At 2.3 million, the incarceration rate for the U.S. is greater than any other country according to the Washington Post’s 2015 fact checker report entitled, “Yes, U.S. locks people up at a higher rate than any other country”.

The costs are staggering. According to the U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics, the annual cost to operate prisons, jails, parole, and probation is $81 billion. Surprisingly, even with this astronomical cost, recidivism rates are still high. It is not only a concern over the dollar amount, but this situation also has devastating consequences on communities of color. The over-policing and over-prosecution of racial minorities and the poor, combined with an outrageously underfunded indigent defense system, has scarred our criminal justice system. (Patton E. David, A Defender’s Take on Good Prosecutors, 87 Fordham L. Rev. 20, 20-21 (2018)).

Now is the time for transformational change and change starts with a reform-minded prosecutor.

However, many offices lack both a system for comprehensive data collection, as well as the expertise among internal staff to conduct the necessary quantitative research and analysis to inform policy. To achieve significant data-driven reform they need an external partner. An external partner can equip district attorney offices with technology and data-solutions to inform their policy decisions.

Innovative Prosecution Consulting (IPC) addresses this problem through cutting-edge data visualization software and analysis. IPC supports reform-minded prosecutors pursuing transformational change.

We use a logical method to map out a journey for every office. We start with assessing the office’s goals and culture to establish the scope of work needed. Next, we analyze the office’s present condition through data collection and evaluation and make tailored recommendations. Finally, we implement customized strategies and empower key individuals within the office to facilitate any necessary training.

We will use data visualization software (Tableau) to develop internal data dashboards in prosecutor offices. These dashboards, in combination with IPC’s and AU’s policy expertise, will inspire district attorneys to make evidence-based policy reforms.

This is a dynamic and innovative approach because it has never been attempted in this manner. A future where all communities trust police and prosecutors and know that they will receive equal treatment is possible. I can see it, and I know how we can get there.