New Los Angeles D.A, Nathan Hochman, Will Reverse George Gascón’s Reforms
Los Angeles, CA — In a landmark shift for Los Angeles County, Nathan Hochman has been elected as the new District Attorney, beating incumbent George Gascón, whose progressive approach to criminal justice reform stirred widespread support and debates.
Gascón, a former San Francisco DA and LAPD officer, made waves with policies aimed at dismantling systemic racial injustices embedded in the L.A county’s criminal sentencing laws. However, his stance on crime and reform, praised by social justice advocates, faced criticism amid rising crime rates in the city.
Hochman, a former Republican who now identifies as an independent, has vowed to roll back many of Gascón’s reforms, calling them “pro-criminal” policies. In an interview with the Associated Press, he laid out his intentions to prioritize a more “proportionate” approach to sentencing. One of his key priorities will be the reinstatement of sentencing enhancements, particularly in gang-related cases. Hochman plans to allow prosecutors to increase charges based on the presence of aggravating factors, such as gang affiliations or use of firearms—policies that Gascón had scaled back in his mission to reduce disproportionately long sentences for minor offenses.
Under Gascón’s tenure, many of Los Angeles’s sentencing laws were reshaped to reduce racial bias, with the former DA openly challenging policies rooted in anti-Blackness and systemic racism. This included establishing a Resentencing Unit to review excessive or wrongly convicted prison terms and halt cash bail for nonviolent offenses. Gascón also championed policies that kept juveniles out of adult court, sparing young offenders the harsh penalties they might otherwise face. These reforms drew both praise and opposition. Many Angelenos applauded Gascón for focusing on social equity, while others—especially those impacted by the city’s spike in crime since the COVID-19 pandemic—argued that his policies went too far.
Read More: Hochman elected Los Angeles County district attorney, ousting progressive Gascón
Hochman’s stance on reversing many of these reforms comes as part of a broader agenda aimed at restoring more traditional law-and-order policies. He has committed to reinstating prosecutions for what he describes as “quality-of-life crimes” that went unenforced under Gascón, such as loitering, trespassing, and disturbing the peace. Hochman also plans to reintroduce prosecutorial support for victims’ families at parole hearings—a practice that Gascón had discontinued. Additionally, he has expressed a desire to combat Los Angeles’s growing fentanyl crisis by prosecuting related cases more aggressively.
As Los Angeles County’s new top prosecutor, Hochman faces a divided public. Supporters argue that his approach will bring much-needed safety to the city, while critics warn that reversing Gascón’s reforms would disproportionately impact marginalized Black communities in Los Angeles. Hochman has acknowledged the importance of balancing crime prevention with humane solutions, suggesting he will advocate for alternatives to incarceration, including drug treatment programs, community service, and restitution.
The shift from Gascón’s tenure to Hochman’s administration will unfortunately reverse the positive trajectory of Los Angeles’s criminal justice landscape spearheaded by Gascón’s office.
