New PCE Report: Investigating Opioid Overdose Deaths

To combat the opioid crisis, prosecutors and their partners must adopt multi-disciplinary approaches that provide solutions on a case-by-case basis. This report provides guidance for prosecutors on investigative steps and decision making, various examples of how prosecutor offices of all sizes have addressed these complex issues, and a self-survey to evaluate an office’s capacity to handle opioid-related challenges.

Prosecutors are problem-solvers for their communities and Crime Strategies Units (CSUs) are a key pillar in this problem-solving approach. By working collaboratively with the community, the police and prosecutors, a CSU seeks to improve public safety by using data to understand crime trends, identify those who drive crime and find solutions to prevent crime.