|
|
|
The American Prosecutors Research Institute's Office of Research and Evaluation conducts cutting edge studies and analyses to ensure that the nation's state and local prosecutors have access to the most up-to-date and needed research about prosecution and criminal justice policies and programs. The office's activities inform prosecutors about new, innovative, and tested strategies for addressing crime in their communities. To this end, APRI's research focuses on enhancing prosecutors' ability to design and implement effective internal and external policies, procedures, and programs, improving their overall capacity for serving their communities.
|
Basic Factors in Determining Prosecutor Workload
Cases filed, cases closed, crime rate and population size are all used as indicators for predicting how many staff members a prosecutor’s office needs to handle its workload, but are these the rights indicators?
A landmark study conducted by the American Prosecutors Research Institute's (APRI)
|
|
 How Many Cases Should A Prosecutor Handle?
National Workload Assessment Monograph
Cases filed, cases closed, crime rate and population are all used as indicators for predicting how many staff members a prosecutor’s office needs to handle its workload, but are these the right indicators? According to the national workload assessment study completed by APRI’s Office of Research & Evaluation, these indicators are not, in fact, the right ones.
|
|
The Office of Research and Evaluation's work includes:
- Consultant services and management studies
- Empirical research
- Policy analyses
- Program evaluation
- Identification of best practices
Consultant Services and Management Studies
The Office of Research and Evaluation has a proven track record of providing insightful consulting services to state and local prosecutors and related agencies. The types of services include:
- Strategic planning;
- Assessment of salary structures and benefits packages;
- Case processing, case flow, and case management analyses;
- Assessment of organizational structures;
- Guidance on the implementation of special initiatives, policies, and procedures;
- Capacity building for monitoring success; and
- Evaluation of the impact of prosecutors' policies, procedures, and special programs (e.g., prevention, intervention, or enforcement programs).
Research staff are available to provide these types of services under contract. For more information, contact APRI Office of Research and Evaluation.
|
Empirical Research
APRI's empirical research focuses on new and emerging issues that have the potential to directly or indirectly impact prosecution. Different types of research include exploring the nature/prevalence of emerging criminal justice issues, assessing prosecutors' response to different types of crimes and related community problems, and recommending strategies for addressing various prosecution issues.
Recent and on-going research efforts include:
Our research is conducted primarily under federal grants to APRI as well as in partnership with state and local prosecutors who receive federal grants and subcontract with the unit for specific research. The Office of Research and Evaluation is always interested in hearing from prosecutors and others about topics that are of interest to them. Feel free to contact the unit about areas of interest that you think should be studied, or if you would like to partner with APRI for a research study or work with APRI to design a research study that is tailored to your jurisdiction's needs.
|
| Personnel
The Office of Research and Evaluation is staffed by highly experienced professionals, trained in both qualitative and quantitative sociological research methods, program evaluation, statistical analysis, policy analysis, psychology, criminology, and criminal justice. In addition, the researchers at APRI have experience working as practitioner-researchers in the criminal justice system, prosecutors' offices, social service agencies, and community-based organizations. This unique blend of experience ensures that APRI's Research Unit has a solid understanding of the day-to-day operation of the criminal justice system and agencies, which results in a practical research approach and perspective.
|
|
|
