Did you Know?

An essential part of a prosecutor’s work is uncovering actual innocence through conviction review. PCE has developed a roadmap for offices of any size seeking to implement or enhance a Conviction Review Unit or a conviction review process. 

Ramsey County (MN) Attorney John Choi and Lucy Lang, former Director of the Institute for Innovation (IIP) in Prosecution, discuss an officer-involved fatalities toolkit spearheaded by IIP. 

Watch here. (26 minutes)

The Delaware Attorney General’s Office has a dedicated Community Engagement Unit that strives to create a safer community through consistent collaboration with the community and many outreach programs from resource fairs to reentry support. A member of the unit was formerly incarcerated and has provided invaluable assistance with community engagement.

Dan Clark, Chief of the Criminal Division in the King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (WA), shares strategies for prosecutors on how to facilitate discussions about race, social justice and equity. 

Prosecutor offices across the country are enlisting the help of trained courthouse facility dogs to provide comfort and support to vulnerable witnesses and victims throughout various stages of the criminal justice process. These dogs undergo at least a two-year training period and are specifically bred to detect a person’s stress level.

Robert M. Morgenthau was the District Attorney of New York County (Manhattan) from 1975 to 2010.  He was legendary for his intelligence, integrity and courage.  He was ahead of his time and led the way for today’s modern prosecutors. 

In honor of what would have been his 101 birthday today, learn about his early innovations here (1 minute).

Domestic violence is a social, economic, and public health concern that impacts men, women and children and can perpetuate negative effects across generations. To better address this serious issue, this guide provides strategies to prosecutors that increase victim safety and offender accountability and includes information on multi-agency collaborations and co-located service models such as family justice centers. Read

The King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office in Seattle, Washington has provided civil protection to victims of domestic violence for over thirty years through its Protection Order Advocacy Program. They now leverage a tool called Legal Atoms, a software platform in which protection order specialists can work alongside victims remotely to complete the steps necessary to file for a civil protection order. See PowerPoint. The office also created Project Safety, a partnership with civil Legal Aid to provide legal navigators to DV victims to assist them with needed civil services. 

Social isolation isn’t stopping the Nassau DA’s office from connecting to their community. See how they’re virtually reaching out more than ever.

Issued on June 19, 2020: The killing of George Floyd by police is a tragic and disturbing event that is a call to action for those in the criminal justice system. The protests and outrage are in almost every corner of our nation and worldwide. The injustice and inequality in our society is well known and cannot be ignored. It is clear that we must do better.