On February 13, 2019, the Vera Institute of Justice hosted a webinar to provide an overview of the resources and objectives of the Serving Safely National Initiative to Enhance Policing for Persons with Mental Illnesses and Developmental Disabilities. PCE is a partner on the initiative and works alongside Vera to provide training and technical assistance to prosecutor’s offices on innovative programs addressing people with mental illness and intellectual disabilities. Recipients of the training and technical assistance include the Rockland County DA’s Office (NY), Los Angeles County DA’s Office, and the New York State Attorney General’s Office.
As the role of the modern prosecutor evolves, prevention tactics have become an increasingly prominent focus for prosecutors. As this shift from reactive to proactive emerges, prosecutors are faced with unlimited opportunities and challenges. Explore resources on programs and initiatives that can help prevent crime in your jurisdiction.
Author: PCE
Retail theft is one of the most common crimes that many jurisdictions face. See how offices across the country are utilizing unique collaborations to prevent these pervasive crimes.
On February 13, 2025, PCE hosted a webinar on Organized Retail Theft and the challenges and solutions associated.
Read MoreRamsey County Attorney’s Office, St. Paul MN Population: 550,210 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 101 | Contact Learn how Ramsey County greatly reduced low-level equipment traffic stops, and related racial… Read more
Union County Prosecutor’s Office (Elizabeth, NJ) Population: 600,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors:65 | Contact Information The Safe Place Initiative, a program that began in Seattle, is now making Union… Read more
Office of the District Attorney, 21st Judicial District (Mesa County, CO) Population: 150,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors:27 | Contact Information The Colorado 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, in partnership… Read more
On October 18, 2022, PCE hosted part one of a series on how crime analysts can improve prosecutions. On September 29, 2023, PCE hosted part two of the series. Read more
On September 15, 2023, PCE hosted a Pop-Up that discussed how prosecutors must take the lead in ensuring their offices have adequate cybersecurity and cyber emergency preparedness. Booklet and Materials Read more
Office of the District Attorney, Eighth Judicial District (Larimer & Jackson County, CO) Population: 225,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors:42 | Contact Information The Office of the District Attorney for… Read more
Boulder County District Attorney’s Office, 20th Judicial District (Boulder, CO) Population: 330,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 40 | Contact Information The Boulder County District Attorney’s Office (BCDA) has an… Read more
Office of the Florida State Attorney, 8th Judicial District (Gainesville, FL) Population: 415,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 45 | Contact Information The Office of the Florida State’s Attorney for… Read more
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (San Diego, CA) Population: 3,298,634 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 330 | Contact Information The San Diego County District Attorney (SDCDA) has developed a… Read more
Authors: PCE and Gaelin Bernstein Read about the various essential tasks that a crime analyst can perform in a prosecutor office. Read more
Mobile County District Attorney’s Office (Mobile, AL) Population: 414,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 28 | Contact Information The Mobile County District Attorney’s Office (MCDA) has developed a program to… Read more
Authors: Aequitas, RTI International, and PCE Read more
Authors: PCE and Aequitas Read more
Authors: PCE, DANY, Bronx District Attorney’s Office, and Aequitas Read more
Domestic violence is a social, economic, and public health concern that impacts men, women and children and can perpetuate negative effects across generations. To better address this serious issue, this… Read more
Office of the Licking County Prosecuting Attorney (Newark, OH) Population: 175,409 | Contact Information The Office of the Licking County Prosecuting Attorney (LCPA) is creating a Domestic Violence Unit (DVU)… Read more
St. Paul City Attorney’s Office (St. Paul, MN) Population: 305,877 | Contact Information The St. Paul City Attorney’s Office (SPCAO) created the “Gone on Arrival (GOA) Project” to address threat issues… Read more
Authors: PCE, NRTAC As the demand for forensic evidence has exploded, so has the pressure on crime laboratories to keep pace with an ever-growing workload. This paper, developed by PCE’s… Read more
The Problem: According to a 2019 article from the Department of Education, over seven million (or one in six students) missed 15 or more days of school in the 2015-2016… Read more
Author(s): Kristine Hamann, PCE and John Delaney Violent crime prosecutors do difficult and important work. In October 2017, fifteen seasoned violent-crime prosecutors spent a day and a half sharing their… Read more
An often difficult decision faced by prosecutors is whether to use evidence provided by a so-called jailhouse informant. Individuals, when incarcerated, may let their guard down with other inmates and… Read more
Sometimes, prosecutors have to look back in order to move forward. Conviction review has emerged in recent years as a priority in many offices and for good reason. Our resources explore approaches to conviction review and processes to ensure that justice was achieved.
