Exploring Prosecutorial Practices and Equity: Epperson Contributes to National Academies Workshop
By Crown Family School
Matt Epperson, Associate Professor at the University of Chicago Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice and Director of the Smart Decarceration Project, served on the planning committee and as a workshop presenter and facilitator for the recent Examining Prosecution: Proceedings of a Workshop from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM).
The workshop convened national experts and practitioners to examine how prosecutorial practices can address racial and ethnic disparities, promote fairness, and implement alternatives to criminal legal system involvement. Participants explored promising practices for building accountability within prosecutors’ offices, ways to foster partnerships between prosecutors and community actors, and strategies for embedding equity in prosecutorial decision-making.
A key focus was advancing data-driven approaches and addressing gaps in research on prosecutorial reforms. Discussions also underscored the importance of collaboration across sectors to support sustainable, systemic change in prosecution and broader criminal legal systems.
This work builds upon Epperson’s leadership with the Smart Decarceration Project, which develops strategies to substantially reduce incarceration and promote equitable outcomes across the justice system. The Proceedings of a Workshop report is now publicly available online. Read the full report.