Association Of Prosecuting Attorneys Inc

ENHANCING COMMUNITY PROSECUTION THROUGH THE NATIONAL HIGH PERFORMANCE PROSECUTION (HPP) FRAMEWORK INITIATIVE

O-BJA-2022-171276 CAPITAL CASE LITIGATION INITIATIVE PROPOSAL ABSTRACT   THE ASSOCIATION OF PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS PROPOSES A PROJECT UNDER THE CAPITAL CASE LITIGATION INITIATIVE (CCLI) THAT WILL ADDRESS THE CURRENT AND PRESSING TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TTA) NEEDS OF THE FIELD FOR PROSECUTORS. APA WILL PROVIDE COMPREHENSIVE TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE (TTA) SERVICES, TOOLS, AND RESOURCES TO STATE AND LOCAL PROSECUTORS AND OTHER CRIMINAL JUSTICE PRACTITIONERS. APA IS A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION WITH A BROAD MEMBERSHIP OF PRACTICING, PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS AND JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS AS WELL AS A BROAD NETWORK OF SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTS WITH WHOM IT HAS WORKED EXTENSIVELY IN THE PAST. APA HAS A DEMONSTRATED HISTORY OF PROVIDING HIGH QUALITY, TIMELY, AND RELEVANT TTA TO PROSECUTORS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE PARTNERS AND OTHER RELATED PROFESSIONALS, AND COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. AS A CCLI TTA PROVIDER, APA WOULD BE PREPARED TO CONTINUE ASSISTING PROSECUTORS WITH ENHANCING THEIR EFFECTIVENESS IN REPRESENTING THE PUBLIC IN CAPITAL CASES. APA IS ALSO COMMITTED TO COORDINATING WITH ORGANIZATIONS ACROSS DISCIPLINES TO EXECUTE THE DELIVERABLES OF THIS GRANT, INCLUDING PROVIDING SPECIFIC AND EFFECTIVE TRAINING TO ADDRESS RACIAL INEQUITIES WITHIN THE CRIMINAL LEGAL SYSTEM. APA WILL USE AN EVIDENCE-INFORMED APPROACH TO FOCUS ON THE IMPLEMENTATION GOALS OF THIS PROJECT. APA WILL: WORK CLOSELY WITH RESEARCH PARTNER RESEARCH TRIANGLE INSTITUTE (RTI) TO DESIGN AND DEPLOY A COMPREHENSIVE SURVEY OF THE FIELD; PUBLISH THE RESULTS OF THE SURVEY AND DEVELOP TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES FOR PROSECUTORS AND RELATED CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROFESSIONALS BASED UPON THE NEEDS ARTICULATED BY THE SURVEY RESULTS; PROVIDE TA ON THE SUBJECT OF CAPITAL-ELIGIBLE CASE PROSECUTION; AND DEVELOP PUBLICATIONS AND RESOURCES FOR PROSECUTORS TO IMPROVE THE SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE NECESSARY TO PROSECUTE CAPITAL CASES. FURTHERMORE, APA IS SEEKING PRIORITY CONSIDERATION 1A (SEE PAGES 7-9 OF THE PROPOSAL NARRATIVE) TO ADDRESS RACIAL EQUITY ISSUES PARTICULARLY AS RELATES TO VICTIM INTERACTION AND COMMUNITY COMMUNICATION.   IN ORDER TO ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS, APA WILL DEVELOP TRAINING CURRICULA DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE PARTICULAR NEEDS OF PROSECUTORS ON THIS SUBJECT, HOST AT LEAST FOUR IN-PERSON AND FOUR VIRTUAL TRAINING SESSIONS (INCLUDING CONFERENCES AND WEBINARS) ANNUALLY, HAVE BIMONTHLY ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND P2P MEETINGS TO DISCUSS PROGRAMMING AND IDENTIFY GAPS IN THE FIELD, AND MAINTAIN RESOURCES FOR PROSECUTORS ACROSS VARIOUS PLATFORMS. APA AGREES TO COLLECT THE NECESSARY PERFORMANCE MEASURES DATA IN COMPLIANCE WITH BJA STANDARDS AND AS INFORMED AND EVALUATED BY RESEARCH PARTNER RTI, AND WILL REPORT PROJECT PROGRESS AT REGULAR INTERVALS.   APA REQUESTS GRANT FUNDING FOR THE SOLICITATION AMOUNT OF $1 MILLION OVER THE COURSE OF A 3-YEAR PERIOD.

IMPROVING THE INVESTIGATION AND PROSECUTION OF CHILD ABUSE AND THE REGIONAL AND LOCAL CHILDREN''S ADVOCACY CENTERS

THE ASSOCIATION OF PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS WILL IMPLEMENT A TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM THAT WORKS TO ENSURE EQUITABLE ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH VICTIMIZED IN OUT-OF-HOME AND CUSTODIAL CARE, WHILE HOLDING OFFENDERS ACCOUNTABLE. THE PURPOSE OF THE PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP A COMPREHENSIVE, MULTI-DISCIPLINARY, TRAUMA INFORMED, CULTURALLY COMPETENT, GUIDE TO INVESTIGATE AND PROSECUTE CASES INVOLVING CHILDREN VICTIMIZED IN SYSTEMS CARE. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE: NATIONAL LISTENING SESSIONS OF INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE; CREATION OF A MULTI-DISCIPLINARY ADVISORY COUNCIL; THREE NATIONAL CONVENINGS OF EXPERTS (SUMMITS); A ROBUST WEB-BASED WEBINAR SERIES; COMPREHENSIVE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CAPABILITY FOR PROSECUTORS AND CHILD WELFARE PROFESSIONALS; AND A WEBSITE CLEARING HOUSE OF RESOURCES AND GUIDES FOR PROFESSIONALS INVESTIGATING AND PROSECUTING THESE CASES. EXPECTED OUTCOMES INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF RESOURCES TO IMPROVE THE OUTCOME OF CASES INVOLVING CHILDREN AND YOUTH IN SYSTEMS CARE; PROTOCOL CHANGES TO FORENSIC INTERVIEWING IN CUSTODIAL SETTINGS; TRAUMA INFORMED TRAININGS AND GUIDELINES; AND REMOVAL OF BARRIERS TO ACCESSING JUSTICE FOR YOUTH IN FOSTER AND CUSTODIAL CARE.

