June 17, 2009 –Jennifer Zilavy of the Madison City Attorney’s Office explains the strategy of “community prosecutions,” a means of fighting drug trafficking and other serious crimes by focusing on smaller, quality-of-life issues. Zilavy discusses her meetings with landlords to abate nuisances and her preference for informal resolutions rather than protracted litigation. Zilavy outlines some of the practical solutions the city has been able to give landlords other than simply evicting troublesome tenants.

Zilavy spoke at the Government Lawyers Division program at the State Bar Annual Convention in May.