Research has shown that incarceration may not always be the most effective solution for certain crimes and certain situations. To achieve better results, diversion and treatment must be taken into consideration. These programs can vary wildly with approaches often tailored to each jurisdiction. Our resources explore what has worked in offices across the country and what challenges have been faced as these diversion programs are implemented.
Social Media Safety: A Prosecutor’s Approach to Educating High School Students
As part of PCE’s Quick Learning Series, District Attorney Paul Battisti of Broome County, New York, discusses an innovative program from his office aimed at educating high school students on social media safety. Through an office-sponsored competition, local high schools developed videos with tips and reminders for peers as to how to stay safe on social media.
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Authors: PCE, PCE’s National Best Practices Committee (NBP)
Prosecutor offices across the nation are taking thoughtful approaches to both counteracting the concerns causing employees to resign, and enhancing the rewarding factors inspiring them to stay. This paper presents a number of these successful methods.
Author: PERF
This report explores DA-driven initiatives that have the support of law enforcement members in their jurisdictions—programs that go beyond DAs merely reviewing cases presented by police and then offering plea bargains or prosecuting those cases in court.
This project was conceived by PERF Deputy Director Jennifer Sommers, a former longtime state and county prosecutor in New York. She has long believed that “effective collaboration between police and prosecutors is the key to moving from good to great,” and partnered with Kristine Hamann to showcase how jurisdictions across the country are putting that principle into practice. Together, they identified examples of innovative, prosecution-led partnerships from around the country that are strengthening public safety and advancing justice.
Authors: NBP and PCE
Through research, innovation, collaboration, and outreach, prosecutor offices are developing many effective methods for investigating and litigating these violent crimes, as well as preventing future incidents. This paper provides an overview of some of the successful approaches being used by prosecutors around the country.
On September 9, 2025 PCE hosted a Pop-Up on Science-Based Interviewing. It focused on prosecutor’s use of evidence backed techniques grounded in psychology and cognitive science to gather accurate and reliable information from witnesses, victims, and suspects. These methods prioritize rapport-building and open-ended questioning to reduce bias, enhance recall, and strengthen the quality of evidence. If you are interested in the meeting materials, please contact PCE.
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Authors: Elaine Borakove, Kristine Hamann, Antonia Merzon
Author: PCE
Retail theft is one of the most common crimes that many jurisdictions face. See how offices across the country are utilizing unique collaborations to prevent these pervasive crimes.
On February 13, 2025, PCE hosted a webinar on Organized Retail Theft and the challenges and solutions associated.
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Author: PCE
Every prosecutor office is facing questions about rapidly emerging generative AI (GAI) technology and how to use it appropriately. This paper addresses the effective integration of GAI in a prosecutor’s office.
Authors: PCE, PCE’s National Best Practices Committee (NBP)
Maybe you’re facing staffing shortages. Maybe recruiting new lawyers and support staff hasn’t been fruitful. Or maybe you’re having trouble keeping up with the many roles that prosecutors must now take on. See our guide on navigating these challenges and more:
Author: PCE
A new form of evidence can now be found at millions of households across the country. The video doorbell, a device providing a live stream from the front door directly to a person’s phone, has already been used as evidence in countless cases. See how it can be used, the challenges of using a device, and more in our guide for prosecutors:
Survivor Justice Legislation: Through a Prosecutorial Lens
As part of PCE’s Quick Learning Series, Lisa Perlman of the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office discusses survivor justice legislation.
Read MoreAuthor: Antonia Merzon
Criminal justice practitioners are facing questions about emerging AI technology and how to use it appropriately. This article offers guidance for criminal justice practitioners interested in adopting GAI technology.
On April 8, 2026, PCE hosted a Pop-Up on the basics about crypto currency crime, how to help victims of this growing problem and a case brought by a local prosecutor.
On April 7, 2026 PCE hosted a National Best Practices Committee meeting on the importance of managing change as managers. If you are interested in the meeting materials, please contact PCE.
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On January 27, 2026, PCE hosted a Pop-Up on What You Do Matters: Lessons from the Holocaust.
Photo Credit: What You Do Matters Institute
2025 – Inclusive and Respectful Workplace Policy – Ramsey County, Minnesota
PCE has created materials on recruitment and retention of both legal and non-legal staff in prosecutor offices. Watch videos from seasoned prosecutors, read our publications, and explore topics that can help your office better recruit and retain staff.
