Police Chiefs and Prosecutors Work Through Challenges To ...

Police Chiefs and Prosecutors Work Through Challenges To Find Common Ground

Police Chiefs and Prosecutors Work Through Challenges To Find Common Ground

May 2020

The points of view expressed herein are the authors' and do not necessarily represent the opinions of all Police Executive Research Forum members.

Police Executive Research Forum, Washington, D.C. 20036 Copyright ? 2020 by Police Executive Research Forum

All rights reserved

ISBN 978-1-934485-58-3

Graphic design by Dave Williams.

Contents

Acknowledgments....................................................................... 1

Meeting Participants....................................................................3

Introduction................................................................................ 5

An Unusual Gathering of Prosecutors and Police Chiefs............................................. 7

Prosecutors' and Police Chiefs' Perspectives on Criminal Justice Reform...............................................................8

Prosecutors' Perspectives: Key Changes in Policies and Practices............................ 8 Some prosecutors are no longer bringing charges in certain low-level crimes................8 Some prosecutors are changing how they handle marijuana possession........................9 More prosecutors are emphasizing diversion and other alternatives to prosecution, including for some more serious offenses....................................................9 Prosecutors are focusing their resources on serious and violent crimes, while pursuing alternatives for lower-level crimes...........................................................10 Prosecutors are advocating reduced reliance on cash bail..............................................11 Some prosecutors are rethinking their sentencing recommendations...........................12 Prosecutors are helping people to expunge or seal their criminal records.....................13 Prosecutors are creating or expanding conviction integrity units...................................13 Increased transparency is a priority in many prosecutors' offices..................................13

Police Chiefs' Perspectives: How Reform Measures Affect Policing......................... 14 Holding repeat offenders accountable..............................................................................15 Addressing quality-of-life offenses....................................................................................15 Dealing with marijuana-related crime and violence........................................................16 Ensuring that the needs of victims of crime are met........................................................17 Negative impact on officer resolve....................................................................................17

SIDEBAR: The Handling of Gun Possession Cases Remains a Major Issue for Police and Prosecutors.......................................................................................... 18 Structural Issues Further Complicate Police-Prosecutor Relationships.................. 19

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