There is new backlash to some of the changes being made by new L.A. County District Attorney George Gascon. I eliminated sentencing enhancements because a sentence enhancement doesn t necessarily create more safety. In fact, they often create more recidivism, says Gascon.
A memo sent to deputy district attorneys was obtained by Eyewitness News. It instructs them not to file sentence enhancements because the office now believes the state penal code is unconstitutional. What we re doing is certainly not unlawful and not unethical, and prosecutors are sworn to follow the directions of the elected DA, Gascon said.
Deputy District Attorney John Hatami is critical of the new policy.
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The Los Angeles district attorney has responded to fear-mongering about new directives introduced in the last two weeks, according to reports.
District Attorney George Gascon has dealt with backlash to directives introduced shortly after he was sworn in just nine days ago.
The special directive ends cash bail for misdemeanor and nonserious or nonviolent felonies and stops the DA s office from pursuing the death penalty and sentencing enhancements in county prosecutions, FOX 11 LA reported. However, I do have to say I m somewhat troubled by the misinformation and the fear-mongering that I have seen expressed over and over during the last few days, Gascon said. It s not surprising to me, you know, that people have benefited from a system that has been impacting communities in so many negative ways without necessarily producing good results because they had a monetary interest.