LOS ANGELES – Today, George Gascón’s campaign for Los Angeles District Attorney released its youth justice policy proposal to enhance safety and start treating kids as kids. The campaign also launched a creative new video produced by a 20-year old supporter who will be casting her vote for District Attorney for the first time on November 3.
“Jackie Lacey’s antiquated approach to criminal justice has served to incarcerate Californians at rates that exceed Russia and Iran,” said former District Attorney and Assistant Chief of the LAPD, George Gascón. “Locking up children in juvenile halls, boot camps and prisons, has never been shown to increase public safety, but it has been correlated with higher rates of recidivism and trauma. Jackie Lacey continues to ignore the science of youth brain development, and that has spelled disaster for LA’s justice involved juvenile population. It’s time to end the draconian practice of transferring kids to adult court, and for LA to start treating kids like kids again.”
Gascón’s proposal youth justice policy proposal is extensive but includes a no transfer policy. He also intends to launch the highly successful programs he pioneered in San Francisco that are being duplicated around the country. That includes Make it Right, a fully restorative justice program which has demonstrated recidivism rates of just 13%, compared to 53% for youth in the traditional system. Read the full proposal by clicking here.
Today, Gascón’s campaign also launched a new video, “Outspoken,” which was donated to the campaign by one of our 20-year old supporters, Jourdan Amen. Ms. Amen will be voting for District Attorney and President for the first time this November. Check out her creative production here:
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George Gascón is the Democratic Party’s nominee. He is endorsed by the LA Times, the LA Daily News, U.S. Senators Bernie Sanders, Kamala Harris, Elizabeth Warren, Black Lives Matter cofounder Patrisse Cullors, former Chief of the LAPD Charlie Beck, and many more.
Mr. Gascón grew up in Los Angeles after his family immigrated from Cuba. An army veteran, Gascón served as a Los Angeles Police Department Officer for 30 years, rising to the rank of Assistant Chief of Operations. In 2006 he became Chief of Police in Mesa, Arizona, where he stood up to the hateful and anti-immigrant policies of then Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio. In 2009, then-San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom appointed Gascón Chief of Police. Newsom turned to Gascón again in 2011 when he tapped him to be District Attorney to fill the seat vacated by an outgoing Kamala Harris who had been elected Attorney General. During his tenure Gascón implemented reforms that are being duplicated across the country while overseeing violent crime and homicides drop to rates not seen in 50 years. After being elected to two terms, Gascón returned to Los Angeles to care for his elderly mother and to be closer to his two daughters and grandchildren in Long Beach. Gascón is married to Fabiola Kramsky, a three-time Emmy Award winning journalist and recipient of the “Premio Nacional de Periodismo,” the highest recognition given to journalists in Mexico.
For more information about George Gascón go to
www.GeorgeGascon.org [http://www.GeorgeGascon.org] .