Earlier this year, ahead of the March primary, this editorial board endorsed George Gascón to serve as Los Angeles County’s district attorney.
The world has certainly changed since we issued that endorsement, but the core reasoning of why we endorsed Gascón over incumbent Jackie Lacey still holds.
At the time, we noted that Lacey’s approach to criminal justice reform was mostly out of step with Los Angeles County residents. Inconsistent with the county, Lacey opposed Propositions 47 and 57, opposed the legalization of marijuana and has remained a defender of capital punishment.
In a recent interview with members of our editorial board, Lacey genuinely seems to have been moved to reconsider her approach and reflect on past positions.
Lacey particularly acknowledged that she wishes she’d taken a different approach to marijuana prohibition.
In response to the national uproar against police killings of unarmed individuals, Lacey noted that, while the law sets a high bar for successful prosecution, she does regret not pursuing particular cases of unlawful police uses of force.
In noting her own bona fides on criminal justice reform, Lacey noted her support for bail reform and pointed to her leadership in helping inspire the county’s Office of Diversion and Re-Entry. These are certainly to her credit.
With all of this said, we return to the question we asked eight months ago: “Can anyone say that L.A. County has a justice system worth replicating elsewhere?”
With the jails packed with individuals suffering from mental health and/or substance problems, that’s impossible to say.
George Gascón, former assistant chief of the Los Angeles Police Department and San Francisco district attorney, has long been right about the same criminal justice matters Lacey has been wrong about.
If elected, Gascón will build on the approaches Lacey has been right about, particularly on mental health and diversion for low-level, non-violent offenders.
Gascón’s emphasis on violent crime and pursuing incarceration when it is truly justified and necessary for public safety is sound.
Accordingly, we recommend the election of Gascón for L.A. County District Attorney.
