Trautman brings a decade of experience as a prosecutor, Capitol Hill staffer, and public policy expert to his work shaping and advancing smart criminal justice policies and practices. He has particular expertise relating to prosecution, diversion and crisis response strategies, and pretrial justice.

Previously, Trautman worked for over three years as a resident senior fellow of criminal justice and civil liberties policy at the R Street Institute. In this role, he researched and wrote on a variety of criminal justice issues and provided expert advice and consultation to legislators, prosecuting attorneys, and other criminal justice stakeholders. Prior to his work at R Street, Trautman served as counsel for the Homeland Security Committee in the U.S. House of Representatives. Lars began his legal career as an assistant district attorney in Essex County, Massachusetts. In two and a half years as a prosecutor, he handled hundreds of misdemeanor and felony cases, including conducting dozens of trials.

Trautman earned his B.A. in political science from Johns Hopkins University, his M.A. in politics and international studies from Uppsala University in Sweden, and his J.D. from the University of Virginia School of Law. He lives in Austin, TX with his wife and two children.