Click here<\/a>\u00a0to download a one page overview of the focus, goals, and activities of Fair and Just Prosecution.<\/p>\n Fair and Just Prosecution (FJP) \u2013 in partnership with Yale Law School Senior Research Scholar Emily Bazelon, The Justice Collaborative and Brennan Center for Justice \u2013 coauthored 21 Principles for the 21st Century Prosecutor<\/em><\/a>, a blueprint for elected prosecutors seeking to move away from past incarceration-based approaches and advance new pathways that promote equity, compassion and prevention-oriented responses within the criminal justice system. 21 Principles for the 21st<\/em> Century Prosecuto<\/em>r <\/em>offers concrete steps prosecutors can take to reduce incarceration, increase equity and fairness, and make communities safer and healthier.<\/p>\n \u201cThe 21st<\/sup> century prosecutor is focused on building a new vision for the justice system grounded in fairness, compassion and common sense.\u201d JAN. 2024 \u2013<\/strong> For far too long, communities across the country have been devastated by an unnecessarily harsh criminal legal system that prioritizes excessive punishment over long-term public safety. As increasing numbers of voters nationwide elect leaders committed to a more just legal system, some lawmakers and critics wedded to the failed status quo have taken unprecedented measures to impede the changes communities want. In the American Criminal Law Review<\/em><\/a>, FJP Executive Director Miriam Krinsky and Director of Strategic Initiatives Rebecca Blair examine the history of prosecutorial discretion and how recent unfounded attacks on reform-minded prosecutors are part of a wider assault on the democratic right of voters to have a say in the justice system.<\/p>\n \u201cThese efforts to override prosecutorial discretion seem to be predicated on the assumption that crime-impacted communities cannot be trusted to define their own vision of justice. But the people who live and work in communities impacted by crime understand the dynamics of their local justice systems far better than officials in their state capitals\u2026. When they say they want something different, it\u2019s their leaders\u2019 job to listen.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n OCT. 2023 \u2013<\/strong> Data and transparency are essential to the pursuit of justice, yet for too long, the inner workings of prosecutors\u2019 offices have been a black box. Thankfully, a new generation of reform-minded prosecutors is leading the way in embracing data, redefining success beyond conviction rates, and sharing vital information with their communities. This FJP white paper<\/a> explores lessons learned from these offices and provides a roadmap for other prosecutors looking to increase their data capacity and transparency in ways that both improve internal office management and build trust with the people they serve. A one-page overview of the white paper can be found here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI think one of the things we as a society need is a greater sense of ownership of the criminal justice system and a better understanding of it. The data can really start and generate conversation.\u201d JUNE 2023 \u2013<\/strong> The increased availability of DNA testing and surge in exonerations over the past three decades have cast a bright light on the prevalence of unjust convictions in the United States. As ministers of justice in their communities, elected prosecutors are responsible for ensuring that innocent people do not remain incarcerated for crimes they didn\u2019t commit and that safeguards are put in place to prevent future mistakes. In this article<\/a> in the German Journal of Criminology and Penal Reform,<\/em> FJP Executive Director Miriam Krinsky and Senior Research, Policy and Communications Associate Rebecca Blair discuss the growth and impact of conviction integrity units (CIUs) in prosecutor\u2019s offices and explain how some DAs are working towards a more holistic vision of post-conviction justice.<\/p>\n \u201cProsecutors\u2019 efforts to advance justice in convictions both retrospectively and prospectively have contributed to a broader shift in the role of prosecutors in the U.S. legal system\u2026. They are showing that an inquisitive, collaborative approach to post-conviction justice can yield stronger outcomes for defendants, victims, and the community at large.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n MAY 2023 \u2013<\/strong> As communities around the country have continued to call for change in the criminal legal system, many have recognized that elected prosecutors have a critical role to play in leading the way. Over the past decade, reform-minded district attorneys have been elected throughout the nation and now represent nearly 20 percent of the U.S. population. In the American Criminal Law Review<\/em><\/a>, FJP Executive Director Miriam Krinsky, New York Law School Associate Professor Justin Murray, and Tulane University Professor of Law Maybell Romero explore the growth and accomplishments of the reform-minded prosecutor movement, even in the face of significant pushback from those committed to past failed tough-on-crime approaches.