknesses and suggests solutions to the problems inhibiting its effective performance.