Elections, Power, and Local Control: Reining in Chief Prosecutors and Sheriffs

Abstract

This paper argues that the election of chief prosecutors and sheriffs, and these officials’ narrow focus on crime control and suppression, has contributed to the problem of mass incarceration. The authors propose that the appointment of these positions by officials with broader responsibilities, like mayors, city council members, governors, and state legislators, would help remove barriers that currently prevent needed reforms in the criminal justice system.

Keywords: criminal justice, criminal law, mass incarceration