Inspired by the popularity and success of community policing strategies, prosecutors in the early 1990s began experimenting with an approach to addressing crime that came to be known as community prosecution. Because community prosecution was inspired by and built upon community policing, the approaches share characteristics—most significantly, perhaps, an emphasis on making centralized, anonymous agencies more neighborhood specific and personal. This entry describes community prosecution’s components, history, and impact on community policing as well as presenting Denver’s (Colorado) community prosecution initiative as an example.

Components

The definition of community prosecution continues to evolve. In some respects its definition changes with every office that practices it. Still, researchers and practitioners have identified components that distinguish it from traditional prosecution: community engagement, partnership, and problem solving.

Community Engagement

Community prosecution seeks ...

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