Contact: Michael Rushford
(916) 446-0345
In a series of eight “special directives” released Monday, newly elected Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón has laid out a plan to convert his office from a criminal prosecution agency to an adjunct to the State Public Defender and the ACLU.
According to the Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, a pro-law enforcement group, under Gascón, the largest district attorney’s office in the country will no longer be enforcing California law. “A month ago Los Angeles County voted by over 54% to continue requiring criminal suspects to make bail before being released. Gascón’s Special Directive 20-06 provides for the elimination of bail,” said CJLF President Michael Rushford.
The Foundation notes that after Governor Newsom’s executive order eliminated bail statewide for several months this year, supposedly to protect arrestees from Covid-19, auto thefts, car jacking, commercial burglaries, shootings, and homicides immediately increased. While the state has since abandoned its no-bail policy, under Gascón, Los Angeles County is going to prohibit bail for so-called nonviolent crimes, including drug dealing, car theft, and all property crimes. For violent criminals such as rapists and murderers, the first priority for setting bail in Gascón’s office will be the “accused’s ability to pay.” In most cases the defendant will be given home detention, rehab programs, and electronic monitoring.
Gascón’s Special Directive 20-08 eliminates sentence increases (called enhancements) for repeat violent felons, essentially allowing a five-time rapist to serve the same sentence as a first-time rapist. The District Attorney’s Office will not seek any sentence enhancements under any circumstances, and the office will take the criminal’s side in seeking to remove already imposed enhancements in prior cases.
“These policies are going to flood Los Angeles County with habitual felons and reward even the most violent repeat criminals with sentences that treat them like first-time offenders,” said Rushford. “While there has never been a time Gascón’s policies would be worthwhile, forcing them on Los Angeles at a time where homicides have already reached a ten-year high is pure insanity,” he added.
The Criminal Justice Legal Foundation will be distributing additional releases regarding the other “special directives” issued by District Attorney George Gascón.