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Next Steps for Newly Elected Prosecutors

A female prosecutor sitting at a desk with her elbows resting in front of her and her hands raised and clasped together, on the desk is an open laptop and a set of scales resting on a book.


As a newly elected prosecutor, one of your numerous goals might be to implement a diversion program or update an existing one. Diversion programs are a unique alternative to traditional prosecution methods. The aim is to better address the root causes of criminal behavior and shift the focus from punishment to rehabilitation and treatment. This guide will help you create an effective program that best fits your community. Focusing on three key areas: understanding your community's unique needs, assessing your available resources, and ensuring cooperation from all relevant stakeholders.


Understanding Your Community's Needs

The first critical step in implementing a successful diversion program is understanding the specific needs of your community. This involves identifying factors like the most common first-time offenses, local issues, potential causes of criminal behavior in your area, and more. Your program should be tailored to address these issues directly and effectively. For example, if substance abuse is common in your community, your program should include resources for treatment. Or if your office is frequently tied up handling lots of speeding tickets, you should implement a traffic program. A deep understanding of your community’s needs is vital for your diversion program to be effective and significantly reduce recidivism rates.

 

Actively Incorporating Stakeholder Cooperation

The success of a diversion program relies heavily on the active cooperation of various stakeholders both within your agency and outside. A great place to start is by consulting with assistant district attorneys and others in your office, they can often identify unforeseen challenges, suggest potential solutions, and more. Then, involve external groups like law enforcement agencies, social workers, local community organizations, and neighboring prosecutors. Promoting communication and collaboration among these stakeholders is essential for the program's effectiveness and contributes to its long-term success.

 

Thoroughly Assessing Available Resources

After identifying your community's needs and gathering stakeholder input, the next step is to evaluate the resources available for your diversion program. This involves considering your budget, staffing capabilities, and existing infrastructure. While it's commonly assumed that implementing a diversion program requires significant time and financial resources, this is not necessarily true. Resources such as Advent eLearning are now available, providing prosecutors and other justice agencies with behavior modification courses and a diversion management platform all at no cost to the agencies. And in the long run, these programs often lead to cost savings due to reduced incarceration and recidivism rates.

 

As a newly elected prosecutor, setting up a diversion program in your jurisdiction is a key step towards a more empathetic and effective approach to criminal justice. By understanding your community's needs, assessing your resources, and fostering cooperation among stakeholders, you can create a strong program that reduces recidivism and promotes rehabilitation and prevention. As the approach to criminal justice evolves, it's increasingly important to regularly reassess and adjust our diversion programs to meet the changing needs of our communities.

 

The ultimate goal is to create a system that encourages rehabilitation, reduces recidivism, and fosters safer communities. Continual monitoring, assessment, and modification of your program are essential for its effectiveness. As a prosecutor, your commitment to these initiatives can significantly impact your community.

 

Contact Advent eLearning

If you’re interested in how Advent eLearning can benefit your agency and your clients, click here to visit our website. You can review Advent eLearning programs with no costs or obligations for your organization. Contact us today for a trial account or a guided demonstration.

 

Advent eLearning courses address a variety of topics including:

 

Alcohol & Substance Abuse

Anger Management

Animal Care

Boating & Outdoors

Bullying

Juvenile Conflict Resolution

Corrective Thinking

Defensive Driving

Financial Crimes

Firearm Responsibility

Harassment

Hunting Responsibility

Impaired Driving

Juvenile Sexting

Life Skills

Marijuana & THC

Parenting

Prostitution

Revenge Porn

Shoplifting

Theft

Traffic Safety

Underage Substance

Victim Impact Panel

 

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