National District Attorneys Association
The National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) is a professional organization that supports government prosecutors across the United States, founded in 1950. Based in Alexandria, Virginia, the NDAA focuses on enhancing community safety and protecting citizens' rights by providing training, resources, and networking opportunities for prosecutors. With a membership of approximately 7,000, the organization serves as a collective voice for prosecutors, advocating for their concerns to policymakers to improve legislation.
The NDAA plays a significant role in promoting best practices through its publication of National Prosecution Standards, which guide district attorneys in their legal work. Additionally, the NDAA produces a newsletter called The Prosecutor to assist members in their daily responsibilities. One of its key offerings is networking services that connect local prosecutors with peers and experts nationwide, facilitating the sharing of information and successful practices.
Moreover, the NDAA supports specialized training through its satellite organizations, including the American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI), which focuses on research and training on critical legal topics, and the National College of District Attorneys (NCDA), which provides continuing education for prosecutors. The NDAA also collaborates with the U.S. Department of Justice to deliver training via the National Advocacy Center (NAC). Overall, the NDAA is dedicated to advancing the skills and knowledge of prosecutors while fostering collaboration within the prosecutorial community.
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National District Attorneys Association
IDENTIFICATION: National professional organization of government prosecutors
SIGNIFICANCE: The National District Attorneys Association (NDAA) offers training to state prosecutors, assists with networking, and conducts research on prosecutors to assist prosecutors with maintaining community safety.
Founded in 1950 to help communities, victims, and prosecutors, the NDAA is based in Alexandria, Virginia, and has the mission of supporting prosecutors throughout the United States to ensure that prosecutors protect the rights and safety of citizens. The organization comprises approximately seven thousand members, who voice the concerns of prosecutors to policymakers to improve legislation. The NDAA publishes National Prosecution Standards, which summarize the best information and the ideal practices available to prosecutors that have been adopted by many district attorneys and district attorney offices. The NDAA also publishes The Prosecutor, a newsletter designed to aid prosecutors in their daily work. Perhaps the most beneficial tool offered to prosecutors by the NDAA may be its networking services. Through the NDAA, local prosecutors can connect with other prosecutors across the United States for assistance with cases. The NDAA also connects prosecutors with experts and pertinent information about which practices are most successful.
The NDAA promotes education and skills of prosecutors through three satellite organizations. In 1984, it founded the American Prosecutors Research Institute (APRI) to conduct research on prosecutors, organize prosecutor training, and provide technical assistance to the NDAA. The APRI offers training on a variety of specialized topics, including antiterrorism, child abuse, community prosecution, use of DNA, drug crimes, gun violence prosecution, hate crimes, juvenile justice, violent crimes against women, and white-collar crime.
The NDAA also sponsors the National College of District Attorneys (NCDA), which was founded in South Carolina in 1970. That body provides training and continuing legal education to prosecutors. Finally, the NDAA collaborates with the U.S. Department of Justice to offer prosecutor training through the National Advocacy Center (NAC).
Bibliography
ABA Standards for Criminal Justice: Prosecution and Defense Function. 3d ed. Washington, D.C.: American Bar Association, 1993.
Forst, Brian. “Prosecution’s Coming of Age.” Justice Research and Policy 2, no. 1 (Spring, 2000): 21-46.
Gershman, Bennett L. Prosecutorial Misconduct. New York: Clark Boardman Callaghan, 1999.
Stewart, James B. The Prosecutors. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1987.