City Journal: In Tinseltown, a Glimmer of Hope on Law and Order

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. Complete article here.

NBC News: Los Angeles district attorney faces recall effort less than 3 months into term

A campaign to oust Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón kicked off Saturday evening as pressure mounts over his criminal justice reforms that critics claim have gone too far. Recall advocates, including victims’ families and law enforcement officials, claim Gascón, who ran on a progressive campaign to implement sweeping change in the district attorney’s office, has prioritized criminals over victims since taking office less than three months ago.

In an emailed statement, Gascón said that “the pain and trauma of losing a loved one is immeasurable” and he “respects that some victims want me to impose the maximum punishment in their case.”

“Research shows that excessive sentencing practices have exacerbated recidivism leading to more victims of crime,” he added. “Our system of justice can’t continue to rely on policies that create more victims tomorrow simply because some victims want the maximum punishment imposed in their case today.”

Organizers planned to collect at least 20 signatures on Saturday, the amount needed to file an intent to recall, during a “victims vigil” outside the district attorney’s office in downtown L.A. They expected up to 100 people to attend, including many crime victims and Deputy District Attorney Jon Hatami, an outspoken critic of Gascón’s changes, NBC Los Angeles reported.

The recall effort needs valid signatures from at least 10 percent of registered voters in the county, or just under 600,000 people, to qualify for the ballot, according to the L.A. County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk office. Elected officials must be in office for at least 90 days before a recall effort can be officially launched. Gascón was sworn in on Dec. 7. Complete article here.

The Signal: CHP Newhall engages in three pursuits in three days

For the third time since Tuesday, personnel with the California Highway Patrol Newhall-Area Office engaged in a vehicle pursuit that wound its way through the Santa Clarita Valley.

When asked why there appears to be a recent uptick in pursuits for CHP officers, Greengard cited recent policy changes within the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office, such as an order limiting the use of sentencing enhancements, getting rid of the cash bail system, and reducing sentencing requirements for some misdemeanor and nonviolent crimes.

“I think criminals are emboldened now with the new directives the new L.A. County District attorney has put in place,” said Greengard. “The punishment on crime across the board is lightened, times were we would book individuals for a crime, they would stay in jail for a few days or a couple of weeks. Now they are being released the same day as the violation.”

Complete article here.

Paso Robles Daily News: State DAs criticize Los Angeles DA for defending law that ‘puts guns in the hands of criminals’

This week, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón defended a law that the California District Attorney’s Association says, “puts guns in the hands of criminals at the exact moment that Los Angeles County is descending into gun violence.” “It’s a reckless law, but yesterday, George Gascón defended it,” said Vern Pierson, President of the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA), an organization that represents almost all of the elected district attorneys in California and is committed to reforms, but not to the decriminalization of dangerous crimes. AB 3234, which was passed last year by the California Legislature, created a diversion program allowing criminals—including those who bring guns to schools or to the Capitol—to continue to own or possess guns, they say. Meanwhile, gun violence in Los Angeles is increasing. Murders in Los Angeles County are up 136.4-percent and shootings are up 261.5-percent. Attacks on police officers are up 300-percent from Jan. 1 through Jan. 18, 2021 when compared to the same time period in 2020. The chance of becoming a victim of any firearm crime (violent or property) in Los Angeles is now 1 in 33. Complete article here.

Daily News: Unions blast District Attorney’s hiring of controversial prosecutor

Unions representing Los Angeles County prosecutors and law enforcement officers are blasting District Attorney George Gascón’s hiring of controversial Deputy Public Defender Tiffiny Blacknell, a political supporter who has described police officers as “barbarians” and advocated abolishing prisons.

Blacknell’s appointment to an undisclosed executive position is an attempt by Gascón to fill his administration with those who share his progressive philosophies, claimed Eric Siddall, vice president of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys.

“Rather than playing by the hiring rule, Gascon is installing a political ally that will ensure his administration is an echo chamber,” Siddall said Thursday.

Blacknell did not immediately return a phone call seeking comment.

Complete article here.

California Globe: Crime Victims File Motion to Disqualify DA in Double Murder Case

A motion filed this week in a double murder case seeks to disqualify Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón for among other issues, hiring a former public defender to write his Youth Justice policy when she was still a Deputy Public Defender, representing criminal defendants, allegedly benefitting her criminal clients.

The murder victims are two sisters, Uniek Atkins and Sierra Brown, who were found shot to death in a torched Westchester apartment in 2018. Investigators say, Sierra’s ex-boyfriend Donato Cruikshank set the apartment on fire after killing the sisters. He was 17 years-old, weeks away from his 18th birthday when he was arrested for the double-murder, Fox11 reported.

The victims’ attorney, Kathleen Cady, a former deputy DA turned Marsy’s Law attorney, says DA Gascón ordered this case to stay in juvenile court, which means the most Cruikshank would get, if convicted, would be about seven years in the murder of the two young women, Fox11 reported.

Complete article here.

Daily News: L.A. supervisors to consider motion supporting victims’ rights

The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is set to consider a proposal on Tuesday, Feb. 23, to ensure that crime victims’ rights remain a priority for the District Attorney’s office.

Supervisor Kathryn Barger submitted a motion recommending that county lawyers provide an analysis of the Victims’ Bill of Rights Act of 2008 and related state laws and the county policies that support those laws.

Barger also asked that they look at any relevant pending court cases, including one before the California Supreme Court on cash bail.

“Under the California Constitution, victims have the right to have their safety considered throughout the criminal justice process — a responsibility that rests with the District Attorney’s Office, among other criminal justice entities,” the motion reads in part. “Proposition 9 was approved by the voters to cement the protections for victims statewide and should remain a top priority for our county.”

The motion comes as District Attorney George Gascon has moved to dramatically overhaul the county’s criminal justice system through a series of unilaterally-imposed “special directives.”

The policy changes, which include no longer seeking death sentences and abandoning sentencing enhancements that could lead to lifetime imprisonment for all but the most egregious crimes, have drawn fire and legal challenges from Gascon’s own prosecutors and other current and former district attorneys.

In one case involving the killing of two 6-year-old boys by a convicted sex offender, Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer moved to charge the defendant in his own jurisdiction in case Los Angeles County dropped the special circumstances allegations. One of the boys lived in and was kidnapped from Orange County.

The defendant in that case, Kenneth Rasmuson, pleaded no contest Monday to two murder counts and is expected to be sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In other Los Angeles Superior Court cases, judges have denied motions to dismiss sentencing enhancements, ruling that prosecutors have failed to show that dismissal would be in the furtherance of justice.

Both Spitzer and the Los Angeles Association of Deputy District Attorneys have accused Gascon of failing to enforce state law and have argued for case-by-case consideration of penalties rather than the wholesale application of new rules.

Earlier this month, a judge ruled that the district attorney’s move to stop the use of sentencing enhancements violates state law and that “three strikes” enhancements must be charged, a decision which Gascon has vowed to appeal.

Read the complete article.

KCAL 9: Mother Of Bree’Anna Guzman Wants DA Recalled

Darlene Duran and other loved ones gathered Friday near Elysian Park where Bree’Anna Guzman’s body was found in 2011 to hold a demonstration urging voters to recall newly-elected District Attorney George Gascón.