The DeKalb County District Attorney’s Office will participate in a national initiative aimed at promoting criminal justice reform.
The DeKalb office was one of three agencies nationwide selected to participate in the "Reshaping Prosecution" program run by the New York-based Vera Institute of Justice, officials announced this week.
According to a news release, participants were chosen “after demonstrating a strong commitment to working to transform policies, practices, and office culture to address disparities and increase transparency and accountability to their respective communities.”
DeKalb and its newly selected counterparts — Ingham County, Michigan and Boulder County, Colorado — will work with Vera to create data-driven reforms aimed at increasing public safety while promoting racial equity and “reducing the reach and impact of the criminal legal system,” officials said.
DeKalb DA Sherry Boston said her office’s invitation to participate was based on a recent decision to offer implicit bias training to every staff member.
“This is an opportunity for us to take an honest look at our operations, understand what we’re doing well, and identify areas for improvement in our ongoing efforts to create a more fair and equitable system for processing cases and promoting just outcomes,” Boston said in a news release.
The partnerships will last 18 to 24 months.
