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Top Los Angeles prosecutors will once again seek the death penalty of those convicted of the capital murder, the LA County District Attorney’s Office announced Tuesday.
District Attorney Nathan Hochmann ended his predecessor’s policies “effectively immediate” and allowed prosecutors to seek the death penalty in special situation murders.
California Criminal Code Section 190.2 provides a suspension on enforcement in the state, but the death penalty for certain murders, such as killing police officers and hate crimes, or killing hate crimes.
Prosecutors will only consider calling for the death penalty “after an extensive and comprehensive review” only in “very rare cases,” the DA’s office said.
“I am incredibly committed to ensuring a comprehensive and thorough assessment of any special situational murder cases charged in Los Angeles County, consultation with survivors of murder victims, ensuring full opinions on the factors that mitigate and worsen each case, and ensuring that the punishment the office is seeking is fair, fit and appropriate,” Hochman said.
This is one of many ex-Da George Gascon policies that Hochman has committed to reverting when he runs on the platform to end his “extreme and categorical” policy.
Under the new policy, there will be conversations with the defense attorney before the Special Situation Committee, where the death penalty is being considered. Survivors of murder victims have the opportunity to give feedback before a final decision is made, the office said.
However, the Los Angeles County public defense attorney’s office denounced the decision, saying it was a “setback in LA County.”
“The death penalty is a cruel and irreversible punishment that is racially biased and has no effective deterrent,” said Ricardo Garcia, a public defense lawyer for Los Angeles County. “The death penalty is doubled in a system that disproportionately harms poor people and communities of color.”
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