APA is thrilled to partner with Florida International University and Loyola University Chicago to implement Prosecutorial Performance Indicators (PPIs) and develop dashboards in prosecutors’ offices nationwide.
PPIs are a suite of modern indicators for prosecutors committed to measuring effectiveness, efficiency and fairness. PPIs act as an office management, performance measurement, and accountability and transparency tool. These measures can help office executives, especially mid-level management, to understand trends of their decision making. While each individual case needs to be assessed to determine the just and most appropriate outcome, it is important to also examine the cumulative effect of these decisions over time.
With a menu of 55 indicators, PPIs measure trends and performance that emphasize the values of community well-being, prosecutorial integrity, racial equity, and effective use of resources. The PPIs are organized under three goals and nine objectives:
Community Involvement
Prosecutors’ offices are encouraged to consult community and advocacy groups as they identify local priorities and develop policy solutions, particularly around community engagement, racial disparities, substance use and drug overdose, and mental health diversion. Community groups can also help select and customize specific indicators for a given jurisdiction. These groups will provide useful perspectives on how to deal with problems, as well as strengthen community buy-in and trust as prosecutorial offices implement new policies. Prosecutors are also encouraged to establish a community advisory board to regularly discuss trends in PPIs.
Getting Started
To get started, please review the following materials.
Dr. Besiki Luka KutateladzeAssociate Professor of Criminology, Associate Director for Prosecution and Courts, Center for the Administration of Justice, FIU
Dr. Kutateladze specializes in performance indicators and prosecutorial discretion. He is currently managing projects funded by the National Institute of Justice, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Koch Foundation. Prior to his appointment at FIU, Dr. Kutateladze was the founding research director at the Institute for State and Local Governance (ISLG) and the research director for the Prosecution and Racial Justice Program of the Vera Institute of Justice.
Dr. Don StemenAssociate Professor/Chairperson, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Loyola
Dr. Don Stemen is an Associate Professor and Chairperson in the Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology at Loyola University, Chicago. Before coming to Loyola, he was the Director of Research on Sentencing and Corrections at the Vera Institute of Justice, where he worked with state and county governments to reform criminal justice policies. Dr. Stemen’s research focuses on prosecutorial decision making, exploring contextual factors affecting prosecutorial outcomes, and sentencing and corrections issues, examining the innovation and diffusion of sentencing and corrections policies across the United States.
Dr. Rebecca Richardson DunleaAssistant Professor of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Center for the Administration of Justice, FIU
Dr. Dunlea specializes in data and research on courtroom decision making, with an emphasis on prosecutorial discretion and sociodemographic disparities in criminal case processing. Her research at the FIU Center for the Administration of Justice focuses on data-informed prosecution and helping State Attorney’s Offices become more effective and fair through the improvement of data and analytical capacity. Her work is currently funded by the MacArthur Foundation, the Koch Foundation, and the Bureau of Justice Assistance.
Melba PearsonDirector of Policy and Programs, FIU Center for the Administration of Justice
Melba Pearson is an attorney specializing in civil rights and criminal law, with an emphasis on policy. She is the Director of Policy and Programs for Florida International University’s Center for the Administration of Justice. Before joining FIU, Ms. Pearson spent three years as Deputy Director of the ACLU of Florida where she worked to change police practices, expand voting rights, and reform the criminal justice system. Previously, Ms. Pearson was an Assistant State Attorney in Miami-Dade County for 16 years, culminating as Assistant Chief in the Career Criminal/Robbery Unit supervising junior attorneys while prosecuting homicides. She lives in Miami Beach with her husband Bill.
David LaBahnPresident & CEO, APA
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.
Marlene BienerSenior Deputy General Counsel, APA
Marlene Biener serves as Senior Deputy General Counsel at APA, where she works directly with prosecutors across the country on criminal justice policies. She oversees and designs trainings, resource guides, and APA publications to convey timely materials and education to prosecutors nationwide. Previously, Marlene worked for the New Jersey Office of the Attorney General. Marlene graduated from Seton Hall University School of Law in May 2013. She attended Ramapo College of New Jersey, where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science, with a minor in Public Policy. Marlene is admitted to practice law in the states of New York and New Jersey, and the District of Columbia, and is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association.
Sasha BeattyDeputy General Counsel, APA
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.
This partnership is generously supported by the MacArthur Foundation Safety & Justice Challenge.
