A team of researchers worked full-time for two and a half years to learn as much as possible about the elected district attorneys across the nation, as well as the lawyers they hire to evaluate and try defendants arrested by local police agencies.

The report finds that prosecutorial misconduct falls into several categories, including:

• Courtroom misconduct (making inappropriate or inflammatory comments in the presence of the jury; introducing or attempting to introduce inadmissible, inappropriate or inflammatory evidence; mischaracterizing the evidence or the facts of the case to the court or jury; committing violations pertaining to the selection of the jury; or making improper closing arguments);
• Mishandling of physical evidence (hiding, destroying or tampering with evidence, case files or court records);
• Failing to disclose exculpatory evidence;
• Threatening, badgering or tampering with witnesses;
• Using false or misleading evidence;
• Harassing, displaying bias toward, or having a vendetta against the defendant or defendant’s counsel (including selective or vindictive prosecution, which includes instances of denial of a speedy trial);
• Improper behavior during grand jury proceedings.
• Improper closing arguments
• Excluding Jurors on the basis of race, ethnicity, gender or some other discriminatory grounds.

We hope the mainstream media gives due coverage to this important report.

Update: The Associated Press reports here.