Research has shown that both legal and extra-legal factors are used by the prosecutor in a sexual assault case when making the decision to file charges in the case. However, no study on sexual assault prosecutorial discretion, at this time, has examined the effect of prior consensual sex between the victim and the offender and the affect that it has on the prosecutor’s decision to file charges. Using data from a National Institute of Justice Study on sexual assault case processing, this study tests whether evidence of prior consensual sex between the victim and the offender plays a role in the prosecutor’s decision to file charges in sexual assault cases. This study also examines the effect of the interaction between extra-legal factors and prior consensual sex between the victim and the offender.

Submitted by Arthur Sodré Prado (arthurprado@gmail.com) on 2017-04-28T01:23:21Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertação.pdf: 1534989 bytes, checksum: 1b6a97b7575ab02982a348774ca888e9 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Vera Lúcia Mourão (vera.mourao@fgv.br) on 2017-04-28T18:18:01Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertação.pdf: 1534989 bytes, checksum: 1b6a97b7575ab02982a348774ca888e9 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-05-02T12:17:13Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertação.pdf: 1534989 bytes, checksum: 1b6a97b7575ab02982a348774ca888e9 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-04-05 / This work examines the Prosecutorial discretion in corruption cases through a case study. Using a qualitative approach, I have observed a group of criminal procedures since their common beginning until the Judge’s appraisal of several indictments of São Paulo’s city hall public agents, their family members and colleagues accused for public extortion, conspiracy and money laundering (called by me as 'The ISS agents case'). The idea was to understand how the Public Prosecutors, in the Brazilian practice, chooses the investigation targets and selects individuals to be considered liable for corruption events. I observed the results under three main theoretical models frequently used to explain the Prosecutorial discretion: The mandatory model, the opportunity model and a model in their middle, the legally bounded opportunity model. I also have adopted a cross-cut view to see how the differences between public extortion and bribery are considered in both criminal and criminal procedure angles. The conclusion was that the ISS agents case shows a trend to enlarge the prosecutorial discretion with no clear indicia of how to control their choices. The prosecutors work in an institutional multiplicity environment; they choose corruption crimes to investigate 'following the money'. The need of evidences of the quid pro quos and about new facts, however, stimulates the Prosecutors to settle with suspects. In the ISS agents case, the use of an unclear distinction between bribery and public extortion reveals a way to bypass the Brazilian criminal plea agreement statutes by the exchange of immunity to the companies for evidences of bribe payments and data about new facts. This trend is not necessarily sign of an evolution. Brazil is dealing with a dilemma: Massive corruption scandals are being revealed, but the civil rights can be affected and seriously harmed by the guidance of the criminal procedure just for the increase of the social control without considering the respect for the due process clauses and the right for a fair trial. / Por meio de um estudo de caso, este trabalho investiga como, na prática, o Ministério Público seleciona quem serão os investigados e denunciados por crimes contra a Administração Pública. A amostra selecionada para um estudo qualitativo foi o que chamei de 'caso dos fiscais do ISS'. Adotei como estratégia de pesquisa o exame documental e a realização de entrevistas semiestruturadas. As unidades de análise foram um procedimento interno de investigação, denúncias e decisões que as apreciaram, relativas a acusações de pertinência a organização criminosa, concussão e lavagem de dinheiro, imputadas a um grupo de funcionários públicos do Município de São Paulo, seus colegas e familiares. Os resultados foram observados sob o ponto de vista das diferentes concepções sobre o funcionamento do sistema de justiça criminal, no que toca à liberdade do Ministério Público para decidir quem será denunciado em determinado caso. Foram considerados os modelos teóricos da obrigatoriedade da ação penal, da oportunidade pura e da oportunidade regrada (ou obrigatoriedade mitigada). Também adotei uma abordagem transversal entre o direito penal material e adjetivo, para investigar como exigências processuais, relacionadas à estratégia de coleta de provas, podem influenciar os critérios diferenciadores de crimes contra a Administração Pública. Foi possível observar uma tendência de aumento nas margens de discrição dos Promotores em casos de corrupção, sem que se possa notar claros indícios de um controle das seleções ministeriais. O Ministério Público atua em um ambiente de multiplicidade institucional; a instituição prioriza os casos de corrupção investigar seguindo o caminho do dinheiro, no âmbito de procedimentos internos. A necessidade de obter provas de que a incompatibilidade patrimonial de funcionários públicos decorria do recebimento de propinas, entretanto, estimulou os Promotores a celebrar acordos com envolvidos. O caso dos fiscais do ISS indica que a falta de clareza na distinção entre corrupção e concussão pode ser um meio para celebrar acordos informais em que a imunidade criminal é concedida mediante a confissão dos fatos, a entrega de provas e a regularização tributária. Essa tendência não necessariamente indica uma evolução, mas expõe um dilema atual: Diversos escândalos envolvendo corrupção estão sendo revelados, mas os direitos fundamentais podem ser letras mortas se o Processo Penal estiver unicamente orientado para o aumento o controle social, sem considerar as garantias e formalidades inerentes ao exercício do direito de defesa.

