Los Angeles’ rampant crime problems can be traced back to a small subset of criminals, but overcrowded prisons and soft laws are sending many of these crooks, crooks and criminals right back onto the streets, District Attorney Nathan Hochman told The California Post in an exclusive interview.
“About 10% of people commit more than 50% of crimes,” Hochman said. “These are chronic, repeat offenders.”
Los Angeles County jails not only have revolving doors, but the walls seem to be bursting at the seams. While the most serious offenders are not being released, Hochman said, Sheriff Robert Luna is being forced to make difficult choices as the jail population would be capped at 12,500 to 13,000 inmates each day.
Hochman added, “One of the biggest pipelines to the criminal justice system is people who have already been in prison and are now back.”
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation released a report last year crediting the passage of Proposition 57 with a decrease in recidivism. The statewide ballot measure, which passed in 2016, prioritized rehabilitation by reducing sentences for non-violent crimes and young adults.
But not all law enforcement officials agree with Prop’s effectiveness. 57. Hochman said loopholes in the law have effectively encouraged people to commit crimes, while categorizing some crimes in a way that boggles the mind.
“Human trafficking in California for victims over the age of 18 is considered a non-serious, non-violent crime — which is shocking when you hear it,” Hochman said, adding that the law “absolutely” allows for more human trafficking.
“If it’s a non-serious, non-violent offense, instead of serving 80% of your sentence, you’re serving about 50%,” Hockman said. “There are some brave state legislators who have tried to change this – and they have been outvoted. Sometimes it doesn’t even get to a vote.”
Murders in Los Angeles reportedly down nearly 19% last year to 230, a huge decline mirrored in other California cities. Researchers have been unable to provide clear answers to explain the trend.
“I don’t trust a dip. I don’t trust a dip,” Hochman said. “They’ll always be a problem if we don’t get them [serial offenders] the skills they need.”
Hochman’s comments come as he faces backlash over his decision to drop charges against six police officers in connection with the death of Edward Bronstein — a case similar to the 2020 killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, when both men used their final moments to utter the words, “I can’t breathe.”
The prosecutor said the case – which preceded his taking office – was legally untenable, and he fired back at his critics.
“The idea that we tried to cover this up in an unpublicized hearing is absolutely ridiculous,” Hochman said.
He added that prosecutors were not confident they could prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the six officers — who were charged collectively rather than individually — acted recklessly in killing Bronstein.
However, he noted that the sergeant involved in the incident reached a plea agreement, and he is confident that the nurse will be found guilty of involuntary manslaughter at the scene because she should have informed the officers that they had to stop because Braunstein lost consciousness.
Hochman declined to comment on singer D4vid, who is accused of killing a 14-year-old girl, and the murder charges against the son of actor and director Rob Reiner and his wife Michelle, as both cases remain under active investigation.
