Conclusion
The strategies outlined in this Bulletin have proved highly effective in improving the prosecution of juvenile offenders. Although this project focused exclusively on firearm cases, the basic framework and methodology can also easily be applied to other types of crimes.
- Assign a prosecutor to specialize in a particular type of case (e.g.,
firearms, drugs, domestic violence, etc.).
- Develop a case management system to track targeted cases.
- Identify serious and chronic offenders.
- Identify problems with and areas of weakness in prior cases.
- Practice vertical prosecution.
- Conduct research and prepare “stock” briefs for recurring legal arguments.
- Conduct training sessions for law enforcement officers and fellow
prosecutors.
- Coordinate the handling of targeted cases between law enforcement agencies and the prosecutor’s office.
While additional funding and staff will speed up the implementation process, many of these improvements can be made by simply reallocating and restructuring existing resources. The two key ingredients are specialization and close partnerships with law enforcement.
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