LGBTQ voters and others were dumbstruck last week when Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón announced that, in addition to several other sweeping reforms, he’d be ending sentencing enhancements for criminals, including those found to have committed hate crimes.
“People that commit a crime … they are going to face accountability. And that accountability will be proportionate to the crime,” the newly minted DA explained. “Enhancements do not have anything to do with accountability.”
After taking a call with LGBTQ advocates on Thursday, December 17, Gascón amended the directive, saying he would now “allow enhanced sentences in cases involving the most vulnerable victims and in specified extraordinary circumstances. These exceptions shall be narrowly construed.”