As the gatekeepers of the criminal justice system (CJS), prosecutors shape their jurisdictions’ responses to violent crime. Law enforcement is often guided by prosecutorial priorities and charging decisions, while criminal courts are empowered to act only on matters brought before them by prosecutors acting within the course of their considerable discretion. The public looks to prosecutors to achieve justice and to keep communities safe. In support of their missions, forward-thinking prosecutors are eager to implement innovative tools and strategies that have arisen from advancements in technology as well as forensic and social sciences. These strategies are often time- and resource-intensive, however, which may impede access to the benefits of innovation.
AEquitas and its partners, RTI International, the Prosecutors’ Center for Excellence, and B. McGarry and Associates, are requesting $640,000 in federal funding to continue implementing a project that will enhance community safety by (1) identifying and sustaining innovative, data-driven practices, (2) providing prompt, practical, site-specific, micro- and macro-technical assistance, and (3) ensuring multidisciplinary partners and systems work collaboratively.
The project will provide ongoing TTA and subject matter expertise by: (1) assessing grantees’ needs and readiness for project implementation through virtual assessments and the development of site reports and customized TTA plans; (2) meeting with BJA and the sites on a regular basis to facilitate TTA and ensure compliance with each site’s Time and Task Plan; (3) offering assistance to develop information-sharing plans; (4) maintaining an existing expert database while recruiting new subject matter experts to augment TTA delivery; (5) hosting workshops and educational sessions, including eight web-based educational sessions; (6) maintaining and distributing resources via AE’s Innovative Prosecution Solutions (IPS) website; (7) establishing a production plan to publish resources that will be adaptable to the site-specific needs of IPS grantees and non-grantees alike, including six new tools/templates as well as updating the Prosecutors’ Guide to Reducing Violent Crime and Building Safer Communities ; and (8) showcase the successes and lessons learned in site-specific project summaries, as well as vignettes exploring strategies related to a number of innovative practices. AEquitas will also release a newsletter every other month featuring one or more IPS grantees’ quantitative and qualitative findings, summaries of tools or strategies developed, and anecdotes illustrating the impact of the sites’ IPS project(s). AEquitas will also routinely evaluate its provision of TTA, as well as collect and share performance metrics data.
