Prosecutors and Policy Effects: Findings from Four Jurisdictions

Session Submission Type: Complete Thematic Panel

Abstract/Description

Prosecutors and body-worn camera footage
Emma Harrington & Hannah Shaffer
Using the staggered roll-out of police body-worn cameras (BWCs) in North Carolina, we find that BWCs reduce arrest & incarceration rates for Black people — but not white people. Survey results suggest that BWCs’ incarceration effects stem from prosecutors’ beliefs.

Stopping prosecution of pretextual traffic stops
JJ Naddeo & Rory Pulvino
Evaluates a prosecutorial & police policy in Minnesota intended to decrease traffic stops for equipment violations. An interrupted time series framework suggests the policy virtually eliminated these traffic stops with no adverse effect on public safety & a relatively higher decrease for Black motorists.

Prosecutor-Led Bail Reform
Sarah Jones & Rely Vilcica
Using semi-structured interviews, we examine external stakeholders’ perspectives on the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office’s bail reform. Findings reveal vulnerabilities to internal (e.g., rollout) and external (e.g., institutional resistance) challenges, highlighting the need for stakeholder collaboration and system-level support in successful reform implementation.

Prosecutorial case screening
Kevin Himberger
Cases languish when prosecutor offices fail to triage. In the first RCT of case intake, we find that a dedicated unit significantly decreases time-to-disposition, including for dismissals. Intake units can reduce: case backlogs, arrestee impacts, time to provide feedback to law enforcement, and other government costs.

Sub Unit

• Area VI. The Criminal Justice System / 52. Challenging Criminal Justice Policies

Individual Presentations

• Surveilling the Police: Do Body-Worn Cameras Prevent Police Bias from Becoming Systemic? - Emma Harrington, University of Virginia; Hannah Shaffer, Harvard University

• The Effects of Reducing Pretextual Stops: Evidence from Saint Paul Minnesota - J.J. Naddeo, Justice Innovation Lab; Rory Pulvino, Justice Innovation Lab

• Prosecutor-Led Bail Reform: Insights from External Stakeholders in Philadelphia - Sarah D. Jones, Temple University; E. Rely Vilcica, Temple University

• The Effects of Prosecutorial Screening on the Timing and Disposition of Cases - Kevin Himberger, Justice Innovation Lab

Chair

• Kevin Himberger, Justice Innovation Lab

Discussant

• Rory Pulvino, Justice Innovation Lab