Click here to read on the John Jay College Institute for Innovation in Prosecution's website

The Institute for Innovation in Prosecution (IIP) joined with the White House to co-host a roundtable on the role of the prosecutor in America’s evolving criminal justice landscape on October 24. The IIP—a novel partnership between the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office and John Jay College of Criminal Justice, coordinated by the NNSC—is designed to convene prosecutorial thought leaders; highlight transformative policies aimed at increasing fairness and safety; promote intelligence-driven prosecution; reduce unnecessary confinement; and support effective crime reduction efforts. The conversation brought together elected district attorneys from around the country with other criminal justice leaders and senior White House officials to discuss innovative ways that prosecutors can use their considerable discretion to drive much needed change. Criminal justice reform has been a focus at every level of government and this group represents a diverse set of state and local leaders who are lending their voice and expertise to the national dialogue.

Deputy Assistant to the President Roy Austin and John Jay College President Jeremy Travis began the day by framing the conversation around the national momentum for criminal justice reform, and the unique role of the district attorney in addressing flaws in the justice system. Local district attorneys, who handle the vast majority of criminal cases, can do more to embrace their role as national leaders in justice reform. Today’s forum was one of the ways the IIP intends to elevate them in critical conversations about our justice system.

Participants engaged in constructive conversations led by Assistant U.S. Attorney General Karol Mason and New York County District Attorney Cyrus Vance about concrete steps and new tools that prosecutors from around the country can use to ensure their offices are enhancing public safety and promoting fairness. The discussion addressed the importance of cultivating comprehensive data to develop 21st century metrics for prosecutorial success, applying innovative strategies to reduce crime and build community trust, and focusing on reentry programming as a crime reduction tool.

This event was a step toward elevating the American prosecutor’s role in guiding the trajectory of the justice system. The IIP and John Jay College look forward to building on the discussion at today’s White House roundtable and advancing partnerships and strategies that will enhance system transparency, improve public safety, and build trust.

To learn more, visit nnscommunities.org/iip.

Participants:

Jerry Abramson, Deputy Assistant to the President and Director of Intergovernmental Affairs
Angela Alsobrooks, State's Attorney, Prince George's County, Maryland
John Chisholm, District Attorney, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Darcel Clark, District Attorney, Bronx, New York
Scott Colom, District Attorney, Sixteenth Circuit Court of Mississippi
Christine DeBerry, Chief of Staff to San Francisco District Attorney
Brandon Falls, District Attorney, Jefferson County Alabama
Nancy Gertner, former U.S. federal judge, U.S. District Court of Massachusetts
Frank Hartmann, Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School Of Government
Paul Howard, District Attorney, Fulton County, Georgia
David Kennedy, Director, National Network for Safe Communities
David LaBahn, President and CEO, Association of Prosecuting Attorneys
Karol Mason, Assistant Attorney General, Office of Justice Program, U.S. Department of Justice
Hillar Moore, District Attorney, East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
Jean Peters Baker, Prosecutor, Jackson County, Missouri
Meg Reiss, Executive Director, Institute for Innovation in Prosecution
Tori Verber Salazar, District Attorney, San Joaquin County, California
Dan Satterberg, Prosecuting Attorney, King County, Washington
Jeremy Travis, President, John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Cyrus Vance Jr., District Attorney, New York County, New York
Kym L. Worthy, Prosecutor, Wayne County, Michigan
Ron Wright, Professor, Wake Forrest University School of Law