Addressing Disparities to Reproductive Health

The Addressing Disparities to Reproductive Health Project is APA’s new initiative designed to support prosecutors nationally to reduce reproductive health-related investigations and prosecutions including pregnancy loss and abortion. The Project is funded by the Ford Foundation through the Collaborative for Gender + Reproductive Equity (CGRE). APA is guided by a select advisory committee composed of prosecutors from across the country to accomplish five goals: (1) conduct research into the medical science of reproductive health, the disparate impact of reproductive healthcare restrictive laws and related prosecutorial outcomes, (2) develop and publish reproductive health model policies and protocols for prosecutors focused on medical science and healthcare equity, (3) design a reproductive healthcare training and technical assistance (TTA) curriculum based upon the needs of the field (4) provide reproductive healthcare training (both in-person and virtual) to prosecutors, and (5) produce and publish materials on relevant topics in the specialty of reproductive health that will assist prosecutors.

To find states that ban, restrict or provide access to abortion, visit Lay of the Land: Abortion Policies and Access in the United States, Guttmacher Institute, September 8, 2022

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Press Release: Response to the Supreme Court’s Decision in Dobbs
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Press Release: Response to the Supreme Court’s Decision in Dobbs

Featured, Reproductive Health Access, Supreme Court

Press Release: Response to the Supreme Court’s Decision in Dobbs

By Sasha|2022-06-24T15:18:40-04:00June 24th, 2022|Categories: Featured, Reproductive Health Access, Supreme Court|

Press Contact: Beth Merachnik FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Association of

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Project Team

Beth MerachnikProject Director

Beth Merachnik serves as Project Director of the Association of Prosecuting Attorney’s (APA) Addressing Disparities to Reproductive Health Project. Ms. Merachnik is the former Deputy Director of APA’s Child Abuse Prosecution Project and former Director of APA’s Smart Prosecution Project. She is a former prosecutor from Massachusetts having served for over twenty years in both the Middlesex County District Attorney’s Office and the Office of the Attorney General. Ms. Merachnik prosecuted a wide variety of cases during her career at the District Attorney’s office, including crimes of homicide, sexual assault and child abuse and held the position Director of the Middlesex Domestic Violence Unit for over four years. Ms. Merachnik served at the Office of the Attorney General, first as the Chief of the Community-Based Justice Bureau and then Senior Counsel and Trial Attorney in the Criminal Bureau.

David LaBahnPresident/CEO

Mr. David LaBahn is President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA), a national association representing elected and deputy or assistant prosecutors, and city attorneys. The association acts as a global forum for the exchange of ideas, allowing prosecutors to collaborate with all criminal justice partners, and conducts timely and effective training and technical assistance to improve the prosecutorial function. In addition, APA serves as an advocate for prosecutors on emerging issues related to the administration of justice, development of partnerships and implementation of problem-solving strategies.

Aimee PetersonProject Associate

Aimee Peterson serves as the Project Associate of the Association of Prosecuting Attorney’s (APA) Addressing Disparities to Reproductive Health Project. Aimee previously served as the Project Associate for APA’s Child Abuse Prosecution Project. Aimee holds a B.A. from St. John’s University in Government and Politics and also brings experience working in the non-profit sector previously holding positions at the National Sheriffs’ Association and the School Superintendents Association.

Sasha BeattyDeputy General Counsel

Sasha Beatty joined the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys in July 2019 after previously working for the Nashville District Attorney’s Office for two years as an Assistant District Attorney General. There, she prosecuted domestic violence cases before working in Criminal Court Divisions I and V as a felony trial prosecutor. Sasha received her Juris Doctor from Vanderbilt University Law School in May of 2017. She attended Duke University and received her Bachelor of Arts in U.S. History with a minor in French. Sasha is admitted to practice law in the State of Tennessee and the District of Columbia, and is a member of the Tennessee State Bar Association, the American Bar Association, and the American Constitution Society. In addition to her work in the Office of General Counsel, Sasha works as the Web Development Director.