Prosecutors have an obligation to ensure the rule of law applies to everyone, including law enforcement officers. Yet, the training and experience prosecutors receive for ordinary felony cases leave important gaps when it comes to prosecuting police misconduct cases. Common challenges include reliance on investigations conducted by a conflicted agency, limited access to or confidence in expert witnesses, lack of experience with intense media and political attention, and legal standards or processes designed to shield the decisions of police officers from scrutiny.

In response to these challenges, the Prosecutors Alliance launched the nation’s first annual conference dedicated to improving knowledge and practice concerning police prosecutions. The Conference on Prosecution of Law Enforcement Misconduct brings together experts and practitioners from across the nation to create a community of learning centered around the fair and successful prosecution of serious police misconduct. Through keynote addresses, panels, and small-group breakout discussions, participants are equipped with actionable tools to achieve just outcomes in these complex and difficult cases.