FY 18 Innovative Prosecution Project

The purpose of the Innovative Prosecution Solutions Program is to provide state, local, and tribal prosecutors with information, resources, and training and technical assistance (TTA) to develop effective strategies and programs to address violent crime and prosecute individuals responsible for homicides caused by illegal opioids. Prosecutors are leaders within the criminal justice system who possess an enormous responsibility within the criminal justice system. Accordingly, they are well positioned to bring the police, the community, and local agencies together to combat violent crime in their jurisdictions.

The Innovative Prosecution Solutions Program encourages prosecutors to use data in the development of their violent crime strategies and programs. As such, it builds upon analysis-driven, promising practices and evidence-based prosecution by encouraging state, local, and tribal prosecutorial agencies to develop effective, economical, and innovative responses to crime within their jurisdictions. Applicants will identify a problem to be addressed and may enlist a research partner to help evaluate the effectiveness of their Innovative Prosecution Solutions.

The Marion County Prosecutor’s Office (MCPO) will use awarded grant funds to aggressively prosecute all gun and opioid crimes, with a priority on those also tied to NIBIN cases. Specifically, the NIBIN prosecutor will receive, analyze, and record approximately 400 NIBIN links generated by the crime lab and alert stakeholders when a pending prosecution involves a NIBIN-linked crime gun during the 24-month grant period. Over the 24-month grant period, the NIBIN prosecutor will aggressively prosecute 100 cases (60 pending and 40 resolved cases) involving crime guns, with an emphasis on seeking aggravated sentences for armed opioid dealers. Due to the prosecution of NIBIN-linked cases, the number of unsolved fatal shootings will be reduced by 10% over the course of the grant period. MCPO leadership will meet quarterly with the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Indiana regarding joint investigations, particularly those involving NIBIN and opioid cases.

CA/NCF