FY 2022 National Training and Technical Assistance: Capital Case Litigation Initiative for Prosecutors

Nationwide, the prosecutorial profession as a whole is experiencing a decline in overall institutional knowledge. More prosecutors are retiring or leaving the profession at a higher rate and earlier in their careers than traditionally done. Newer prosecutors are being ushered in to take their place by necessity, but without the same level of foundational knowledge needed to effectively prosecute capital-eligible cases. The purpose of this proposed supplemental award is to provide superior training and technical assistance to prosecutors across the country in the area of capital and complex homicide prosecution, specifically homing in on the needs of more inexperienced capital litigators as well as the increased needs of the field generally. Furthermore, this supplement will also provide the field with increased in-person training on complex homicide and capital litigation.

Therefore, the objectives of this award amount to the following: 1) to further identify and bridge experience and disparities gaps through robust in-person trainings and technical assistance for prosecutors nationwide; 2) to improve the overall knowledge and competencies of prosecutors, particularly focusing on newer and/or more inexperienced prosecuting attorneys, handling capital-eligible and complex homicide cases; and 3) to generally meet the increased needs of the field. To accomplish this, APA and its existing project partners and SMEs propose multiple additional deliverables. These include: expansion of the training curriculum to accommodate additional in person trainings as well as trainings targeted towards inexperienced prosecutors; hosting one (1) in-person Trial Advocacy course per year for the duration of the grant; at least one (1) additional peer-to-peer site visit exchanges between prosecutors’ offices so they may exchange knowledge and model practices; additional Murder 101 webinar trainings as needed; and maintenance and expansion of other existing deliverables, such as the resource website and the listserv, as needed. APA will work closely with its existing project subcontractors, the Research Triangle Institute and the Arizona Crime Victim Rights Law Group, as well as its Capital Litigation Committee of practicing capital and homicide prosecutors, to inform the direction of programming and to measure knowledge gain.

To accomplish these goals, APA requests supplemental funding in the amount of $350,000 over the reminder of the grant (i.e. until September 30, 2026).

Capital prosecution is facing a resource deficit in the face of increasingly complex cases. Despite preliminary data indicating a nationwide decrease in violent crime such as homicides, there is a dearth of trainings, materials, and technical assistance available to prosecutors of capital and complex homicide cases. Not only are there fewer prosecutors with the requisite experience, but newer prosecutors are not receiving sufficient training and technical assistance (TTA) to elevate their skillset to meet the demands of these cases. Caseload volumes, combined with backlog and staffing shortages, lead to slower case resolution times and delayed justice. The purpose of this proposed supplemental award is to provide superior training and technical assistance to prosecutors across the country in capital and complex homicide prosecution, homing in on the needs of capital litigators with a demonstrated need, such as newer prosecutors or those who live in rural areas. This award will also focus on the increased needs of the field generally. 

The objectives of the award are as follows: 1) development and implementation of additional in-person training opportunities for capital and complex homicide prosecutors, particularly focusing on experience and resource gaps; 2) improve access to training and technical assistance for prosecutors of complex homicide through scholarships and an augmented virtual curriculum; and 3) generally meet the increased needs of the field. This includes expanding trial advocacy training to up to two more per year for the remainder of the grant; an additional regional or national training a year; expanding peer-to-peer offerings for prosecutors; providing scholarship opportunities for prosecutors who demonstrate financial need, particularly focusing on prosecutors with less experience or prosecutors in rural jurisdictions; expanding virtual offerings to prosecutors to make them more accessible if they cannot attend in person trainings; and maintaining and expanding existing deliverables such as the webpage and email listservs. APA will work closely with its existing project partners, the Research Triangle Institute and the Arizona Crime Victim Rights Law Group, as well as its Capital Litigation Committee of practicing capital and homicide prosecutors, to inform the direction of programming and to measure knowledge gain. 

To accomplish these goals, APA requests supplemental funding in the amount of $750,000 to augment existing funds and extend the project by 12 months, through September 30, 2027.