SMART PROSECUTION INITIATIVE: NATIONAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

PROSECUTOR-LED DIVERSION INITIATIVE

HIGH PERFORMANCE PROSECUTION MODEL INITIATIVE

FY 18 CAPITAL CASE LITIGATION INITIATIVE

NATIONAL ANIMAL CRUELTY AND FIGHTING INITIATIVE

NATIONAL TRAINING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE PROJECT FOR ATTORNEYS AND OTHERS INVOLVED IN THE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION OF CHILD ABUSE TO ENHANCE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF OUR NATION'S CHILD ABUSE PROSECUTORS.

INNOVATIONS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE SUMMIT /COMMUNITY PROSECUTION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

RESEARCH DEMONSTRATES THAT THE NEEDS AND EXPERIENCES OF SURVIVORS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE, AND PARTICULARLY WOMEN OF COLOR, GO LARGELY UNADDRESSED BY THE TRADITIONAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM APPROACH TO VICTIM SERVICES. THROUGH THIS PROJECT, THE ASSOCIATION OF PROSECUTING ATTORNEYS (APA) WILL TARGET THESE SERVICE GAPS AND ADVANCE RACE EQUITY THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION AND EVALUATION OF SURVIVOR-DEFENDANT DIVERSION PROGRAMS. THESE PROGRAMS DIVERT CASES OF DEFENDANTS WHO ARE IDENTIFIED AS PRIOR GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE SURVIVORS FROM THE TRADITIONAL PROSECUTION TRACK, AND INSTEAD PROVIDE SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES TAILORED TO THE EXPERIENCES OF WOMEN OF COLOR. APA WILL PARTNER WITH PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND RESEARCHERS TO ENSURE THE EFFICACY AND RELEVANCE OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES. APA AND BOWIE STATE UNIVERSITY (BSU) WILL COLLABORATE TO CREATE AND DISSEMINATE AN INITIAL FIELDWIDE SURVEY OF EXISTING SURVIVOR-DEFENDANT PROGRAMS THAT WILL IDENTIFY SERVICE/TRAINING GAPS AND PREFERENTIAL PRACTICES AND POLICIES. AT THE INCEPTION OF THIS PROJECT, APA WILL APPOINT AN ADVISORY GROUP COMPRISED OF KEY CRIMINAL JUSTICE AND VICTIM SERVICES STAKEHOLDERS. THIS GROUP WILL DEVELOP A ROBUST REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFPS) PROCESS TO IDENTIFY PROSECUTOR OFFICES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF SURVIVOR-DEFENDANT DIVERSION PILOT PROGRAMS AND REVIEW THE SUBMITTED APPLICATIONS. UPON SITE SELECTION, THE GROUP WILL GUIDE PILOT SITE SELECTION AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT. APA AND ITS PARTNERS WILL WORK WITH THE SELECTED SITES TO PLAN, IMPLEMENT, AND EVALUATE SURVIVOR-DEFENDANT DIVERSION PROGRAMS. APA WILL COLLABORATE OFTEN WITH THE PILOT SITES THROUGH ONLINE CHECK-INS AND IN PERSON SITE VISITS TO DRAFT PROGRAM POLICIES, CURATE RELATIONSHIPS WITH ONE OR MULTIPLE SERVICE PROVIDERS, AND INCORPORATE THE PERSPECTIVE OF INDIVIDUALS WITH LIVED EXPERIENCE INTO PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT. APA’S PARTNERSHIP WITH THE YWCA SEATTLE | KING | SNOHOMISH AND THEIR SURVIVORSFIRST PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE MODEL POLICIES AND PRACTICES FOR SELECTED SITES TO DRAW FROM AS THEY ESTABLISH A SURVIVOR-DEFENDANT DIVERSION PROGRAM SPECIFIC TO THEIR JURISDICTIONAL NEEDS. AFTER ONE YEAR OF IMPLEMENTATION, APA AND BSU WILL CONDUCT AN EVALUATION OF THE PILOT PROGRAMS TO ENSURE PROGRAM EFFICACY AND IDENTIFY AREAS FOR IMPROVEMENT. BY EXAMINING THE RESULTS WITH SITE LEADERS, A PLAN FOR BOTH PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT AND PROGRAM SUSTAINABILITY WILL ENSURE PROGRAMMATIC SUCCESS LONG AFTER THE GRANT PERIOD.  THROUGH THIS PROJECT, GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE SURVIVORS IN JURISDICTIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WILL BE DIVERTED FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM TO RECEIVE SERVICES TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS ASSOCIATED WITH THEIR VICTIMIZATION. THIS PROJECT WILL ALLOW PROSECUTOR OFFICES AND VICTIM SERVICES TO SIMULTANEOUSLY ADVANCE RACE EQUITY, REDUCE RECIDIVISM FOR SURVIVORS, AND IMPROVE SAFETY IN THEIR COMMUNITIES.

NATIONAL COMMUNITY PROSECUTION TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE INITIATIVE

NATIONAL PROSECUTORS LEADERSHIP INITIATIVE