Prosecutors Explore New Solutions to Public Safety Concerns: A Conversation about the 'Smart Prosecution Initiative'

Summary: <p>The Bureau of Justice Assistance at U.S. Department of Justice created the <a href="https://www.bja.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?Program_ID=121" target="_blank">Smart Prosecution Initiative</a> to encourage prosecutors to explore new solutions to public safety problems. Grant recipients work with researchers to document outcomes and develop effective, economical, and innovative responses to crime. In this podcast, Denise O'Donnell, the director of the Bureau of Justice Assistance, sits down with Jose Egurbide of the <a href="http://www.lacityattorney.org/" target="_blank">Los Angeles City Attorney's Office</a> and Mark Kammerer of the <a href="http://www.statesattorney.org/" target="_blank">Cook County State’s Attorney’s Office</a> to talk about their Smart Prosecution programs, which use risk assessment tools to divert low-level offenders from court. The conversation took place while the three were in Chicago to attend <a href="http://www.courtinnovation.org/center-court-innovation-hosts-community-justice-2016" target="_blank">Community Justice 2016</a>.</p>