|
December 13, 2025 New PERF report shows the importance of innovative police-prosecutor collaborations
PERF members, Occasionally, I read news stories about conflicts between district attorneys and law enforcement that have spilled into public view. These disputes can center on fundamental issues, such as policies in San Francisco, California, governing the prosecution of police use-of-force cases or decisions in Bexar County, Texas, about whether broad categories of crimes will be prosecuted at all. In Multnomah County, Oregon, apparent misunderstandings about how police process evidence led to prosecutors dismissing several cases against protesters accused of breaking the law, which frustrated the officers who had arrested them. And in Alameda County, California, a district attorney was ultimately recalled after intense criticism from police unions, whose members disagreed with her policies and invested heavily in the recall effort. PERF has explored this type of conflict before, in a 2020 report that sought common ground between police chiefs and DAs with new prosecutorial approaches. But stories like these are disheartening because while DAs, chiefs, and sheriffs operate independently and have distinct authorities and separate responsibilities, they ultimately share common goals—safety, fairness, and accountability. Ideally, they pursue those goals collaboratively. And when partnerships function as intended, collaboration between prosecutors and law enforcement becomes a powerful force multiplier for justice. As 2025 draws to a close, police leaders face a persistent challenge: doing more with fewer officers. Staffing shortages and rising demands often stretch agencies thin, forcing chiefs and sheriffs to look beyond traditional policing for solutions. One powerful yet often overlooked resource is hiding in plain sight: the district attorney’s office. Today’s prosecutors aren’t just courtroom advocates and legal advisors; they can be strategic partners who bring resources like additional funding, technology, and problem-solving expertise to the table. Across the country, innovative DA-led initiatives are helping police close cases, reduce violence, and rebuild community trust—all of which lightens the load on law enforcement. PERF’s newest report, Strengthening Justice: Strategies for Effective Prosecutor-Police Partnerships, highlights 11 initiatives that show how leaning into this partnership can transform the way agencies tackle today’s toughest public safety challenges. These programs go far beyond traditional case review—they embed prosecutors in police departments covering high-crime areas, create mobile apps to save officer time, and secure support and funding for specialized interview training. Each featured program is DA-led and police-supported, and each one delivers measurable benefits for law enforcement. For example, in Yolo County, California, DA Jeff Reisig launched the “FastPass” program to tackle skyrocketing retail theft—a crime that often falls to the bottom of the priority list when police are short-staffed. FastPass allows major retailers to submit detailed theft reports directly to the DA’s office through a secure portal, bypassing the traditional process that requires extensive police involvement. The DA’s team reviews these reports within days, often finding them warrant-ready, and coordinates with law enforcement only when additional steps are needed. During its first year of operation, FastPass resulted in charges against 138 defendants—most of them repeat offenders—and recovered more than $230,000 in stolen merchandise, all while saving countless hours of officer time. This simple innovation demonstrates how prosecutors can ease the burden on police while ensuring accountability for retail crime.
The April 10, 2025, meeting hosted by PERF in Washington, D.C. Or consider Delaware County, Pennsylvania, where DA Jack Stollsteimer implemented a prosecutor-driven focused deterrence strategy in Chester—once the county’s most violent city per capita. With the Chester Police Department operating at only three-quarters of its authorized strength, the DA’s office stepped in to lead weekly shooting reviews, fund police overtime details using forfeiture money, and investigate every nonfatal shooting as if it had been a homicide. The results have been dramatic: Homicide clearance rates have tripled, and nonfatal shootings have plummeted, even as the city faced bankruptcy and severe staffing shortages. This initiative shows how a DA-led partnership can deliver measurable crime reductions and give police the support they need when resources are stretched thin. Other featured initiatives show just how creative prosecutors can be in helping police shoulder the load. They include
Each of these efforts reflects a common theme: prosecutors stepping beyond their traditional roles to deliver solutions that save time, strengthen cases, and build trust—especially when law enforcement resources may be insufficient. PERF member Kristine Hamann, executive director of the Prosecutors’ Center for Excellence and a former longtime prosecutor, partnered with us on this project and played a key role in selecting the programs featured in this report. She collaborated closely with PERF Deputy Director Jennifer Sommers, herself a veteran state and local prosecutor, who was deeply engaged in this effort. With extensive experience, both have witnessed first-hand how innovative collaboration between district attorneys and law enforcement can be truly transformative. The publication also offers simple collaborative principles that all chiefs and sheriffs should keep in mind when partnering with DAs:
We encourage you to review these principles and examples, share them with your local prosecutor, and consider implementing programs you may not have considered before. Even better, let this publication spark conversations about new ways to work together. These partnerships aren’t just about easing workloads—they’re about building sustainable strategies that enhance community safety and make justice more effective for everyone. Best, Chuck |
