This brief summarizes findings from a national survey of state prosecutors’ offices and offers insights for prosecutors, policymakers, and other stakeholders on how prosecutors collect and use data to manage their offices, understand trends, and evaluate their success.
— Read on www.urban.org/research/publication/collecting-and-using-data-prosecutorial-decisionmaking
Tag: Prosecutor
THE PARADOX OF “PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTION”
When Freddie Gray woke up on April 12, 2015, he surely did not know that he would soon enter a coma only to die a week later. That morning, he walked to breakfast in his old West Baltimore neighbor- hood with two of his best friends. The restaurant they wanted to visit was closed, however, so they left. At some point on the way home, they encountered police officers on bicycles.
harvardlawreview.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/748-770_Online.pdf
“Progressive” Prosecutors Sabotage the Rule of Law, Raise Crime Rates, and Ignore Victims | The Heritage Foundation
Introduction
The American prosecutor occupies a unique role among lawyers. The prosecutor has a higher duty than other attorneys. His duty is to seek justice, not simply to obtain convictions.
— Read on www.heritage.org/crime-and-justice/report/progressive-prosecutors-sabotage-the-rule-law-raise-crime-rates-and-ignore
Also look fo the link on the webpage to download the full report.
Police solve just 2% of all major crimes
When police arrest a suspect who is then convicted of the crime, it is a rare exception rather than the rule in the US.
— Read on theconversation.com/police-solve-just-2-of-all-major-crimes-143878
Commentary: How can the Criminal Justice System be this massive trap of Mass Incarceration when only 2% of the crimes that carry the longest prison sentence end in conviction. I’m not sure how plea deals are calculated seeing that 90% of all court cases end in a plea deal. Some of the thoughts here are that criminals are prolific and they eventually get caught, so the arrest of one criminal may stop 20-30 future crimes. Some criminals commit very few crimes and stop either forever or for long periods of time.
NOTABLE: Publications from the links in the article
How Effective Are Police? The Problem of Clearance Rates and Criminal Accountability
https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=3566383
Most violent and property crimes in the U.S. go unsolved
https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/03/01/most-violent-and-property-crimes-in-the-u-s-go-unsolved/
Alternatives to Arrest for Young People
https://www.nlc.org/resource/alternatives-to-arrest-for-young-people/
Promoting justice through leadership and innovation – Fair and Just Prosecution
Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) brings together newly-elected local prosecutors as part of a network of leaders committed to promoting a justice system grounded in fairness, equity, compassion, and fiscal responsibility.
— Read on fairandjustprosecution.org/
Implementation Guide for Prosecutorial Performance Indicators
Changes in prosecution are essential to criminal justice reform, but prosecutors have rarely had the data they need to define success beyond conviction rates. To address this problem, criminologists from Florida International University and Loyola University Chicago partnered with prosecutor’s offices from Chicago, Milwaukee, Jacksonville, and Tampa to develop a menu of 55 prosecutorial performance indicators (PPIs) and redefine success for prosecutors. This guide provides step-by-step instructions for choosing and implementing specific PPIs.
Incoming Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón Promises Criminal Justice Reform – KQED
Nearly 20 years ago George Gascon was the deputy chief of the Los Angeles Police Department. This month he was elected as the city’s new district attorney overcoming fierce opposition from law enforcement groups. Gascon, the former district attorney and police chief of San Francisco, campaigned on a platform of criminal justice reform, including a promise to stop prosecuting children as adults, not seeking the death penalty and possibly reopening investigations into fatal shootings by police officers. We’ll talk to Gascon about his ideas for reform and his close election, defeating LA’s first Black district attorney partly by galvanizing the support of Black Lives Matter activists.
— Read on www.kqed.org/forum/2010101880966/incoming-los-angeles-district-attorney-george-gascon-promises-criminal-justice-reform
Government Misconduct and Convicting the Innocent The Role of Prosecutors, Police and Other Law Enforcement
Jussie Smollett case: Special prosecutor finds ‘substantial abuses of discretion’ as he concludes investigation – Chicago Sun-Times
Special Prosecutor Dan Webb did not find evidence to support filing criminal charges against Cook County State’s Attorney Kim Foxx or any other prosecutor.
— Read on chicago.suntimes.com/2020/8/17/21372023/jussie-smollett-special-prosecutor-investigation-kim-foxx-dan-webb-criminal-charges
“To Prosecute” — Interviews about early decision-making
To Prosecute is a collection of approximately 20 interviews with senior prosecutors from around the U.S., each of whom have led their offices to rethink early decision-making and diversion practices.
— Read on www.lagratta.com/to-prosecute-book
Future of Policing 