A Comparative Analysis of Prosecutorial Performance Indicators Between the Colombian and U.S. Prosecutors

• In Event: International and Community Perspectives on Prosecutorial Decisions

Abstract

The field of prosecution has been evolving in recent years. As communities become more and more involved in criminal justice policy discourse, they expect greater transparency and fairness from prosecutors. Traditional “tough on crime” rhetoric has begun taking a backseat to the ideals of fairness and community well-being. Yet new measures are difficult to develop and implement, and this problem transcends international borders. This research compares measures used by prosecutorial offices to assess their performance in the United States and Colombia. Like most U.S. prosecutorial offices, the Colombian Attorney General's Office relies on traditional indicators, limited to case processing goals, despite the country facing significant challenges related to socio-economic disparities and citizens’ trust. We explore the use of the Prosecutorial Performance Indicators (PPIs) across 20 U.S. offices and the indicators used in Colombia as part of the 2020-2024 strategic plan. Furthermore, relying on semi-structured interviews with prosecutors in both countries, we assess how prosecutors measure their success, think about data/dashboards, and engage with communities. We examine the benefits and shortcomings of adopting PPIs in Colombia to augment its current indicators and move the prosecutor’s office from case-tracking to impact-oriented performance measurement.

Authors

• Eduardo Mendoza Montoya, Florida International University

• Rachel Silverthorn, Florida International University

• Besiki Kutateladze, Florida International University