New LA County DA takes on crime, weighs in on Menendez brothers case

[LAUREN]

CRIME POLICIES ARE A HUGE POINT OF CONTENTION AMONG RESIDENTS IN CALIFORNIA … AND NOW WE’RE LEARNING MORE ABOUT HOW THE NEWLY-ELECTED LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY PLANS TO GET RID OF WHAT HE CALLS A “PRO-CRIMINAL” BLANKET STANCE BY THE CURRENT D-A.

INCOMING D-A NATHAN HOCHMAN SAYS HE’LL GO AFTER LOW-LEVEL, NON-VIOLENT CRIME..

WITH HIS FIRST TASKS INCLUDING AN INCREASE IN GANG-RELATED SENTENCING, ALLOWING PROSECUTORS TO FILE JUVENILE CHARGES MORE FREELY AND HAVING PROSECUTORS ATTEND PAROLE HEARINGS WITH VICTIMS’ FAMILIES SO THEY CAN HELP ARGUE AGAINST THE RELEASE OF CONVICTS.

HOCHMAN SAYSHE WANTS TO REVERSE THE CULTURE MAINTAINED BY HIS PREDECESSOR GEORGE GASCON … 

I want to send a message to criminals that basically the lines will be enforced again. They will be done in a proportional way. A common sense way. A way that rejects extremes: both the extreme that we’ve been living with of decarceration, which says that certain crimes and certain criminals will not be prosecuted no matter what the facts and the law are- as well as the extremes of mass incarceration. I reject both extremes.”

HOCHMAN SAYS HE ALSO WANTS TO LOOK AT SOLUTIONS THAT *DON’T* INVOLVE FILLING UP JAILS – SUCH AS COURT-MANDATED DRUG TREATMENT, COMMUNITY SERVICE, AND RESTITUTION.

HOCHMAN IS TAKING ON MANY ISSUES FROM GASCON – BUT ARGUABLY THE MOST NOTABLE IS THE MENENDEZ BROTHERS MURDER CASE.

IN OCTOBER, GASCON CALLED FOR THE RELEASE OF THE BROTHERS AFTER 35 YEARS IN PRISON FOR THE MURDERS OF THEIR PARENTS. 

HOCHMAN NOW WANTS TO REVIEW ALL THE EVIDENCE AS HE QUESTIONS THE TIMING OF GASCON’S DECISION SO CLOSE TO THE ELECTION. 

If you decide this case based on just reviewing a Netflix documentary you’re doing a disservice to the Menendez brothers.. To the victimS family members and to the public. 

there’s a cloud over that credibility. Is it a just decision, or was it just a political ploy? There will be no cloud over whatever decision I do.

GASCON DENIES HIS DECISION WAS POLITICALLY MOTIVATED SAYING HE BASED HIS DECISION ON A THOROUGH UNDERSTANDING OF THE CASE. 

HOCHMAN TAKES OFFICE DECEMBER 2ND.

FOR SAN – I’M LAUREN TAYLOR.

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