As the number of exonerations of innocent people through the use of DNA and other types of reliable evidence continues to mount nationally, more and more prosecutors’ offices are taking steps to ensure the right person is put on trial. District attorneys across the country are focusing on “conviction integrity” by honing pre-arrest procedures and focusing on gathering as much evidence as possible. The district attorneys in Philadelphia and Montgomery County have taken particularly progressive and public roles in these initiatives.
For example, in Montgomery County, District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman has put her office’s resources to use in doing it right from the beginning. She has updated the training for prosecutors and detectives in her office, implemented new guidelines for evidence collection and retention and is encouraging police within her jurisdiction to adopt best-evidence-based practices that minimize the risk of arresting innocent people and prosecuting them for crimes they did not commit. Similarly, in Philadelphia, District Attorney Seth Williams has completely overhauled the charging unit, encouraging veteran prosecutors to work with police before charges are even brought.
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