Posted on 03/07/2021 5:43:27 AM PST by karpov
A recently launched effort to recall Los Angeles district attorney George Gascón might represent the first encouraging sign for opponents of the “progressive-prosecutor” movement in American cities—among the most consequential developments in criminal-justice policy in recent years. From Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Boston to Chicago, St. Louis, and Dallas, cities have handed the job of representing victims and holding criminals accountable to self-styled “reformers” and former defense attorneys who campaigned on promises to restructure our nation’s criminal-justice system.
“Progressive” prosecutors around the country have, among other things, adopted non-prosecution policies for certain misdemeanor offenses—particularly quality-of-life crimes; pursued pretrial diversion at higher rates and in a broader scope of cases; pursued pretrial detention less aggressively than their predecessors; and committed to pursuing more non-carceral responses to crime.
For those who have viewed tough-on-crime prosecutors as the source of many of the justice system’s ills, the progressive-prosecutor movement constitutes a simple and effective strategy. Why bother with the expensive and cumbersome endeavor of influencing the political process if, by winning just one election, you can make as big of a dent? Much to the chagrin of those worrying about reforms going too far, too fast, the victors in these races have made their marks on the system far quicker than have many successful legislative-reform campaigns.
The latest trophy on the movement’s mantle is a good example. When Los Angeles County, population of 10.04 million, elected Gascón as district attorney over incumbent Jackie Lacey in November, the number of Americans living in jurisdictions with state, county, and district attorneys who ran on promises to prosecute fewer offenses or pursue more permissive resolutions reached approximately 40 million. All signs pointed to Gascón’s election representing another disheartening defeat for tough-on-crime types, suggesting that support for basic law and order was continuing to dwindle.
(Excerpt) Read more at city-journal.org ...
Accepting Crime, Abolishing Punishment
Commentary | March 2021 | Christine Rosen
Posted on 3/7/2021, 8:34:27 AM by karpov
https://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3940216/posts
Progressive” prosecutors, nice title for scumbags who will not bear the brunt of crime in neighborhoods because they don’t live there
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