header image

[Sign Up Now] to Receive Our FREE Daily SCVTV-SCVNews Digest by E-Mail

Inside
Weather


 
Calendar
Today in
S.C.V. History
December 20
1892 - Benjamin Harrison establishes 555,520-acre San Gabriel Timberland Reserve (Angeles National Forest). First forest reserve in California, second in U.S. [story]
map


Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon announced a change of course Friday, saying he’ll allow some exceptions to a recent directive limiting prosecutors from pursuing longer sentences for some violent criminals.

Earlier this week, Gascon said he would allow no exceptions to his elimination of “enhancements,” a legal term used by lawyers to modify charges for reasons such as prior convictions, gang involvement, etc.

Now, in a statement issued Friday afternoon from his office, Gascon has said that he won’t eliminate prior-conviction enhancements, gang enhancements, special circumstances enhancements or out-on-bail enhancements.

The decision comes after a deluge of pressure and criticism from a number of people from across the local law enforcement spectrum, including criticism from his own deputies.

“I think the community of Angelenos from all over L.A. County came together to fight for justice and to fight these special directives by the district attorney that would have hurt vulnerable victims, would hurt children and would hurt people of color,” said Jon Hatami, a Santa Clarita resident and prosecutor for Los Angeles County. “However, this is just one step, and there are many other directives that have been put out that could hurt public safety, that could hurt our community.”

Hatami said that he would continue to work to change some of Gascon’s other recent orders that he’s enacted or pledged to enact since he defeated former District Attorney Jackie Lacey in November.

“I think the issue regarding bail is a very dangerous issue, allowing zero bail or presumptive zero bail, for domestic violence and child-abuse cases,” said Hatami. “I think he’s still not allowing the out-on-bail enhancement, so somebody gets released on bail because they’ve already committed a crime, and then they go and commit another crime. He doesn’t think that that requires an out-on-bail enhancement.”

The Santa Clarita resident said Gascon is not allowing risk assessment when dealing with bail, nor allowing deputy district attorneys to go to parole hearings to represent the interest of crime victims.

Hatami emphasized Gascon also needs to begin looking at reaching out to victims before allowing the courts to start the process of dismissing things or moving forward with things on the legal process.

Gascon has said in the last week that he hopes his policies will still result in people being prosecuted for their underlying crimes, but that by eliminating some enhancements that he can begin to end mass incarceration.

The District Attorney’s Office had not issued a public comment as of the publication of this article.

Comment On This Story
COMMENT POLICY: We welcome comments from individuals and businesses. All comments are moderated. Comments are subject to rejection if they are vulgar, combative, or in poor taste.
REAL NAMES ONLY: All posters must use their real individual or business name. This applies equally to Twitter account holders who use a nickname.

1 Comment

  1. A.Aranda says:

    What about inmates who could not afford a private attorney and was represented by a court appointed one. It’s not a secret that people who cannot afford private counsel most likely end up in plea deals and the defendants sentence is almost doubled at sentencing because of enhancements and that’s without any evidentiary evidence, consideration of defendants background /priors and/or defendants age. Especially first time offenders. None of that is taken into consideration without private counsel. Locking up a 21 year old for a first time offense where his time being served it’s doubled because of enhancements is in no way going to rehabilitate a youth offender. There is no positive outcome.its unjust and unfair. Their mental development, their family background from childhood to adolescence isn’t being considered in a plea deal sentence. Especially where only circumstantial evidence is considered. They’re are inmates serving time on gun enhancements because it was part of a plea deal without the prosecuted ever having to prove the inmate was ever in possession of a firearm. How is that a fair sentence? (It is NOT). PROSECUTERS HAND OUT ENHANCEMENTS LIJE ITS CANDY IN PLEA DEALS WHICH IS NOT ONLY LAWFULLY WRONG….ITS MORALY WRONG!

Leave a Comment


SCV NewsBreak
LOCAL NEWS HEADLINES
Thursday, Dec 19, 2024
COC Board of Trustees Swears in New Members
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees, which oversees College of the Canyons, swore in recently elected board members, named its new officers, received recognitions for service and set its 2025 meeting schedule at the board’s business and organizational meeting held on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
Wednesday, Dec 18, 2024
Newhall School Trustees Name Ernesto Smith 2025 Board President
The Newhall School District Governing Board members held their annual organizational meeting on Dec. 17 to elect 2025 Governing Board officers and representatives.
Wednesday, Dec 18, 2024
L.A. County Green Lights Improvement Project for The Old Road
Los Angeles County is gearing up to make big improvements to The Old Road, a major highway and artery that provides connectivity throughout the Santa Clarita Valley and is frequently used by locals when traffic on Interstate 5 is snarled due to inclement weather and emergency closures.
Keep Up With Our Facebook

