I’ve been doing reporting on the budget cuts to LAPD, focusing mostly on whether law enforcement officers have a role in the complicated issue of homelessness & mental illness. And I learned sth abt former LA Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey that not many have given her credit for.

Jackie Lacey, the first black woman to serve as LA Dist. Atty, recently lost her seat to @GeorgeGascon, a progressive former DA in SF. This is a thread on a significant moment in the future of LA’s criminal justice system: Lots of change has happened & will happen.

Lacey is a more traditional “tough on crime” DA. She has close ties to police unions and faced a lot of criticism by groups like @BLMLA for her refusal to prosecute certain police officers who killed, and for sending 23 ppl to death row.

Gascon, an ex-cop, is arguably one of the most progressive DA in the country. He’s been vocal about criminal justice reform and co-authored the controversial Prop 47, which reduced some felony crimes to misdemeanors (some blame Prop 47 for uptick in crime & homelessness).

This year, in light of the climate re: police & race, there’s been a stream of #JackieLaceyMustGo campaigns. Lacey lost some significant support, inc. that of the @MayorOfLA, Rep. @AdamSchiff, and the LA County Democratic Party. @KamalaHarris, @SenSanders also endorsed Gascon.

But I’m also hearing ppl give Lacey great credit for recognizing the need to reform the way our criminal justice system deals w/ ppl w/ mental illness.

Here are a few accomplishments from Lacey:

She was instrumental in creating the Office of Diversion and Reentry (ODR) in 2015, which diverts ppl w/ mental or substance use disorders away from jail/prison and into support services.

Through ODR, more than 2,910 ppl found permanent supportive housing. ODR also opened three alternative sentencing courts, which released 1,742 ppl from custody and has a 90% retention rate.

In 2019, Lacey established the Mental Health Division within her own office to review and provide alternatives to jail/prison for offenders w/ mental illness. Also trained >2,000 police officers on dealing w/ ppl w/ mental illness.

This division within the prosecutor’s office is the first of its kind in the nation, aimed at removing as many ppl w/ mental illness away from the criminal justice system. This includes mental health courts and alternative sentencing courts, which are expanding due to success.

The job of a DA, esp one in a major city like LA, is not easy. You have to prioritize public safety while making much-needed reform to the criminal justice system AND boosting the morale of law enforcement officers, WHILE constrained by laws & loud public demands & limited $$.

All this to say: More progress is needed, but it will always be too fast or too slow depending on who’s criticizing. But we can also acknowledge the good that has taken place while also advocating for effective change. I wish Gascon the best in taking over the helm of DA.