Tools for End of Year Reflections
Missoula County Attorney (MT) Kirsten Pabst shares a questionnaire with prosecutors to aid in end-of-the-year reflection.
SAO Collaborates on Successful Low Level Diversion Program (2022)
Office of the State’s Attorney for Howard County (Ellicott City, MD)
Population: 330,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 45 | Contact Information
The Office of the State’s Attorney for Howard County Maryland (OSAHC) has partnered with local law enforcement, the Public Defender’s Office and County and State authorities to develop a post arrest, pre-charging Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program (LEAD) that addresses a variety of criminogenic needs in an effort to reduce convictions for low level offenders.
Award Winning Domestic Violence Response Team is Improving Outcomes (2022)
Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, 20th Judicial District (Boulder, CO)
Population: 330,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 40 | Contact Information
The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office (BCDA) has an Acute Response Team for Domestic Violence Incidents (DV ART) that employs a lethality assessment for every case within 24 hours. Cases with high risks for lethality are flagged for personal contact with 48 hours of an event in order to build trust with victims, provide immediate resources and gather important historical information and evidence.
Specialized Team Focuses on Enforcing Red Flag Laws to Prevent Violence (2022)
San Diego Office of the City Attorney (San Diego, CA)
Population: 1,380,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 183 | Contact Information
The San Diego City Attorney’s Office (SDCA) is using California’s Red Flag Laws to prevent gun violence, before it happens, using a state law that allows law enforcement to seize weapons from individuals who have been proved a danger to themselves or others. Since 2018, SDCA has partnered with law enforcement to file and enforce over 1.000 gun violence restraining orders (GVRO).
Recruiting the Gen Z Prosecutor
Authors: Kristine Hamann, PCE and AE.
Read about effective methods for recruiting Gen Z prosecutors based on those in the field.
SAO Uses Statewide Sentence Data to Make Plea Offers More Equitable (2022)
Office of the Florida State Attorney, 8th Judicial District (Gainesville, FL)
Population: 415,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 45 | Contact Information
The Office of the Florida State’s Attorney for the 8th Judicial Circuit (SAO8th) has partnered with Technologies for Justice to harness sentencing data from the Florida Department of Corrections in order to provide prosecutors with information about average sentences imposed for similarly situated offenders. Access to this data is given to prosecutors prior to making a plea offer, reducing unsubstantiated deviations. By using a neutral starting point and sharing it with defense counsel, it is hoped that disparities based on unexamined or intentional bias will be reduced in favor of more equitable plea bargains.
DA Uses Live Chat Feature to Help ID Theft Victims (2022)
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (San Diego, CA)
Population: 3,343,360 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 330 | Contact Information
The San Diego County District Attorney (SDCDA) has partnered with the Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) to provide a webpage and live chat link feature that gives victims immediate access to ITRC’s experts in preventing and recovering from identity theft. This tool allows the office to refer victims to necessary resources, even when a case cannot be prosecuted.
DA Develops Cultural Awareness Application for Law Enforcement (2022)
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (San Diego, CA)
Population: 3,298,634 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 330 | Contact Information
The San Diego County District Attorney (SDCDA) has developed a web based application that can be used from any computer or mobile device to access cultural information about various communities in San Diego County. The Cultural Awareness Project originated with input from SDCDA’s Faith Leader’s Advisory Board and multiple focus groups with representative members of each community, the application provides valuable information about common beliefs, traditions, and historical perspective on law enforcement interactions.
DA CARE Center Serves as a Resource Hub for Supportive Services (2022)
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (San Diego, CA)
Population: 3,343,340 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 330 | Contact Information
After evaluating calls for service, crime data, and multiple community focus groups, the San Diego County District Attorney (SDCDA) launched a Community Action and Resource Center located in the heart of its highest need neighborhood. The District Attorney’s CARE center partners with community based organization to direct people to appropriate resources using motivational interviewing and an evidence based assessment tool developed in conjunction with a local university.
Innovations in Internships (2022)
Clark County District Attorney’s Office (Las Vegas, NV)
Population: 2,292,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 177 | Contact Information
The Clark County District Attorney’s Office (CCDA) has enhanced recruiting using a variety of tools to expose local students to prosecution work and engage interns in meaningful mentorships with experienced attorneys. To do this, CCDA has a designated attorney that recruits new lawyers to the office. CCDA has a special recruiting email address, which is monitored by the recruiting attorney who personally responds to messages. The recruiting attorney and other experienced prosecutors visit local schools, coach and judge mock trial teams, and work as adjuncts in local law schools in order to connect students to the work, who may not otherwise have exposure to prosecution work.