<\/p>\n \u201cIn the span of less than a decade, reform-oriented DAs have already accomplished more than many criminal justice scholars and advocates once thought possible.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n A bipartisan group of over 100 respected leaders in prosecution and law enforcement sent a letter to President Joe Biden urging him to establish a Presidential Task Force on 21st Century Prosecution that would catalyze innovation in the criminal legal system nationwide and chart a path to greater justice and equity in all communities. The letter coincided with the release of Fair and Just Prosecution\u2019s new white paper, \u201cThe Case for a Presidential Task Force on 21st Century Prosecution,\u201d which outlines why this effort is urgent for ending mass incarceration and fortifying trust in our justice system. \u201cThere has been little to no focus on the role of local prosecutors and how to support the efforts of innovative leaders at a presidentially-supported national level. This long-overdue vehicle to propel change and promote data-driven thinking among prosecutors…can have a lasting impact on the future of our justice system.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n After a year and election cycle that brought unprecedented progress for reform-minded prosecution, fair drug policy, and better policing practices, President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris will enter office with a mandate to transform the justice system. In \u201cHow the Biden-Harris Administration Can Advance Criminal Justice Reform: 13 Recommendations for Change and Federal Engagement,\u201d<\/strong><\/a> we lay out key ways the new administration can take action to make progress towards the justice system that Americans overwhelmingly demand and that all communities in our nation deserve.<\/p>\n \u201cThis transition comes at a time when our nation, and particularly communities of color, have been devastated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic\u2026. At the same time, the tragic deaths of George Floyd and so many others at the hands of police have heightened the need to address \u2013 once and for all \u2013 the systemic racism that pervades all parts of our criminal legal system. These intersecting crises underscore the need to bring new thinking, and leadership, to criminal justice reform.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n To create a system of justice that lives up to its name, we can no longer tinker around the edges. We require structural change that fundamentally reimagines the role of police and prosecutors and shift resources away from punitive criminal justice responses that have fueled mass incarceration, and instead invest in communities and services that promote both public safety and wellbeing and enable everyone <\/em>to thrive. With this in mind, Fair and Just Prosecution\u2019s Blueprint for Police Accountability and Reform<\/em><\/a> outlines concrete policy recommendations that elected officials, chief prosecutors, law enforcement heads, and other leaders must embrace to address police misconduct and racial injustice.<\/p>\n \u201cCombatting the racism interwoven throughout our nation\u2019s justice system demands the immediate adoption of concrete and systemic reforms that will reset our priorities and our justice system.\u201d <\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The over 21,000 years exonerees collectively spent behind bars is hard to reconcile with a system that we entrust to promote fairness and produce just outcomes. That is why a growing number of elected prosecutors have created Conviction Integrity Units (CIUs) that further a prosecutor\u2019s fundamental duty to seek justice. In FJP\u2019s\u00a0Conviction Integrity and Review Statement of Principles <\/em><\/a>we outline best practices for creating and operating a CIU that can effectively identify and correct past injustices and help to prevent future wrongful convictions, while strengthening community trust in the integrity and ability of our system to deliver justice.<\/p>\n \u201cThe obligation of every prosecutor is to pursue justice, an obligation that cannot be met if the public lacks confidence in the integrity of criminal convictions.