Prosecutor-Driven Criminal Justice Reform and Socioeconomic Wellbeing

As central actors in the criminal justice system, prosecutors have substantial discretion to file charges, seek pretrial detention, divert cases, negotiate pleas, and make sentence recommendations. Several counties have recently elected prosecutors whose platforms focused on criminal justice reform, however, there is little empirical research on the outcomes of prosecutor-driven reforms. Economist Aurelie Ouss will examine the role that prosecution policies play in mitigating social and economic disparities within the criminal justice system. She will analyze data collected over a three-year partnership with the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office for her study.