Discretion- the freedom to decide what happens in a particular decision.

ex.) Police officers have discretion when it comes to ticketing someone for speeding. They can either let the person off with a warning or give them a ticket.

Other professionals use their discretionary powers too:

  • Legislators have the power to decide what is or is not illegal

  • Judges use their discretionary power to make decisions on plea bargains, rules of evidence, and decisions about sentencing.

  • Prosecutors decide which cases to take to grand jury, what charges to pursue, and decide whether or not to pursue the death penalty in a case.