Latest Additions to SCVNews.com
1892 - Benjamin Harrison establishes 555,520-acre San Gabriel Timberland Reserve (Angeles National Forest). First forest reserve in California, second in U.S. [story]
map
Yes I Can Unity Through Music & Education, a nonprofit organization that provides career-skills training and employment services to adults with disabilities, presented certificates of recognition to Remo Inc. and Migrate Sound for the commitment to creating career opportunities for neurodiverse talent.
Yes I Can Honors Remo Inc., Migrate Sound
The MAIN and Outpost Media has announced the premiere of The Wolves, 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17, thru Sunday, Jan. 26, at the MAIN located at 24266 Main St., Santa Clarita, CA 91321.
The MAIN, Outpost Media Presents The Wolves
The Santa Clarita Community College District Board of Trustees, which oversees College of the Canyons, swore in recently elected board members, named its new officers, received recognitions for service and set its 2025 meeting schedule at the board’s business and organizational meeting held on Wednesday, Dec. 18.
COC Board of Trustees Swears in New Members
Reflecting on this past year, there are so many things to be thankful for. Whether it is our health, happiness or the ability to live in a community as special as ours, I believe many of our residents would agree that Santa Clarita is a place where wonderful memories have been made and a unique place to call home.
Laurene Weste | What Are You Thankful For This Holiday Season?
A three day SoCal Winter Break Lacrosse Camp will be held Wednesday Jan.8 through Friday, Jan 10 at West Ranch High School.
Jan. 8-10: West Ranch SoCal Winter Break Lacrosse Camp
The Canyon Country Jo Anne Darcy library will host a homeschool information meeting, 5:30-6:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6 at 18601 Soledad Canyon Road, Canyon Country, CA 91351.
Jan. 6: Homeschool Information Meeting at Canyon Country Library
1970 - Snow day in Santa Clarita Valley [photos]
Saugus train station
Are you looking for some last-minute gifts that won’t break the bank? Check out the Friends of Santa Clarita Public Library bookstores located inside all of the local branches.
Last Minute Gifts at Santa Clarita Public Libraries
Interested members of the public are invited to the Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency’s Water Resources and Watershed Committee meeting on Jan. 8, 2025.
Jan. 8: SCV Water Agency Water Resources and Watershed Committee Meeting
Continuing through Jan. 16, 2025, join the LA County Library Winter Reading Club challenge to earn prizes and help reach the communal reading goal of 1 million minutes. Simply log at least 400 minutes of reading to complete the challenge.
Through Jan. 16: LA County Library Winter Reading Club Challenge
The Newhall School District Governing Board members held their annual organizational meeting on Dec. 17 to elect 2025 Governing Board officers and representatives.
Newhall School Trustees Name Ernesto Smith 2025 Board President
Los Angeles County is gearing up to make big improvements to The Old Road, a major highway and artery that provides connectivity throughout the Santa Clarita Valley and is frequently used by locals when traffic on Interstate 5 is snarled due to inclement weather and emergency closures.
L.A. County Green Lights Improvement Project for The Old Road
Princess Cruises, the world's most iconic cruise line, headquartered in Santa Clarita, has been awarded top honors from some of the most respected travel industry organizations worldwide.
Princess Cruises Earns Top Awards for Alaska, Dining and Premium Cruising
Grants are available to assist businesses and nonprofits that continue to face financial impacts of the Covod-19 pandemic. Eligible businesses can receive grants of $3,000 or $5,000 to support their recovery efforts. The application deadline is Dec. 31, 2024.
Dec. 31: Deadline to Apply for Business, Nonprofit Grants
Chloe Auble had a career-high 22 points and Marin Lenz matched her with 22 as well in The Master's University women's basketball 104-45 win over Nobel University Tuesday, Dec. 17 in the first game of the Hope International Christmas Classic in Fullerton.
Big Offensive Night for Lady Mustangs
Do you have a passion for historical preservation and conservation? The city of Santa Clarita is looking for a dedicated professional to oversee the daily care of the William S. Hart Park Museum, its collections and exhibits.
Santa Clarita Seeks Hart Mansion Museum Curator
In a match up between two Top-10 teams, No. 9 The Master's University men's basketball knocked off No. 6 Montana Tech 73-70 Tuesday, Dec. 17 in the final game of the Cactus Classic in Glendale, Ariz.
Mustangs Defeat No. 6 Montana Tech
1929 - Swift justice: Thomas Vernon sentenced to life in prison for Saugus train derailment & robbery 1 month earlier [story]
Tom Vernon
The Santa Clara River Watershed Area Steering Committee meeting will be held Thursday, Dec. 19, 1-3 p.m. at Santa Clarita City Hall, Carl Boyer Room.
Dec. 19: Santa Clara River Watershed Area Steering Committee Meeting
The Federal Trade Commission is banning hidden fees charged for event tickets and hotel stays, the agency announced Tuesday, citing a recent rise in customer complaints of bait-and-switch pricing.
FTC Bans Junk Fees on Event Tickets, Hotel Stays
The Castaic Union School District Board of Trustees held their Annual Organizational Meeting on Monday, Dec. 16. At that meeting the Board members elected officers and representatives of the Board for 2025.
Castaic School Board Elects Mayreen Burk as Board President for 2025
The Gibbon Conservation Center’s “Adopt a Gibbon” program helps provide for the food and supplements needed to maintain each gibbon in optimal health. there are currently 31 gibbons waiting to be adopted this holiday season.
Gibbon Conservation Center in Saugus Hosts Adopt-a-Gibbon Program
In its 10th year of operation, and, as it does every weekend throughout the year. the Old Town Newhall Farmers Market will be open on Saturday, Dec. 21 from 8:30 am to 1 p.m.
Dec. 21: Old Town Newhall Farmers Market
SCVNews.com