\u201d On April 2, FJP Director of Innovations and Site Learning Liz Komar testified before the U.S Commission on Civil Rights\u2019 Connecticut State Advisory Committee on the prevalence of racial disparities in the justice system and how prosecutors can use data science and diversion to improve equity and public safety outcomes. Read the testimony here<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cIn the realm of prosecutorial reform, the interests of safety and equity align. FJP works with a new wave of prosecutors who recognize that starting point and are modeling how safety is furthered by — and never needs to be at the expense of — justice and fairness.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Dozens of prominent elected prosecutors and law enforcement leaders filed briefs in Chicago<\/a>, California<\/a> and Los Angeles<\/a> cases challenging federal grant conditions that seek to involve local law enforcement in immigration enforcement duties. Read the\u00a0press releases here<\/a>\u00a0and here<\/a>.<\/p>\n FJP issued a statement<\/a>\u00a0supporting 9th Judicial Circuit (Orlando, FL) State Attorney Aramis Ayala\u2019s prerogative as an elected prosecutor to exercise her prosecutorial discretion to determine whether or not to pursue a given punishment, including with the death penalty.<\/p>\n Over 30 current and former elected criminal justice officials representing over 30 million Americans sent an open letter<\/a>\u00a0to Attorney General Sessions expressing concern that a return to failed \u201ctough on crime\u201d practices would increase incarceration without making our communities safer. See the press release here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cOur justice system isn\u2019t suffering from sentences that are too short, but rather from inequities that have resulted in a loss of confidence and trust among communities most impacted by crime.\u201d Nearly 70 current and former elected prosecutors \u2014 including 16 current elected DAs and AGs and officials from over 30 states \u2014 filed a brief supporting litigation challenging cash bail practices in Harris County, Texas and arguing that detaining poor misdemeanor defendants pending trial, solely due to an inability to post bail, erodes community trust and does not further public safety. Read the press release here<\/a>\u00a0and the\u00a0brief here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cA new generation of prosecutive leaders \u2026 is increasingly speaking out regarding the need for a justice system that doesn\u2019t treat individuals differently based on economic status.\u201d More than 40 current and former elected prosecutors and criminal justice officials filed an amicus brief in support of 9th Judicial Circuit (Orlando, FL) State Attorney Aramis Ayala\u2019s exercise of prosecutorial discretion in deciding whether or not to seek the death penalty. Read the press release here<\/a>\u00a0and the Amicus Brief here.<\/a><\/p>\n21 Principles for the 21st<\/sup> Century Prosecutor<\/strong><\/h4>\n
\n\u2013<\/em> FJP EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR MIRIAM KRINSKY<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nWhy Attacks on Prosecutorial Discretion Are Attacks on Democracy<\/h4>\n
Advancing the Use of Data in Prosecution<\/h4>\n
\n\u2013 Ramsey County (St. Paul, MN) Attorney John Choi<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nThe Prosecutor\u2019s Power to Correct and Prevent Unjust Convictions<\/h4>\n
New Directions in Prosecutorial Reform<\/h4>\n
Over 100 Criminal Justice Leaders Call on the Biden Administration to Establish a Presidential Task Force on 21st Century Prosecution<\/h4>\n
\nFor more, read the letter<\/a>, white paper<\/a>, and release<\/a>.<\/p>\nHow the Biden-Harris Administration Can Advance Criminal Justice Reform<\/h4>\n
Blueprint for Police Accountability and Reform<\/h4>\n
Conviction Integrity Units: Vehicles for Justice and Accountability<\/h4>\n
\n\u2013<\/em> St.\u00a0<\/strong>Louis County, MO Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nFJP Testimony on How Prosecutors Can Reduce Racial Disparities in the Justice System <\/span><\/h4>\n
Prosecutors and Law Enforcement Leaders File Amicus Briefs\u00a0Pushing Back\u00a0Against Local Entanglement\u00a0in Federal Immigration Enforcement<\/span><\/h4>\n
Statement Regarding Florida Supreme Court Ruling in Ayala v. Scott<\/em><\/strong> \u2013 Standing Up for Prosecutorial Independence<\/strong><\/em><\/h4>\n
Open Letter to Attorney General Jeff Sessions Regarding Charging and Pleading Practices<\/h4>\n
\n\u2013<\/em> King County (Seattle, WA) Prosecuting Attorney Dan Satterberg<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nAmicus Brief on the Need for Bail Reform<\/h4>\n
\n\u2013<\/em> FJP Executive Director Miriam Krinsky<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\nAmicus Brief on Prosecutorial Independence<\/h4>\n
Diversion Strategies, Programs and Principles \u2013 A National Scan<\/h4>\n