Misdemeanor Injustice: Rethinking Prosecutorial Approaches in Misdemeanor Cases

Описание: Our December webinar focuses on improving prosecutorial approaches in misdemeanor cases. Our webinar includes a panel of esteemed experts and practitioners whose work has shaped reforms to misdemeanor prosecutions nationwide. Joining our discussion are:
Eli Savit, Prosecuting Attorney, Washtenaw County, MI
Alexandra Natapoff, Lee S. Kreindler Professor of Law, Harvard Law School
Mitha Nandagopalan, Staff Attorney, Strategic Litigation, The Innocence Project
Rachel Marshall (moderator), Executive Director, IIP

Misdemeanors are the most common entry point into the criminal legal system for many people, as misdemeanor cases make up over 80% of all prosecutions. Yet too often, discussion on reform focuses solely on felony cases and ignores the significance of misdemeanor cases on the lives of accused persons and victims. Local prosecutors wield an enormous amount of influence over an individual’s trajectory in the justice system through how they approach misdemeanor cases. From decisions about prosecuting nonviolent misdemeanors, to implementing rehabilitative responses to low-level offenses, prosecutors have a tremendous opportunity to be forward-thinking in shaping a more equitable and transparent criminal justice system through their approaches to misdemeanor offenses.