Following a heavy public backlash, Los Angeles County’s newly-elected, controversial district attorney reversed course on Friday, reinstating the use of some sentencing enhancements for cases involving “the most vulnerable” victims.
In a memo to his staff, D.A. George Gascón reportedly said he had re-evaluated a special directive issued just 11 days earlier after taking the oath of office. The order banned prosecutors from seeking sentence enhancements and required they be withdrawn from pending matters. Gascón said he had amended that policy. He told deputy district attorneys that they may now file enhancements in a limited range of circumstances, including hate-motivated crimes, child and elder abuse cases, sex abuse, and human sex trafficking.
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