FY 19 Innovative Prosecution Program

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 and prosecute individuals who commit violent crime. 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 County of Cobb proposes to hire research partners to review 284 adult sexual assault cases. They will examine the role that evidentiary and case complexity factors, victim-offender characteristics, victim cooperation, and related-factor data (such as prevalence of domestic violence) played in case processing and case outcomes. The county's District Attorney's Office will use the findings to inform future practices and policies. CA/NCF