×
Leniency Policies in the Prosecution of Economic Crimes and Corruption
Consensual Justice and Search for Truth in Brazilian and German Law
von Francisco Schertel MendesBased on empirical research, the book develops a critical analysis of the use of leniency policies in Brazil. Drawing on a comparative perspective with German Law, the book shows how the current practice of leniency policies in Brazil jeopardizes fundamental guarantees of criminal procedure. The book also draws on a growing body of economic literature to assert that leniency agreements have serious – albeit unnoticed – side effects and may lead to significant negative externalities. The book rejects the association of leniency policies with the ideal of “consensual justice” and affirms that these mechanisms represent a form of privatization of investigative and prosecutorial activities, exploring the expectations and risks of this process.