Prosecutorial Accountability Survey

Share your views on whether the local prosecutors in your area should be subject to any new accountability standards?

Hit "OK" to start Survey.

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* 1. If you were a victim in pursuit of justice, on a scale of 1 to 10, how strongly would you trust your local prosecutor to secure a just outcome and to treat you with respect? (1 = no trust; 10 = strongest trust)

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* 2. What word first comes to mind when you think of your local Prosecutors’ Office?

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* 3. Should a prosecutor prioritize fairness to an accused citizen, or securing an outcome desired by leading members of a Community? [Note, we did not allow for a middle ground option of "both." You must choose.]

Fairness to defendant is most important priority; Community interests not factor that should sway Prosecutor

Fairness to defendant is top deciding priority, but Community interests is second and must be weighed

Fairness to defendant can be weighed, but not as important as Community interests that should decide

Community interest is most important priority, and fairness to defendant is for court to secure, not prosecutor

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* 4. If you were accused of a criminal offense, on a scale of 1 to 10, how strongly would you trust your local prosecutor to treat you fairly, including disclosing information that may strengthen your defense (as required by law)? (1 = no trust; 10 = strongest trust)

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* 5. How effective would it be if the federal government required local Prosecutors’ Offices that receive federal funding to publish publicly and subject to Freedom of Information requests any and all disciplinary complaints against any prosecutors in connection with any act or decision taken in the course of their official duties?

Extremely effective

Very effective

Somewhat effective

Not so effective

Not at all effective

Other, if you have a better option for federal involvement.

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* 6. As stated in our blog post, prosecutors currently have “absolute immunity” from civil damages. Would you approve changing laws in your county and/or state to make prosecutors subject to civil liability if they knowingly frame a citizen (e.g., by using information they knew to be false; failing to investigate their own witnesses; failing to disclose evidence; etc.)? Counties and states employ prosecutors, meaning they would have to pay any civil money damages if immunity was waived.

Strongly approve

Approve

Neither approve nor disapprove

Disapprove

Strongly disapprove

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* 7. Currently, prosecutors can be subject to criminal liability for conduct in office, but it rarely, if ever, happens. Would you approve changes in laws of your county & state to make prosecutors subject to greater criminal liability if they knowingly frame a citizen (e.g., by using information they knew to be false; failing to investigate their own witnesses; failing to disclose evidence; etc.)?

Strongly approve

Approve

Neither approve nor disapprove

Disapprove

Strongly disapprove

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* 8. Would your answer to either question #7 (change civil penalties) or question #8 (change criminal penalties) above depend in part on whether your county or state changed laws to increase civil or criminal penalties for local police officers? In other words, should government lawyers and government police receive the same treatment for immunity, or not?

A great deal (conduct of prosecutors and police in justice system should be evaluated exactly the same)

A lot (they should be treated much the same)

A moderate amount (they should have similar performance requirements, with differences)

A little (they should have a few similar requirements)

Not at all

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* 9. Prior to the 2020 General Election on Nov. 3 to elect offices of President and Vice President, how familiar were you with the performance history of Kamala Harris in her prior career as a criminal prosecutor?

Extremely familiar

Very familiar

Somewhat familiar

Not so familiar

Not at all familiar

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* 10. How much experience do you have, if any, with criminal justice proceedings or activities in your local area?

A great deal (e.g. juror, witness, victim, defendant, advocate, community involvement, relative of court participant or employee, law student, read lots of cases or crime blotters, etc.)

A lot

A moderate amount

A little

None at all