November 2021 Newsletter

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Newsletter  |  November 10, 2021

Centralized Charge Evaluation System Launched

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Head Deputy District Attorney Jennifer Lentz Snyder (right), of the Charge Evaluation Division, meets with Assistant Head Deputies Susan Steinfeld (left) and John Harlan and Deputy District Attorney Maggie Moe.

 

District Attorney George Gascón has launched a centralized charge evaluation system to ensure greater consistency and fairness in filing decisions being made by deputy district attorneys working across Los Angeles County.

“We’re centralizing the decision-making process to ensure that the same conduct leads to similar results regardless of where a crime occurs in Los Angeles County,” District Attorney Gascón said. “Consistency in the initial case evaluation and filing is essential to achieving equal justice for all people in our county.”

Read more…


Long Beach School Safety Officer
Charged With Murder

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District Attorney George Gascón announced that a Long Beach Unified School District safety officer has been charged with murder in the shooting death of an unarmed
18-year-old.

“We must hold accountable the people we have placed in positions of trust to protect us,” District Attorney Gascón said on Oct. 27. “That is especially true for the armed personnel we traditionally have relied upon to guard our children on their way to and from and at school.”

Read more…


Law Clerks Meet With District Attorney Gascón

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District Attorney George Gascón, Chief of Staff Joseph Iniguez and Recruitment
Unit Deputy-In-Charge Tina Hooks met with LADA’s fall volunteers and law clerks
on Oct. 28. The students, including Brittanie A.B. Burns (pictured with District Attorney Gascón), gave testimonials about what they’ve gained during their service, provided feedback on the program and posed insightful questions. The District Attorney highlighted the critical contributions of each of the volunteers to the office and
engaged in thoughtful discussion about what it takes to be a 21st century prosecutor.
For more information about volunteering with LADA, visit
http://da.lacounty.gov/contact/volunteer


Community Reentry Program Tour

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District Attorney George Gascón and managers toured Amity Foundation’s Male Community Reentry Center Program in Los Angeles on Oct. 15. The center provides services for formerly incarcerated men as they reintegrate back into the community.


National Search Underway
for Victim Services Director

A national search has started for an expert in the field of victim services and
trauma-informed care to lead the office’s Bureau of Victim Services.

“This new director will bring trauma-informed care to crime victims throughout
Los Angeles County as they embark on the journey to becoming survivors,” District Attorney George Gascón said in announcing the search on Oct. 26. “My goal is to provide crime victims with clinical services that will help them through the healing process.”

“I want to thank the Board of Supervisors for authorizing this crucial position and for strengthening victim services for all residents of Los Angeles County by increasing the number of victim services representatives in my office,” he added.

Read more…


Law Enforcement Torch Run

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LADA investigators and other employees took part in the Law Enforcement Torch Run in Los Angeles on Nov. 3. The run helps raise money and awareness for Special Olympics Southern California.


Cash Bail Discussion Features
District Attorney Gascón

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“Cash Bail: The Past, Present and Future” was the subject of a Los Angeles County Bar Association panel discussion on Oct. 26 that featured District Attorney George Gascón. Also taking part were Michelle Parris (top left), program director of the Vera Institute of Justice, John Mathews, senior justice deputy for Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell and Alec Karakatsanis, executive director of Civil Rights Corps.  


Meeting With Staff, Honoring Veterans

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District Attorney George Gascón continued his series of visits with deputy district attorneys, investigators and staff throughout the county this month. On Nov. 4, he toured LADA’s office at the Eastlake Juvenile Courthouse. On Nov. 9, he met with district attorney investigators at the Hall of Justice and took part in a ceremony recognizing 31 military veterans who serve in the office’s Bureau of Investigation. He joined Bureau of Investigation Chief Robert Arcos in unveiling a perpetual plaque honoring the veterans.


District Attorney Gascón
Coauthors Article on Youth Justice

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District Attorney George Gascón joined J. Douglas Overbey, a former U.S. attorney in Tennessee under the Trump administration, to write an opinion article for Newsweek magazine titled “Lawmakers Cannot Ignore the Victimization of Children in the Justice System.” Click here to read.


Long Beach Hate Crimes Roundtable Meets

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District Attorney George Gascón joined California Attorney General Rob Bonta (center), Long Beach Mayor Robert Garcia and other officials for a roundtable discussion on hate crimes on Oct. 21.


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