A Higher Bar: Examining the Effectiveness of Initial Screening Policies in Reducing Unnecessary Prosecution - CANCELLED

• In Event: Innovations in Prosection: Initial Screening Decisions and Diversion Programs

Abstract

The initial screening of arrests, in which prosecutors decide whether to file criminal charges or decline to prosecute an arrest, is one of the most consequential stages in prosecution. Both scholars and policymakers argue that more scrutinous screening policies can benefit arrestees and legal actors alike. For arrestees, the elimination of lower quality arrests can prevent unnecessary involvement with the criminal justice system and its collateral consequences. For legal actors, this practice can reduce caseloads and free up resources to focus on high priority cases. These potentialities motivate and shape the screening policies at the Office of the Bronx District Attorney, an office that represents a county of roughly 1.5 million residents. The current study uses data from the Bronx DA to examine the effectiveness of the office’s screening policies in avoiding unnecessary prosecution and channeling resources towards the most serious cases. Results from regression analyses that explore the relationship between the Bronx DA’s screening practices and these outcomes will be discussed.

Authors

• Sean Patrick Houlihan, Office of the Bronx District Attorney

• Cindy Redcross, Office of the Bronx District Attorney

• Mia Krause, The District Attorney's Office of Bronx, New York

• Amanda Russell, Office of the Bronx District Attorney

• Kat Barton, Office of the Bronx District Attorney