In 2024, two progressive California prosecutors were ousted from their offices, as critics claimed their policies increased crime rates. 

Pamela Price was elected Alameda County DA in 2022 and recalled two years later. During her tenure she put into place policies to safeguard against racial bias in lengthy sentencing enhancements, according to the Press Democrat.

Cynthia Chandler, who was the policy director for Price’s office, says that the former DA focused on root causes in response to crime. The idea was to send offenders to diversion programs as alternative to incarceration, asserted the Press.

“Ultimately, what’s behind the vision of a progressive prosecutor is a prosecutor who is committed to the ethical mandate placed on prosecutors to search for truth and justice,” Chandler said. “And the search for truth is not furthered by seeking out a pound of flesh.”

George Gascón, a former San Francisco police chief, was elected District Attorney in Los Angeles in 2020, but in 2024 the voters of Los Angeles County gave the office to Nathan Hochman, a former federal prosecutor and onetime Republican.

Gascón was dubbed San Francisco’s “godfather of the progressive prosecutor’s movement.” He relocated to Los Angeles and ran a successful campaign against longtime incumbent Jackie Lacey, according to Ions California. 

In his first week in office Gascón revealed that he would not seek the death penalty, not charge children as adults, and not use sentencing enhancements for life without parole.

“You can’t just burn the system down,” said Anne Marie Schubert, former Sacramento County District Attorney. “They get elected and then all of a sudden, they implement policies that are so far removed from being a real prosecutor who is seeking balance and accountability.”

Price and Gascón campaigned on similar policies, but in 2023, the anti-reform movement accomplished a big victory in the recall of San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin.

Opponents claim that DAs such as Price and Gascón declined to prosecute low-level offenders, who remained free and brought an increase in shoplifting and car burglaries, according to the Los Angeles Times.

According to the California Department of Justice, between 2014 and 2023 there have been over nine million property crimes in California. Law enforcement has solved more than 700,000 cases; this is less than 1%, the article stated. 

A District Attorney’s Office does not singlehandedly reduce or increase crime rates; they occupy immediate positions largely concerned with prosecuting crime after it happens, according to the Brennan Center. 

Progressive prosecutors’ opponents have made claims that “pro-reform strategies” have enabled crime to increase, noted the news. 

However, within the last 10 years, the rate of incarceration has reduced 30%; during this time the State of California saved millions of dollars re-allocating monies to youth programs, mental health services, and drug rehabilitation, the IC stated.

Roy Behr, an advisor to L.A. democratic campaigns, advised lawmakers to meet each other halfway on criminal justice reforms. Not doing so would isolate voters who want to bring justice to the instabilities of  “smash-and-grab robberies,” the L.A. Times reported.

“Voters want police to behave fairly and justly,” said Behr. “They also want to be able to go to a store and not worry if someone is going to come running through and do a smash and grab.” 

Cyn Yamashiro, a former Los Angeles County public defender, stated that district attorneys always had the authority to charge offenders with a felony revolving around retail theft, reported the Times.