From Duke University Law School:
In a unique partnership with the Wilson Center for Science and Justice at Duke Law, two district attorney's offices are providing unprecedented access and information about the little-understood world of plea agreements in criminal cases.
Durham County (NC) District Attorney Satana Deberry '94 and Berkshire County (MA) District Attorney Andrea Harrington partnered with researchers at the Wilson Center to design and pilot a new Plea Tracker project that is generating comprehensive data on the factors that drive case outcomes. The Plea Tracker seeks to measure outcomes, increase transparency, and build public trust throughout communities served by the Durham and Berkshire District Attorney’s offices, as well as serve as a national model.
Despite plea agreements accounting for approximately 90-95% of all criminal case dispositions, what actually happens during the negotiation process has historically not been studied. The Plea Tracker's initial yearlong study will result in aggregated data to uncover patterns and trends in how prosecutors use their discretion. In a bold step toward creating evidence-based and data-driven prosecution strategies, the offices will use this data to inform future policies and decision-making. Continue reading >>>
|
|
|
|
