Presentation Abstract

Student's Name: Amy Jones ‘25

Co-registrant Names:

Type of Presentation: Research Paper

Presentation Title: "Federal Prosecutions: Effective Public Safety or Politics"

Abstract:

Every U.S. president sets policy priorities that influence executive orders and concomitant law enforcement initiatives. Shifts in presidential ideology impact the types and volume of cases prosecuted at the federal level (Lynch, Barno, and Omori 2021). Over the last two presidential administrations, several key policies differences have guided U.S. Attorneys' offices on how federal criminal cases should be handled. At the micro-organizational level, these policy differences can lead to significant changes in the day-to-day operations of the federal criminal justice system, aligning with the priorities of the sitting president.

Using publicly available data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission, this study examines differences in the types of crimes prosecuted federally and the sentencing patterns of U.S. Attorneys between the Trump (2017–2019) and Biden (2021–2023) administrations. The results indicate that federal prosecution patterns aligned with presidential policy priorities, leading to variations in prosecution levels and sentencing across federal court jurisdictions. Granting federal agencies greater independence to implement evidence-based practices that prioritize public safety—regardless of crime type—could enhance crime reduction efforts and ensure more effective law enforcement strategies.

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