COVID-19 Report for Prosecutors and Courts, December 16, 2020

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December 16, 2020 - Bulletin No. 23

Prosecutors' offices and court systems across the nation are being impacted by COVID-19. Their daily work to maintain constitutional justice is being uprooted, altered, and halted. CNA and NDAA have partnered to actively develop and disseminate useful COVID-19 response resources to prosecutors and courts to support them during this trying time. This weekly bulletin shares helpful information and resources, as well as upcoming virtual networking events.

Registration Now Available!

Maintaining Relationships with Crime Victims During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Please join us for a virtual discussion in partnership with AEquitas, on Thursday, January 14, 2021 from 2:00-3:00 PM EDT focusing on concerns regarding creating and maintaining relationships with victims of crimes and ensuring their safety, including:

delayed reporting due to fears that the partner would be arrested and, thus, potentially exposed to COVID-19.
defendants being released and the potential for re-victimization.
privacy concerns.
ensuring the victims are receiving appropriate services.
maintaining a prosecutor-victim relationship that leads to trust.

Learn More and Register

Useful Resources

Lessons Learned from the Field: Maintaining Victim Services during the COVID-19 Pandemic

On Thursday, December 10, 2020, we brought you a virtual discussion, featuring District Attorney Hillar Moore from East Baton Rouge and representatives from his office. During this event, our panelists mentioned a number of resources that the East Baton Rouge District Attorney's Office created to ensure that victims were provided with support throughout the pandemic. We have compiled these resources in this document. To view the full webinar, click here.

Access the document here.

Experience to Action: Reshaping Criminal Justice After COVID-19

The National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice, launched by the Council on Criminal Justice in July 2020, released their final set of recommendations, highlighting long-term policy changes to better balance public health and public safety.

Read the full report here.

National Commission on COVID-19 and Criminal Justice. Experience to Action: Reshaping Criminal Justice After COVID-19. Washington, D.C.: Council on Criminal Justice, December 2020.

Court News & Innovative Responses

Bexar County, Texas

In an attempt to address the case backlog, Bexar County has increased the number of judges hearing misdemeanor family violence cases. For more information, click here.

Indiana

Due to an increase in COVID-19 cases, the Indiana Supreme Court has suspended jury trials statewide until March 1, 2021. For more information, click here.

South Carolina

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases, the Chief Justice of the South Carolina Supreme Court issued an order temporarily suspending the selection of new grand jury members. For more information, click here.

From NDAA

We want to hear from you! If you would like to submit questions or have other concerns, please email us at covid19_courts@cna.org.

COVID-19-related news articles and resources, and past bulletins will be posted on the NDAA website. Continue to check the website for updated information.

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