May Final Friday's Webinar: A Prosecutor’s Duty to Disclose: Brady v. Maryland
4/30/13Please join us for May’s Final Friday’s webinar, A Prosecutor’s Duty to Disclose: Brady v. Maryland, to be held on Friday, May 31st from 3:00-4:00pm (EDT). This month’s webinar kicks off a special two-part APA webinar series on Brady issues and will feature a presentation and discussion by Michelle Waymire of the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office, a regular ethics presenter at APA’s national training conferences, and Robert Hood, APA’s Director of the Community Prosecution & Violent Crime Division. Michelle and Robert will review and discuss Brady and its progeny, why these cases are important to prosecutors, and the issues and trends in recent cases. A follow up webinar later this summer will cover Brady lists and disclosure protocols, and the liability risks prosecutors face for failing to develop such policies. This training is open to all prosecutors, law enforcement, court personnel and other allied criminal justice partners.
APA is seeking one hour of “ethics” eligible CLE certification from the State of Virginia for each of these webinars. Please join us for this important and thought-provoking presentation. If you would like to download a flyer click here. **Please click HERE to register**
| U.S. Firearm Homicides on the Decline
4/29/13The U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) released encouraging data this week showing that firearm related homicides declined 39 percent from 1993 to 2011 and that non-fatal firearm crimes declined by 69 percent.
Prosecuting attorneys throughout the nation are encouraged by the report findings as they work alongside state, local and national law enforcement partners to reduce gun violence and create safer communities.
"Prosecutors are committed to reducing the level of gun violence in the communities in which we serve, and while these latest statistics are positive step in that direction, there is still a great deal of work ahead," said David LaBahn, President of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys. "Law enforcement will continue to do our part to develop and implement innovative programs to further reduce gun violence."
Findings of the BJS report include:
• Firearm-related homicides declined 39%, from 18,253 in 1993 to 11,101 in 2011
• Nonfatal firearm crimes declined 69%, from 1.5 million victimizations in 1993 to 467,300 victimizations in 2011
• Firearm violence accounted for about 70% of all homicides and less than 10% of all nonfatal violent crime from 1993 to 2011
The Association of Prosecuting Attorneys is working with non-profit organizations and with fellow law enforcement officials to develop violence reduction and prevention policies and programs to keep our communities safe.
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Monroe County prosecutor's office partners with IU Police Academy
5/22/13BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana University Police Academy has been training officers for the challenges that await them on the streets for years. Now, the Monroe County prosecutor's office has teamed up with the academy to provide instruction on criminal law. Upon graduation from the IU Police Academy, the newly certified officers, who are full-time IU students, will work as police officers for the IU Police Department on seven campuses of Indiana University. Upon graduation from the university, these officers will further their careers in law enforcement in Indiana or may advance to the federal level. Several of the officers who currently work at the Bloomington Police Department, the IUPD and the Monroe County Sheriff's Department started their careers with the IU Police Academy. "Our cadets are fortunate to have this opportunity to receive legal instruction from prosecutors with years of real-world experience handling serious cases," said IUPD Capt. Greg Butler, who oversees the IU Police Academy program. This partnership ensures the highest quality of instruction. We appreciate them volunteering time to teach this class." The criminal law class will be taught by first deputy prosecutor Jeff Kehr, senior trial deputy prosecutor Geoffrey Bradley and deputy juvenile prosecutor Rich Hansen."[More]
| Reduce drug sentences to save money on prisons, Oregon prosecutors urge
5/22/13Oregon district attorneys Tuesday urged the state to reduce penalties for marijuana offenses, and presumptive prison sentences for other drug crimes as a way to reduce spending on prison beds while safeguarding sentences for violent and repeat property crime offenders. Harney County District Attorney Timothy Colahan, president of the Oregon District Attorneys Association, stood with district attorneys from Multnomah, Washington, Clackamas and Yamhill counties at the Clackamas County District Attorney's office to call for a new approach. The prosecutors are responding to a reform package presented by Gov. John Kitzhaber's state public safety commission that would roll back Measure 11 and Measure 57 mandatory minimum prison sentences imposed by voters, in an effort to save the state $600 million over the next 10 years in projected prison growth costs. The commission's proposed changes to Measure 11 would remove mandatory sentences for such crimes as first-degree sex abuse, second-degree assault and second-degree robbery. Voters approved the tougher sentences in 1994. Measure 57 sentences are targeted at repeat property and drug offenders. The state's prosecutors have vigorously fought the changes. They presented their own package Tuesday, which goes somewhat beyond House Bill 3195 that was based on a minority report drafted by public safety commission member John Foote, Clackamas County district attorney.
Oregon Live
| State of Florida to take over crimes on cruises
5/22/13PORT CANAVERAL, Fla. - For decades, crimes on cruise ships that were not serious enough for federal authorities to investigate and prosecute often fell between the cracks of jurisdictional divides. But that could be about to change for ships using Port Canaveral in Brevard County. Prompted by concerns from Port Canaveral Police Chief Joseph Hellebrand, new Brevard State Attorney Phil Archer said Tuesday he is willing to exercise the State of Florida’s jurisdiction to crimes that occur on ships when they are in waters beyond Florida’s three-mile limit. The decision was announced as Local 6 has been revealing dozens of crimes on cruise ships not being prosecuted – including one child molestation that Disney Cruise Line did not report to local authorities until 16 hours after it occurred in port on the Disney Dream on Aug. 5. Disney Cruise Line, or DCL, failed to report the crime until Aug. 6 even though it began investigating the “inappropriate sexual act” 1 hour and 40 minutes prior to leaving port the previous day. In that time, a security officer obtained a statement from the 11-year-old victim, corroborated her account by viewing surveillance video and identified a suspect, according to a confidential security incident report obtained by Local 6. Yet, DCL did not immediately report the crime, as it claims it is required to do.[More]
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