Conviction review can take on many forms: A specialized unit, a formal process, review of systemic issues, or a proactive case review are all common in offices across the country. Learn more about these approaches and what might be the right fit for your office:
Author: PCE
On March 22, 2024 PCE hosted a webinar with For The People and Troy Dunmore about implementing prosecutor-initiated resentencing laws across the country. Speakers dive into how the process is… Read more
Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office (San Jose, CA) Population: 1,924,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 190 | Contact Information The Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office (SCDA) has developed a… Read more
Yolo County District Attorney’s Office (Woodland, CA) Population: 220,410 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 42 | Contact Information The Yolo County District Attorney’s Office (YCDA) has partnered with For the People, a non-profit… Read more
Davis County District Attorney’s Office (Farmington, UT) Population: 355,481 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 19 | Contact Information The Davis County District Attorney’s Office has engaged community volunteers to establish the Conviction… Read more
Victims and witnesses are key to almost any case. Preventing intimidation, affirming protection, and maintaining cooperation are all challenges that prosecutors may face. We look at tactics for effectively working with victims and witnesses in these resources.
Authors: Arc, NAMI, PCE
Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD) or mental illness are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, as victims, witnesses, suspects, and defendants. In an effort to inform prosecutors’ strategies when working with these individuals, PCE, in collaboration with the Arc and NAMI, has developed this guide.
The guide includes the following information:
Witness intimidation and witness tampering can occur in any case, from simple misdemeanors to homicides. It has a variety of consequences from the silencing of an entire community, to the murder of a witness, to the recantation of truthful testimony. Though witness intimidation is an insidious problem, there are strategies throughout the investigation and prosecution of a case that can help to keep a witness safe and reduce the impact of intimidation.
Authors: PCE
Union County Prosecutor’s Office (Elizabeth, NJ) Population: 600,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors:65 | Contact Information The Safe Place Initiative, a program that began in Seattle, is now making Union… Read more
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (San Diego, CA) Population: 3,343,360 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 330 | Contact Information The San Diego County District Attorney (SDCDA) has partnered with… Read more
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (San Diego, CA) Population: 3,298,634 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 330 | Contact Information The San Diego County District Attorney (SDCDA) has developed a… Read more
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (San Diego, CA) Population: 3,343,340 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 330 | Contact Information After evaluating calls for service, crime data, and multiple community… Read more
Mobile County District Attorney’s Office (Mobile, AL) Population: 414,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 28 | Contact Information The Mobile County District Attorney’s Office (MCDA) has developed a program to… Read more
Authors: PCE, New York County District Attorney’s Office, San Diego District Attorney’s Office, and Queens District Attorney’s Office -What does bias look like?-How can prosecutors reduce bias when working with their… Read more
Prosecutor offices across the country are enlisting the help of trained courthouse facility dogs to provide comfort and support to vulnerable witnesses and victims throughout various stages of the criminal… Read more
On February 13, 2019, the Vera Institute of Justice hosted a webinar to provide an overview of the resources and objectives of the Serving Safely National Initiative to Enhance Policing for Persons… Read more
The Pima County Attorney’s Office in Arizona has established a volunteer program for members of the community interested in assisting crime victims and people in crisis. The vetting and training… Read more
According to the National Center on Aging, approximately one in ten Americans over age 60 has experienced some form of elder abuse. Furthermore, financial exploitation of seniors costs between $2.9… Read more
PCE and John Delaney, First Assistant District Attorney from the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office (retired) presented during this webinar. Read more
The modern prosecutor is very different than the prosecutor of years’ past. Staffing, resources, and communities have all changed. How does a prosecutor keep up? Review our resources to find solutions for your office.
Authors: Elaine Borakove, Kristine Hamann, Antonia Merzon
Authors: PCE and KC Steckelberg (Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan)
Read about strategies for working with the press including, ethical rules and guidelines, developing a communications strategy and special considerations for various aspects of a case.
Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office (Miami-Dade County, FL) Population: 2,700,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors:350 | Contact Information With increasing tourism, increasing population, and increasing commerce came increasing employment opportunities for… Read more
Author: PCE’s National Best Practices Committee (NBP) This paper details the jobs and tasks that may not have existed in the prosecution office of the past. These positions might be added… Read more
Author: PCE’s National Best Practices Committee (NBP) The traditional role of the prosecutor is as a minister of justice who enforces the law and seeks justice. Modern prosecutors are viewing… Read more
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (San Diego, CA) Population: 3,298,634 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 330 | Contact Information The San Diego County District Attorney (SDCDA) has developed a… Read more
Clark County District Attorney’s Office (Las Vegas, NV) Population: 2,292,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 177 | Contact Information The Clark County District Attorney’s Office (CCDA) has enhanced recruiting using… Read more
Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office (Syracuse, NY) Population: 473,200 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 48 | Contact Information The Onondaga County District Attorney’s Office (OCDA) Chief Administrative Officer serves as… Read more
Summit County Prosecutor’s Office (Akron, OH) Population: 537,600 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 60 | Contact Information The Summit County Prosecutor’s Office (SCPO) has improved office culture using a variety… Read more
San Diego District Attorney’s Office (San Diego, CA) Population: 3,298,634 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 330 | Contact Information The San Diego County District Attorney (SDCDA) has developed a week-long… Read more
Yavapai County Attorney’s Office (Prescott, AZ) Population: 242,253 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 41 | Contact Information The Yavapai County Attorney’s Office (YCAO) has developed robust work from home policies… Read more
San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office (San Bernardino, CA) Population: 2,123,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 220 | Contact Information The San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office (SBDA) has developed… Read more
San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office Population: 2,180,000 Through a peer support program, the San Bernardino County District Attorney’s Office is helping their employees and employees’ family members deal with… Read more
On July 7, 2022 PCE hosted a second webinar on recruitment and retention for prosecutors. Read more
Office of the Platte County Prosecutor, Platte County MO Population: 102,848 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 13 The Platte County Prosecutor’s Office provides information connecting jurors with free mental health services… Read more
On May 12, 2022 PCE’s Pop-Up included conversations with senior prosecutors, new prosecutors and law school administrators on new interview ideas, building a supportive office culture and improving relationships with… Read more
Date and Time: Thursday May 6, 2021 from 2:00 PM (EST) – 4:00 PM (EST). Materials: Meeting booklet Read more
Author: PCE The role of the prosecutor has evolved dramatically over the last 40 years. PCE highlights a sampling of prosecutor innovations in this new report that dives into 221… Read more
Monroe County District Attorney’s Office (Rochester, NY) Population: 741,770 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 85 | Contact Information The Monroe County District Attorney’s Office is asking jurors to survey the grand jury process and… Read more
Summit County District Attorney’s Office (Akron, OH) Population: 541,013 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 63 | Contact Information As a new office strategy, grand jurors and trial jurors are asked to… Read more
Authors: PCE and Sarah Solano Geisler Innovative programs described in these state-level papers funded by the DOJ’s Office of Justice Programs are newly developed initiatives undertaken by an office in… Read more
Prosecutor wellness is an issue that is justly receiving increased attention and resources. Here is an award-winning wellness program from the Missoula County Attorney’s Office and some helpful materials from… Read more
Author(s): Kristine Hamann, Rebecca Rader Brown A prosecutor’s core mission is and has always been to promote justice and to protect the community by ensuring public safety. Over the past… Read more
Prosecutor-focused courses in law schools are an excellent way for prosecutors to expose law students to their work and to have students available to do research on prosecution issues. Statewide… Read more
June 30, 2016 — Volume 15 There has been great scrutiny of police-involved fatalities and how they are handled by prosecutors. Here are four thoughtful approaches by prosecutors on how they… Read more
Technology is constantly changing and prosecution must change with it. From actual evidence to the data that determines crime trends, keeping up with the latest in tech can be overwhelming. Our resources dive into the expansive field with a focus on emerging technology as it relates to evidence and how data can shape the work of a prosecutor.