Authors: PCE, PCE’s National Best Practices Committee (NBP)
Prosecutor offices across the nation are taking thoughtful approaches to both counteracting the concerns causing employees to resign, and enhancing the rewarding factors inspiring them to stay. This paper presents a number of these successful methods.
Authors: PCE, PCE’s National Best Practices Committee (NBP)
Maybe you’re facing staffing shortages. Maybe recruiting new lawyers and support staff hasn’t been fruitful. Or maybe you’re having trouble keeping up with the many roles that prosecutors must now take on. See our guide on navigating these challenges and more:
Authors: PCE, PCE’s National Best Practices Committee (NBP)
Prosecutor offices across the nation are taking thoughtful approaches to both counteracting the concerns causing employees to resign, and enhancing the rewarding factors inspiring them to stay. This paper presents a number of these successful methods.
Authors: PCE, PCE’s National Best Practices Committee (NBP)
Maybe you’re facing staffing shortages. Maybe recruiting new lawyers and support staff hasn’t been fruitful. Or maybe you’re having trouble keeping up with the many roles that prosecutors must now take on. See our guide on navigating these challenges and more:
Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office (Miami-Dade County, FL)
With increasing tourism, increasing population, and increasing commerce came increasing employment opportunities for attorneys in Miami-Dade County.
Read MoreAuthors: Kristine Hamann, PCE and AE.
Read about effective methods for recruiting Gen Z prosecutors based on those in the field.
PCE’s Pop-Up included conversations with senior prosecutors, new prosecutors, and law school administrators on new interview ideas and more.
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Author: PCE Staff
Have you read our most recent publications? Have you watched our latest videos? Open the full newsletter to see what projects PCE has been working on.
Ben Struhl, Executive Director, Crime and Justice Policy Lab (CJP) at the University of Pennsylvania
Linda Ford, Counsel to the Legal Training Unit and Senior Trial Counsel, New York County District Attorney’s Office
Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Derek Fitch, Ramsey County Attorney’s Office, Minnesota
Deputy DA Michael Vidmar, Santa Clara District Attorney’s Office, California
Debra Gillispie: Mothers Against Gun Violence (MAGV), Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Social Science Researcher Stacy Sechrist, PhD, RTI International, Justice Practice Area
Chief Assistant DA Anna Rossi Anderson, Salt Lake County District Attorney’s Office, Utah
AI And Police Reports
What AI Are We Using Now?
Developing AI Personalities
AI Security and Private AI Systems
AI and Ethics for Prosecutors
AI Generated Police Reports
Robot Process Automation and Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence and the Path to Generative AI
AI and the Modern Prosecutor
Practical AI – Can AI Mine for Nuggets in the Mountain of Evidence?
AI and Ethics
AI and Deepfakes
How AI Will be Used in Technology
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Wayne Thomas, BSC (HONS) PSYCH, MA (OXON), PGCE, MBPSS, Tailored Training Programs
Linda Ford, Counsel to the Legal Training Unit, New York County District Attorney’s Office, New York
Author: NBP
This paper explores methods that can be used by prosecutor offices across the country to identify and disclose police impeachment material. Statewide efforts to standardize impeachment disclosure also are examined. The purpose of this paper is to provide general information for prosecutors considering these issues.
On July 17th, 2025 PCE hosted a National Best Practices Committee meeting on preventing and prosecuting gun violence. If you are interested in the meeting materials, please contact PCE.
Author: DAASNY
“Prosecutors have more freedom than any other actor to do “the right thing.” Prosecutors find the truth, decide who should be charged, or hold the perpetrator accountable. Only prosecutors are given the freedom – and with it the ethical duty – to promote all these vital components of “the right thing.””
PCE and Microsoft teamed up for a 2-day in-person event in Chicago, IL on June 17-18, 2025. Here prosecutors and IT staff across the country discussed AI and ethical/use policy, did a crash course on co-pilot and were able to put their knowledge into hands-on guided prompt datasets.
On June 3, 2025 PCE hosted a Pop-Up on prosecuting in the age of AI. If you are interested in the meeting materials, please contact PCE. Topics included the path to generative AI, AI and ethics for prosecutors, and more.
On April 17th, 2025 PCE hosted a National Best Practices Committee meeting on preventing and prosecuting gun violence.
If you’re feeling the weight of your caseload and looking for solutions, PCE can help. Our resources include information on technology that can help analyze your caseloads, funding opportunities that may be available, and the challenges of weighing caseloads and workloads. If you’re in need of more assistance as you examine your caseload, PCE has the ability to conduct a caseload study in your office, including recommendations for improving caseloads and workloads in your office. Reach Out Today.
