Objectives:

We investigate path dependence and barriers to the acceptance and implementation of reform-minded prosecution, which focuses on reducing unnecessary incarceration, promoting fairness, engaging with the community, and improving accountability in the criminal justice system.

Method:

Using semistructured interviews with 47 prosecutors in two Florida jurisdictions, both with newly elected state attorneys, we explore reform-minded prosecution priorities and barriers to their effective implementation.

Results:

Findings suggest that though reform-minded priorities are present in the study prosecutor’s offices, existing prosecutorial norms, case-focused decision-making, policy ambiguities, and communication challenges serve as barriers to their effective implementation.

Conclusions:

The study highlights the role that line agents play in determining the success of reform-minded prosecution. It also identifies key barriers to reform that reform-minded prosecutors must overcome if they are to achieve meaningful changes toward greater effectiveness, transparency, and impartiality in prosecution.

中文翻译：

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磨砺期望：检察改革的定性研究

目标：

我们调查了路径依赖以及接受和实施具有改革意识的起诉的障碍，这些关注的重点是减少不必要的监禁，促进公平，与社区互动以及改善刑事司法系统中的责任制。

方法：

使用具有47名检察官两个佛罗里达州司法管辖区，都与新当选的州检察长半结构化面试中，我们探索改革意识起诉优先事项和障碍，其有效实施。

结果：

研究结果表明，尽管研究检察官办公室存在着改革意识优先事项，但现有的检察规范，以案件为中心的决策，政策模糊性以及沟通挑战是其有效实施的障碍。

结论：

这项研究强调了直属特工在确定具有改革意识的起诉成功方面所发挥的作用。它还确定了改革的主要障碍，那些有改革意识的检察官要想实现有意义的变革，以提高起诉的效力，透明度和公正性，就必须克服这些障碍。