APRI Highlights - Summer 2001

Hot Topics

Debra Whitcomb

Director, Grant Programs and Development

ONE OF APRI's major goals is to keep prosecutors current on "cutting-edge" issues that affect the criminal justice system. We do this by adapting our existing programs and developing new ones as priorities shift and novel ideas emerge.

All of APRI's work is funded by grants or contracts. Each of the program areas described in this newsletter is supported by at least one grant, most commonly from the US Department of Justice. As a result, we are constantly writing proposals to renew existing awards and to acquire new ones.

So far this year, we have submitted proposals totaling more than $9 million. About half of these proposals will allow us to continue work that is already underway in the areas of child abuse, juvenile justice, violence against women, DNA and traffic law.

But the others, if funded, will help us branch into exciting new areas. Several proposals focus on victim issues: How can prosecutors better serve elderly victims or victims in rural areas? How can prosecutors help victims and families understand both the promise and limitations of DNA evidence? How can prosecutors ensure that child victims are properly interviewed?

Other proposals will explore the potential of community prosecution. How widely has this new concept been adopted? What innovative strategies are in place? Can we demonstrate success in improving neighborhood livability and reducing crime?

We also hope to support Project Safe Neighborhoods (the administration's new gun violence initiative), to expand our work on cybercrime and to develop a new focus on drug prosecution.

Above all, we want to be responsive to your needs.

How can we best help you?