Ethics

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Featured Resource

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.

  • CyberModel

    Cybersecurity Duties for Attorneys- Relevant ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct

    Are you cybersecure? It’s not just a good idea to focus on cybersecurity in your office – it’s part of your ethical obligation as a prosecutor.

    Authors: PCE

    This publication provides links to ABA Model Rules with supporting sections and comments relevant to cybersecurity.

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PCE Videos

Dan Clark: Washington State Police Impeachment Disclosure Policies
Kristine Hamann and Bonnie Sard: Considerations for Case Preparation and Case Review Questions
Jason Kalish: Maricopa County and Statewide Brady Lists
Erik (Bo) Bourgerie: Credibility Disclosure Notifications – Colorado POST

PCE Written Resources

Community

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Featured Resource

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

  • The Future of Prosecutor Community Outreach: Youth Programs

    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.

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Learn how pce can help your office with community outreach

PCE Videos

Keeping Kids Safe – Prosecutor Programs That Benefit Children

Community Advisory Boards

PCE Written Resources

Forensic Triage: A Guide for Prosecutors

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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 Executive Director Kristine Hamann and St. Louis Circuit Attorney’s Office Chief of Trials Rachel Smith, addresses the critical question of how best to maximize the resources of a public forensic laboratory. This question is explored in three different parts, each with an emphasis on the prosecutor’s perspective:

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Truancy-Reduction Programs

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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 school year. The highest rates of absenteeism occurred at the high school level, where chronically absent students also represent those most likely to drop out. Dropping out of high school has been linked to poor outcomes in adulthood, from poverty and diminished health to involvement in the criminal justice system.

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Facial Recognition Technology: Where Will It Take Us?

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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. This paper addresses facial recognition technology used by law enforcement to enhance surveillance capabilities and the associated legal issues it raises.

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Victim Services and Crisis Training Volunteer Programs

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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 process for victim advocate volunteers is very thorough to ensure high quality candidates are selected and are committed to long-term volunteer service.  The Victim Services Division currently has close to 100 volunteers, some of whom have served for decades.

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Investigating Violent Crime: The Prosecutor’s Role – Lessons Learned From the Field

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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 ideas about how to improve the investigation of violent crimes at a meeting sponsored by the Bureau of Justice Assistance of the U.S. Department of Justice. Though the group had much in common, it was quickly apparent that there are a variety of approaches to their work.

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