District attorneys and their prosecutors are the most powerful actors in the criminal justice system. How they go about their job can fundamentally impact people’s lives for better or for worse.

DAs and their staff are making choices on a daily basis about who they charge, the severity and number of charges, who gets access to treatment and diversion programs and who doesn’t, which victims get access to services and support, and whether prosecutors are paying attention to reducing racial disparity.

In November 2016, and again in 2018, the ACLU of Oregon submitted public records requests to all 36 of Oregon’s district attorney offices in order to better understand what written policies were shaping their work. It took two years and hundreds of dollars to get a partial but insightful glimpse of what exists. What we learned through this research left us deeply concerned.