Journal of Research and Development in Comparative Law

Journal of Research and Development in Comparative Law

Title: Managerial Interpretations of Prosecutorial Discretion; A Comparative Study of Iranian Law and Common Law System

Articles in Press

Document Type : scientific research paper

Authors
narges mohammadi 1
mohammad farajiha 2
mahmoud saber 2
1 Tarbiat Modares of tehran
2 Tarbiat Modaress
10.22034/law.2025.2076425.1725
Abstract
Research has shown that, in most contemporary legal systems, prosecutorial authorities enjoy broad discretion in deciding whether to initiate criminal proceedings. This discretion is exercised not only within the framework of formal rules but also through informal practices. Although such flexibility is ostensibly justified in the name of enhancing the efficiency of the criminal justice system, it is in practice shaped by a variety of extra-legal factors that may significantly alter the fundamental aims of criminal justice.Focusing on this reality, the present study examines the central question of how managerialism influences prosecutorial decision-making in the use of discretion regarding the initiation of criminal prosecution and the determination of charges. Methodologically, this research is qualitative in nature and employs a combined descriptive-analytical and comparative approach. Domestic data were collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 35 actors in the criminal justice system—including prosecutors, assistant prosecutors, administrative staff, and defense attorneys—as well as through content analysis of 20 selected case files. In the comparative component, using library research, the empirical findings were evaluated against the legal practices of common-law systems (the United States and the United Kingdom). The findings indicate that managerialist indicators have significantly permeated the structure and functioning of prosecutorial institutions. This influence has reshaped prosecutorial attitudes and practices, transforming the traditional role of the prosecutor as a administrator of justice into a managerial role oriented toward resource allocation, caseload control, and the pursuit of performance metrics. The comparative analysis reveals a functional convergence among the systems studied: in all contexts, prosecutorial discretion is used as a tool for managing case overload, though in Western systems this occurs through formal institutional mechanisms, while in Iran it manifests through informal practices. Prominent manifestations of this influence include the non-prosecution of minor offenses, a tendency toward de-criminalizing charges, reclassifying offenses from imprisonment-based crimes to those carrying financial or lesser penalties, and prioritizing efficiency over substantive justice. Accordingly, the results point to a fundamental shift in the philosophy of criminal prosecution—from a justice-oriented model to an efficiency-oriented one—which carries significant theoretical and practical implications for criminal policy, prosecutorial independence, and the protection of defendants’ rights.
Keywords
Keywords: Discretion
Managerialism
Non-prosecution
Decriminalization

Subjects

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Journal of Research and Development in Comparative Law

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 13 December 2025