FY2023 Innovative Prosecution Solutions Training and Technical Assistance

As the gatekeepers of the criminal justice system, prosecutors shape their jurisdictions’ responses to violent crime. Prosecutorial priorities and charging decisions often guide law enforcement, while criminal courts are empowered to act only on matters brought before them by prosecutors acting within their discretion. Prosecutors are critical leaders who achieve justice and keep communities safe. Critically, prosecutors advance work that promotes civil rights and racial equity, increases access to justice, supports crime victims and individuals impacted by the justice system, strengthens community safety, protects the public from crime and evolving threats, and builds trust between law enforcement and the community. Forward-thinking prosecutors are eager to implement innovative tools and strategies that have arisen from advancements in technology and forensic and social sciences. However, these strategies are often time- and resource-intensive, which impedes access to their benefits.

AEquitas (AE) and its partners, RTI International and B. McGarry & Associates, are requesting $731,250 in funding to implement a project that will enhance community safety by identifying and sustaining innovative, data-driven practices; providing prompt, practical, site-specific, technical assistance; and ensuring multidisciplinary partners and systems work collaboratively. AE will: (1) assist individual IPS grantee sites implement their projects; (2) recruit, maintain, and use a pool of subject matter experts to assist with TTA delivery and provide any needed expertise or guidance on a range of issues, including, but not limited to, caseload management, crime issues, crime and data analysis, technology, crime strategy units, intelligence, alternatives to incarceration, violence reduction, identification of available data sources, data analysis, facilitating partnerships with relevant stakeholders, technology implementation, performance metrics, and review of grantee deliverables; (3) in coordination with BJA, plan and conduct workshops and other educational sessions for existing IPS grantee sites during the 24-month project period; (4) provide online resources, materials, and assistance to IPS grantee sites, prosecutorial agencies, and the general public regarding IPS, lessons learned, and related issues; (5) preserve and maintain existing IPS materials and literature on the IPS website; (6) create and produce various documents and materials that highlight a wide range of IPS site accomplishments and results to be shared across the field; (7) update the prosecution violent crime reduction operations guide and develop training materials to accompany the guide. 

AE will also routinely evaluate its provision of TTA and collect and share performance metrics data.