With a recall election looming, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon is doing as much damage to the criminal justice system as possible. His latest move is to try and help criminals get out of jail earlier under the guise of protecting victims.
Gascon will be shutting down the “Lifer Unit,” a unit managed by three prosecutors who keep track of upcoming parole hearings so that victims may attend them. Gascon said that victims can be “triggered” by notifications of these parole hearings. According to Gascon, “victim experts have informed us that this is not a trauma-informed approach.” Whether Gascon asked any victims if it would be more traumatizing for someone who victimized them to be let out at a hearing they didn’t know about is anyone’s guess.
Gascon barred attorneys from attending these hearings to represent victims because obviously having attorneys represent the victims would also be traumatizing. Gascon cares so deeply about victims that he wants them to have no representation at parole hearings for criminals who harmed them, wants to get those criminals lighter sentences so they can get back on the street sooner, and then calls the family members of those victims uneducated and says they should shut up.
BREAKING: We’ve obtained video of LA D.A. George Gascon at the Pomona courthouse today where he can be heard saying “It’s unfortunate that some people do not have enough education to keep their mouth shut so we can talk” as the family of a murdered victim yells at him. @FOXLA pic.twitter.com/IkHVhhp25u
— Bill Melugin (@BillFOXLA) December 19, 2020
Gascon’s real focus since taking office has been to help criminals as much as possible. Aside from trying to keep victims and prosecutors from parole hearings, Gascon opposes using sentencing enhancements for criminals who use guns in their crimes or for those who have gang affiliations. He has tried to refuse to charge cases under California’s three-strikes law because it “imposes Draconian penalties” on convicted felons. He is now appealing to the California Supreme Court to allow him to refuse, in violation of state law.
Gascon’s latest move is not the result of some sudden surge in sympathy for victims of crime. It’s just another measure designed to help criminals, which has been his focus all along. His record on this is clear, which is why he is on the verge of facing a recall. For the sake of Los Angeles County’s 10 million residents, that recall can’t come soon enough.
