This document provides seven tips for prosecutors to advocate for victims while upholding ethical standards, using the Bill Cosby case as an example that would apply to other high-profile crimes against children.
The seven tips presented in this article use the case study of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court conviction of William Henry Cosby (Bill Cosby) as an example of a high-profile court case for crimes against children, discussing its long and winding path through civil and criminal courts, with decision-making by elected prosecutors, judges, civil attorneys, and multiple victims. The first tip is to understand the human factors behind the fact pattern, noting behavior patterns of victims of intimate violent crimes. The second tip recommends that prosecutors communicate early, consistently, and candidly with victims. The third tip states to trust, but litigate; it notes that complicated issues often require complex legal arguments and extensive hearings, and explains how appeals on sexual assault and child abuse may take years to be resolved. The fourth tip states that the best offense is a good defense, and advocates for good preparation, legal knowledge, practiced argument presentation, and ethical advocacy for victims. The fifth tip encourages the maintenance of ethical integrity, regardless of pressure or context. The sixth tip recommends harnessing the power of the Freedom of the Press, and knowing when to accept media attention. The seventh and final tip discusses resisting the pressure or incentives to back down, decline to prosecute, or make a plea deal.