My Call to Action
However, I recently took classes at American University where I met criminal justice agents who emphasized the power of people to effect change from inside and outside the system. They understood the importance of justice for all and actively fought for that very idea. Their insight and passion revitalized my dream.
Reimagining the Role of the Prosecutor
Can state prosecutors stem mass incarceration and increase fairness?
Absolutely.
The most powerful official in the criminal justice system is the state prosecutor. She decides who will be charged and the severity and nature of the offense(s). She also determines the plea offers and presents sentencing and bail recommendations. And it is only the prosecutor who can dismiss charges. Judges, criminal defense lawyers, and even legislatures, do not have the same power as prosecutors. Because they have the most power, transformational change must start with them.
What needs to be done?
What has become of our public defender system?
When I was a prosecutor in Brooklyn, the Legal Aid Society and the Brooklyn Defender Service were my opposing counsel. As a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in D.C., the D.C. Public Defender’s Office was our adversary. All of these offices had stellar attorneys and appeared to have adequate funding and resources. Their goal was to provide effective assistance of counsel to their clients. They truly fought for their clients.
But that’s not the case nationally.