A 3-part series featuring experts, activists, and advocates from around the nation.
Tuesday, October 13 at 6 PM
This virtual panel discussion will explore how prosecutorial reform can be implemented to bring an end to mass incarceration.
Prosecutors are the most influential actors in the criminal legal system. Just as there were overseers in the unjust slavery system, prosecutors are the modern-day overseers of an unjust legal system. Like police officers, they are gatekeepers into that system.
However, prosecutors hold a unique role. They are the ones responsible for making decisions about whether to charge someone with a crime and what those charges will be (which largely determines sentencing outcomes). They are also charged with decisions about plea deals and bond recommendations. All of these decisions impact who goes to jail and who is set free.
Prosecutors are mostly elective officials with a sworn duty to work towards justice— not convictions. Many of these elected officials— whether white or of color — conduct themselves in a manner that facilitates racist outcomes. And, when they act in a wrongful and malicious fashion, prosecutors — like police officers — are afforded immunity which makes it more unlikely that they will be held to the same levels of accountability to which they purport to hold others, and less likely that those who are impacted will receive justice.
Panel Moderator
Cynthia W. Roseberry, Deputy Director Policy Justice Division ACLU
Panelist
Chesa Boudin, District Attorney San Francisco, CA
Burrell Ellis, Attorney and Former CEO DeKalb County, GA
Adam Foss, Founder and Executive Director Prosecutor Impact
Jon Rapping, Founder and President Gideon’s Promise
Rachael Rollins, District Attorney Suffolk County, MA
Register Here
This event held via Zoom and live-streamed on Facebook. For more information, contact Joya Schmidt at jschmidt@the-temple.org.
Download Flyer
Future Episodes
Tuesday, October 20 at 6 PM EST: The Impact of Judges on Ending Mass Incarceration
Tuesday, October. 27 at 6 PM EST: Reimagining Public Safety: Policing Vs. Protect and Serve
Learn more about these upcoming events at the Multifaith Initiative to End Mass Incarceration’s website impact.org.