Author: PCE
A new form of evidence can now be found at millions of households across the country. The video doorbell, a device providing a live stream from the front door directly to a person’s phone, has already been used as evidence in countless cases. See how it can be used, the challenges of using a device, and more in our guide for prosecutors:
Author: PCE
Advances in technology are quickly changing the longstanding practices of traditional courtrooms. With this evolution, prosecutors must weigh the opportunities these advancements create against the legal and ethical duties of criminal litigation, as well as the practical considerations about the quality and reliability of any emerging technology. From remote appearance technology to artificial intelligence to data analytics, we explore the role of technology in the modern courtroom in our recent publication:
On October 18, 2022, PCE hosted part one of a series on how crime analysts can improve prosecutions. On September 29, 2023, PCE hosted part two of the series. Read more
Office of the Florida State Attorney, 8th Judicial District (Gainesville, FL) Population: 415,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 45 | Contact Information The Office of the Florida State’s Attorney for… Read more
Summit County Prosecutor’s Office (Akron, OH) Population: 537,600 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 60 | Contact Information The Summit County Prosecutor’s Office (SCPO) has improved office culture using a variety… Read more
Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office (San Jose, CA) Population: 1,924,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 190 | Contact Information The Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office (SCDA) has developed a… Read more
Authors: PCE and Gaelin Bernstein Read about the various essential tasks that a crime analyst can perform in a prosecutor office. Read more
Arizona Prosecuting Attorney’s Advisory Council (Phoenix, AZ) Population: 7,174,000 | Number of Members: 858 | Contact Information The Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council (APAAC) has developed a public, internet accessible… Read more
Yolo County District Attorney’s Office (Woodland, CA) Population: 220,410 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 42 | Contact Information Created with nonprofit Measures for Justice, the Commons Data Transparency Portal aims… Read more
Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office (Philadelphia, PA) Population: 1,603,797 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 300 | Contact Information In November of 2019, the DATA (District Attorney’s Transparency Analytics) Lab was established… Read more
King County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office (King County, WA) Population: 2,269,675 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 294 | Contact Information Utilizing the office’s Prosecutor by Karpel case management system to examine… Read more
Office of the State Attorney of the Fourth Judicial Circuit (Jacksonville, FL) Population: 1,265,632 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 110 | Contact Information Created with Florida International University and Loyola… Read more
Author: PCE A modern prosecutor embraces and uses data. Data is central to a prosecutor’s work as it can inform policy decisions, guide management, provide transparency and allow for research…. Read more
On February 3, 2022, the PCE Pop-Up focused on Data Dashboards. Here are the materials and videos of the presentations. Read more
Location: Virtual (previously Salt Lake City, UT) Oct 15, 2020 – 9:30 am – 5:00 pm Time: 9:30 AM (EST) – 5 PM (EST) Details: For prosecutors only. To view… Read more
Author(s): Kristine Hamann and Rachel Smith Technology is expanding, evolving, and improving at an explosive rate. Society, including law enforcement, is struggling to keep pace with these seemingly daily developments…. Read more
Author(s): Kristine Hamann As police departments across the United States embrace the use of police body-worn cameras, the cameras will inevitably capture a great deal of evidentiary material that will… Read more
Author(s): Kristine Hamann, PCE As police departments across the United States embrace the use of police body-worn cameras (“BWCs”), it is imperative that prosecutors be involved in the uptake process… Read more
Author(s): Kristine Hamann, PCE Prosecutors are obligated to provide timely and complete discovery, particularly with regard to exculpatory and impeachment material. The discovery process can be complex and time consuming…. Read more
At the heart of our profession is a commitment to ethical behavior. With changes in the criminal justice system and, on a larger scale, our society, we’re faced with ethical challenges regularly.
Author: PCE
This publication provides a list of rules of professional conduct, ethics opinions, CLE requirements, and state statutes relevant to attorneys’ cybersecurity obligations.
Authors: PCE and KC Steckelberg (Prosecuting Attorneys Association of Michigan)
Read about strategies for working with the press including, ethical rules and guidelines, developing a communications strategy and special considerations for various aspects of a case.
