Trainings — prosecution.org

Prosecutors can play a role beyond traditional law enforcement. This convening discussed how prosecutors can support diversion programs, connect individuals to services, and collaborate with public health and community partners to address the underlying causes of quality-of-life offenses.

“Housing is public safety. People need to understand the perspective of preventing people from becoming crime victims, and having needs that prohibit quality of life offenses that result in criminalization.”

Will Knight

Director, National Homelessness Law Center

“The biggest stereotype is that homelessness is a personal issue or moral failure, substance abuse, or a mental health issue. The biggest issue/reason for homelessness is due to a Lack of affordable housing.”

Donald H. Whitehead Jr.

Executive Director, National Coalition for the Homeless

Quality-of-life concerns often reflect deeper social challenges. Panelists emphasized that issues such as homelessness, substance use, and mental health crises are frequently symptoms of broader structural problems, such as housing shortages and gaps in social services.

Executive Summary

Across the United States, communities are increasingly grappling with visible quality-of-life concerns such as homelessness, substance use, and untreated mental illness. Although many jurisdictions have experienced declining crime rates, public perceptions of safety remain deeply shaped by these issues. In many cities, residents frequently encounter people experiencing housing insecurity or behavioral health crises in public spaces, leading to growing pressure on local leaders to respond. Yet these concerns often reflect broader structural challenges, such as increasing housing costs, economic inequality, and decades of disinvestment in social services, rather than problems that can be solved solely through traditional criminal justice strategies.

In response to these challenges, the Institute for Innovation in Prosecution brought together prosecutors, researchers, public defenders, judges, and policy experts for its Quality of Life Convening. The gathering created a forum for cross-sector dialogue about how the criminal justice system currently responds to quality-of-life issues and how those responses may evolve. Participants emphasized that prosecutors are often asked to address complex social problems, such as homelessness or addiction, that fall outside the traditional scope of criminal law. The convening sought to explore more effective and humane approaches that prioritize community well-being while maintaining public safety.

Much of the discussion focused on the intersection between housing instability and the criminal justice system. Experts highlighted that structural factors, including the shortage of affordable housing and persistent poverty, largely drive homelessness. Participants also noted that individuals experiencing homelessness are often both highly criminalized and highly victimized, frequently cycling through jails, courts, and emergency services without receiving long-term support. These dynamics demonstrate how criminalizing homelessness can exacerbate instability, creating barriers to employment, housing, and identification documents that make it even harder for individuals to exit homelessness.

Substance use and mental health crises also emerged as central themes throughout the convening. Speakers emphasized that traditional enforcement strategies often fail to address the underlying causes of addiction and behavioral health challenges. Instead, participants discussed the importance of public health–oriented responses, including diversion programs, harm reduction partnerships, and increased access to treatment and peer support. Many prosecutors acknowledged that legal training alone does not prepare them to address these complex issues, highlighting the need for greater collaboration with medical professionals, researchers, and community organizations.

Throughout the convening, participants repeatedly stressed that lasting solutions will require deeper collaboration across government and community sectors. Housing providers, public health agencies, social service organizations, and criminal justice institutions must work together to address the root causes of quality-of-life concerns. Initiatives such as alternative response teams, problem-solving courts, and diversion programs were highlighted as promising models that connect individuals to services rather than relying solely on punitive responses. Ultimately, the convening underscored that improving housing stability, expanding behavioral health services, and strengthening community partnerships are essential to building safer, healthier communities.

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