The principle of complementarity is a tool used to punish the commission of core international crimes. A concerted approach is required to combat war crimes, genocide, crimes against humanity and aggression. The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court needs to fully appreciate the express and implied discretionary powers of states to ensure all possible accountability mechanisms are explored. Failure by the Prosecutor to do so results in missed opportunities to capitalise on various options related to the proper application of complementarity. Therefore, there is a need for consultations to establish that the International Criminal Court and prosecutions can no longer exist without competing alternatives preferred by states. The current misunderstandings on the application of complementarity are rooted in unresolved state and prosecutorial discretions. The endangering of state discretion threatens the integrity and credibility of the International Criminal Court. The unaddressed question of state discretion is also at the centre of disputes between the African Union and the International Criminal Court. Grey areas in the application of complementarity are clearly visible through the inconsistency and diversity of the International Criminal Court decisions and frequent prosecutorial policy proclamations. As a result, prosecutorial discretion needs to be checked. Prosecutorial discretion is checked at the United Nations, International Criminal Court and state levels. The checks at regional level and by non-prosecutorial options need to be explored. The call is for the International Criminal Court not to neglect the legal-political environment which the Court operates in. The environment is essential in demarcating the exercise of discretions. The Kenyatta case is illustrative of the need to invent an interpretation that reflects the evolving theory to practice reality. The development or amendment of a prosecutorial policy is desirable to give guidance on the value, circumstances and priority accorded to justice. The policy should be comprehensive enough to accommodate mechanisms which advocate for strengthened state discretion. For instance, African Union instruments and treaties reveal that the respect of state discretion is one of the core principles of the African Union system. / Public, Constitutional, and International Law / LL.D.

International crimes prosecutions have become more common since 1993, both domestically and at international courts and tribunals. The advance of this norm confronts realist state interests causing debate about the norm's status. Kathryn Sikkink views a norm as cascading when enough states adopt it to cause international influence, without domestic pressure, to procure levels of conformity. This thesis considers the degree of conformity by observing the level of case selection independence to determine whether this norm is cascading. By identifying the jurisdictional and functional elements of case selection independence, I develop a framework for observing the interface between politics and law. While Sikkink errs towards the quantity of international crimes prosecutions, I focus on the quality. This project examines case selection independence at the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda, the Special Court for Sierra Leone and the International Criminal Court, in Uganda. The project considers whether case selection has become more or less independent at these courts - whether the norm of international crimes prosecution has cascaded or contracted. In observing the various case selection independence elements I attempt to explain the observed cascades and contractions at each court. I then consider whether a cascade or contraction occurred during the period of the courts' collective design and function. The research qualitatively observes a cumulative justice contraction. The research observes a combination of factors affecting case selection independence, including shifts in power dynamics between and among weak and powerful states, increasing state sophistication in international court engagement, a shift in jurisdiction triggering actors and forums, and realist state co-option of norm entrepreneurs via endearing explanation of independence-diminishing policies.