Author: PCE This publication provides links to ABA Model Rules with supporting sections and comments relevant to cybersecurity. Read more
Arizona Prosecuting Attorney’s Advisory Council (Phoenix, AZ) Population: 7,174,000 | Number of Members: 858 | Contact Information The Arizona Prosecuting Attorneys’ Advisory Council (APAAC) has developed a public, internet accessible… Read more
Author: PCE Read more
PCE Pop-Ups review current topics through presentations and breakout groups. December 8, 2021 we discussed Empowering Ethical Prosecution. Read more
PCE has created materials on community trust, community involvement, implicit bias, and more. Watch videos from seasoned prosecutors, read our publications, and explore topics that can help your office gain trust in the community
Authors: PCE, PCE’s National Best Practices Committee (NBP)
Beyond their traditional role in the criminal justice process, many prosecutor offices provide outreach programs to raise awareness in the community about public safety issues and resources, to create stronger community partnerships, and to improve the lives of the people they serve. This paper features prosecutor initiatives that go the extra step to support local youth in various ways, most of which are not associated with a criminal case.
Author: PCE’s National Best Practices Committee (NBP) In this paper, the NBP explores the use of Community Advisory Boards for building stronger community partnerships and improving prosecutors’ role in the… Read more
Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, St. Paul MN Population: 550,210 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 101 | Contact Learn how Ramsey County greatly reduced low-level equipment traffic stops, and related racial… Read more
Union County Prosecutor’s Office (Elizabeth, NJ) Population: 600,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors:65 | Contact Information The Safe Place Initiative, a program that began in Seattle, is now making Union… Read more
Office of the District Attorney, 21st Judicial District (Mesa County, CO) Population: 150,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors:27 | Contact Information The Colorado 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office, in partnership… Read more
Office of the Florida State Attorney, 8th Judicial District (Gainesville, FL) Population: 415,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 45 | Contact Information The Office of the Florida State’s Attorney for… Read more
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (San Diego, CA) Population: 3,298,634 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 330 | Contact Information The San Diego County District Attorney (SDCDA) has developed a… Read more
San Diego County District Attorney’s Office (San Diego, CA) Population: 3,343,340 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 330 | Contact Information After evaluating calls for service, crime data, and multiple community… Read more
Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office (San Jose, CA) Population: 1,924,000 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 190 | Contact Information The Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office (SCDA) has developed a… Read more
Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office (Montgomery, AL) Population: 199,054 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 26 | Contact Information The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office (MCDA) has initiated a prosecutor led… Read more
Authors: PCE, New York County District Attorney’s Office, San Diego District Attorney’s Office, and Queens District Attorney’s Office -What does bias look like?-How can prosecutors reduce bias when working with their… Read more
Office of the Platte County Prosecutor, Platte County MO Population: 102,848 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 13 The Platte County Prosecutor’s Office provides information connecting jurors with free mental health services… Read more
Pennsylvania District Attorney’s Association (Harrisburg, PA) State Population: 13,002,700 | Contact Information In partnership with the Villanova law school, the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association launched a four-part virtual briefing series… Read more
Jackson County Prosecutor’s Office (Kansas City, MO) Population: 700,310 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 75 | Contact Information With a focus on the urban core of the jurisdiction, the Jackson… Read more
Office of the Commonwealth’s Attorney (City of Alexandria, VA) Population: 160,505 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 14 | Contact Information In the summer of 2020, the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office initiated… Read more
On March 10, 2022, the PCE Pop-Up focused on Prosecutors Evolving Use of Community Advisory Boards. Read more
Morris County Prosecutor’s Office (Morris County, NJ) Population: 492,715 | Contact Information The Morris County Prosecutor’s Office has teamed up with the Morris County Superior Court and the Morris County Sherriff’s… Read more
Author: PCE Read about how prosecutors can address injustice through better collaboration with the communities they serve. Read more
On January 11, 2021, PCE hosted a Pop-Up discussion on community engagement with presentations on connection, outreach and re-entry, creating a community advisory board, and moving cases out of the… Read more
Davis County District Attorney’s Office (Farmington, UT) Population: 355,481 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 19 | Contact Information The Davis County District Attorney’s Office has engaged community volunteers to establish the Conviction… Read more
Ingham County District Attorney’s Office (Lansing, MI) Population: 292,406 | Number of Full-Time Prosecutors: 34 | Contact Information In the Ingham County District Attorney’s Office, prosecutors are no longer filing cases… Read more
Authors: PCE and National Black Prosecutors Association As we know, prosecutors must be fact-based and fair in the pursuit of justice. Prosecutors cannot base their judgements on whim, bias or… Read more
One of the many benefits of being part of the Best Practices network is the ability to share information with prosecutors across the country about promising programs and how to… Read more
