PROSECUTORS ARE COPS TOO
POLICE VIOLENCE IS NOT THE RESULT OF A SINGLE POLICE OFFICER BRUTALIZING ONE PERSON OF COLOR.
Police violence is the product of an intricate and intentional system designed to oppress the marginalized while protecting and immunizing law enforcement - system that includes district attorneys. District attorneys (DAs) are elected officials and answer to us. Prosecutorial discretion is perhaps the most powerful and oppressive mechanism in our justice system.
PROSECUTORS ARE NOT A DEGREE REMOVED FROM POLICE VIOLENCE; THEY ARE POLICE VIOLENCE.
Prosecutors are the gatekeepers of mass incarceration and the protectors of violent cops. It is not a judge who decides not to prosecute violent cops or to disproportionately charge people of color. It is not a judge who controls what sentence a criminal defendant will face, if any. It is a DA. DAs use their power to perpetuate police violence, and it must stop.
PROGRESSIVE PROSECUTOR?
DO YOU?
LET KIDS BE KIDS
Stop charging children as adults. Do not charge children with
misdemeanor offenses. Use diversion as first option prior to
detention, arrest or filing charges.
INCREASE TRANSPARENCY & ACCOUNTABILITY
Collect and publicly report race data on
prosecutions and case dispositions. Appoint an independent team to review pending and closed police violence cases. Do not prosecute cases when law enforcement destroys evidence, when any evidence has been illegally obtained, or when any law
enforcement officers have IAB files for untruthfulness. End relationships with police unions, and reject any campaign contributions from them.
REDUCE MASS INCARCERATION & PRETRIAL DETENTION
End cash bail and pretrial detention unless there is a
demonstrably imminent, violent threat to public safety. Stop filing habitual counts and other oppressive sentence
enhancements. Do not lock people up for non-violent offenses,
misdemeanors, or technical probation violations.
PRIORITIZE SUPPORTING COMMUNITIES OVER CHARGING CRIMES
Divert funds to rehabilitation. Do not charge low level or
non-violent offenses or assault on a peace officer cases. Increase
restorative justice programs to include felony charges, and as an alternative to convictions. Make victim advocates independent
of the DA's office, and do not prosecute if the victim does not want to pursue charges. Prioritize the consideration of collateral consequences caused by convictions.