Multnomah County District Attorney's Office Selected For National Survivor-Centered Diversion Pilot Project - 10/19/23

The Association of Prosecuting Attorneys announces MCDA’s pilot program to address correlation between gender-based violence and eventual interface with the criminal justice system

The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office (MCDA) has been selected by the Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (APA) as a pilot site for establishing locally tailored diversion programs for criminalized survivors of gender-based violence. The office will partner with Bradley Angle to provide services that create alternative pathways in lieu of traditional prosecution for criminalized survivors to address underlying trauma.

There is a strong correlation between survivors of gender-based violence and eventual interface with the criminal justice system, yet few resources exist to address this through opportunities for diversion, services, and a pathway to healing for survivors. Research has demonstrated that the needs and experiences of women of color, especially Black women, who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking, go largely unaddressed in the traditional criminal justice approach to victim services when compared to their white counterparts. 

“Survivors of domestic violence experience many forms of trauma and exploitation that often go unaddressed,” said DA Mike Schmidt. “We are pleased that this grant will give us additional tools to center the needs of survivors, address root causes of criminality, and bring into balance community justice.” 

This project will provide prosecutors with a set of tools to identify and support criminalized survivors with the goal of promoting public safety and addressing the well-being of the individuals who are receiving services and support.

MCDA participated in a competitive process and was selected by APA among applications received from prosecutors’ offices nationwide. APA supports the efforts of U.S. prosecutors and justice system professionals to create safer communities through a more just and equitable legal system.

“We are excited to work with the Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office and its partner, Bradley Angle, to develop pathways for survivor-centered diversion, which will simultaneously improve public safety in their communities, provide trauma-informed support and healing to survivors, and target racial and ethnic disparities,” said David LaBahn, APA President and CEO. 

In partnership with Bowie State University and funded by the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crime, APA will work with the selected sites to collect data to better understand the needs of criminalized survivors and to develop model diversion programs and practices to support survivor-centered diversion. 

Over the course of the project, APA and MCDA will identify promising practices and share guidance and insights to support the creation of alternative pathways in a wide array of prosecutors’ offices and communities nationwide. 

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