Gascon Kills ‘Lifer Unit,’ Will No Longer Let Victims Know When Their Assaulters Are up for Parole – Opinion

George Gascon, Los Angeles County District Attorney, is continuing to wage a one-man attack on the city. According to sources, Gascon has decided that victims and their families should not be notified when a convict goes up for parole. It should be printed in the same newspaper as everyone else.

I never bought Gascon’s “progressive” prosecution arguments and his equity-based reforms, but he shows his true colors with this latest move: He loves criminals, and hates their victims. It is impossible to find any other conclusion from this case.

We have learned that Gascon has pulled the plug on the “Lifer Unit,” the group of deputy district attorneys charged with notifying victims of crime or relatives of victims (VNOK, or “victim’s next of kin”) of their victimizer’s parole hearings.

An anonymous Twitter user posted the following Tuesday.

Sources have confirmed two sources that the email was leaked by a Lifer Unit member.

Although information on the LA Lifer Hearing Unit is sparse, the San Diego District Attorney’s office explains the idea thusly:

Prison inmates sentenced to life imprisonment with the possibility to parole are entitled to a parole hearing. These prisoners will not be allowed to leave the prison unless parole is granted during this hearing. These inmates will not be released unless parole is granted at the hearing. [San Diego]In 1995, the Lifer Hearing Unit was created to protect parolees from improper grants and ensure victims of violent crimes have an opportunity to hear their case.

This means that if someone you know is murdered and their killer sent to prison, then you must be informed. You should also be permitted to appear at the hearing and make a victim impact statement. Not so in George Gascon’s world.

Marc Debbault is the Deputy District Attorney and President Emeritus of LA County Association of Deputy District Attorneys. He responded on Tuesday to this move via Facebook:

Debbault received a response from Kathleen Cady (ex-prosecutor, child advocate).

Gascon has violated the California Constitution once again. Gascon is violating the California Constitution again. Victims are entitled to be notified about parole hearings. …

The DDAs were then blocked from accessing state prison records by his administration so that victims weren’t prepared for what might be said during parole hearing. Iniguez [Gascon’s chief of staff who was recently busted for public intoxication]DDAs were instructed by. [deputy DAs] VSRs [Victim Services Representatives]They cannot refer victims to pro-bono lawyers who are available to help them. He won’t even help victims to notify them that a defendant is available for parole.  Many of these defendants have been sentenced for hundreds of years or life without parole. victims didn’t register for notification because they didn’t believe a parole hearing would ever occur… [emphasis mine]

Gascon laid the groundwork by establishing a new “Resentencing Unit” in April 2021, which drastically lowered the bar to receive parole. Many more convicts received parole hearings—and were released—as a result. Then he spends time punishing the victims for these crimes. Cady explains.

They will not have an opportunity to appear and speak at the parole hearing or ask for parole conditions – like he shouldn’t be paroled in my neighborhood. Gascon must be released. Victim’s Rights Matter.

The mood in Gascon’s office is, quite simply, fearful. Talking to several Deputy District attorneys, we were not able to get their names. Suffice it to say, they live in terror of the DA’s petty but vicious retributions against those who don’t march to his directives.

We discovered, however that it was not just to prevent victims’ families being informed when they might get paroled, but to also block anyone notifying authorities. Original prosecutors either. This is to allow as many criminals as possible onto the streets as fast as possible. If you have to sit through objections from prosecutors and impact statements from victims’ families, it just slows the process down.

You might think it’s a Netflix Netflix horror movie plot. But it’s happening in the real world.

Dennis P. Zine agreed to talk with us. He’s a former LAPD Supervisor and spent 12 years on the LA City Council. In a text, he wrote:

Yes, it’s all part of Gascon’s plan to turn Los Angeles into a place welcoming all types of crimes. GTA, Murder, Robbery and Burglary. [Grand Theft Auto]These are just some of the many. Gascon cannot be recalled[,]Crime will only continue to increase.

George, though, will likely be kicked. As we’ve reported, the Recall Gascon effort earned enough signatures to qualify for the November 8 ballot. RedState has written extensively on the violence Gascon has brought; let’s hope we can finally be rid of this scourge on Los Angeles. Gascon’s latest attack on victims only cements his legacy.

You will find the entire text and names of the emails in the following link:

We are grateful to everyone who was able to attend today’s meeting. Administration directed us to close the Lifer Unit for those who were unable (my sincere apologies). Administration has determined that it is “not appropriate” for the LADA to notify victims of crime and victim next of kin of those that were murdered that parole hearings are scheduled for the inmates that harmed them and their loved ones.

All cases will be worked on through October 2022. No November calendar will be issued. There won’t be any future assignments.

Transferred DDAs XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXV, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX. For victims who have reached out or requested DDA assistance in the October case process, XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX are available. Please send an email to XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX with any case that you are able to help, or where the victim/VNOK needs assistance. They will respond with an affirmative answer.

Supervisors from the BOI/BVS were notified. They will reassign people as appropriate.

Thank you to everyone for this valuable work. Since DDAs have stopped attending hearings, it has been an exciting ride to keep this vital support available for victims. Your willingness to accept any change was a sign of your commitment, even though the consequences were significant. It was incredible to see how you worked together across Bureaus, Divisions. Your tireless efforts to meet deadlines were a creditable contribution so that victims/VNOK could attend hearings. You fought for justice, even when so much seemed to be lacking in regard to the system and institutions.

It’s been a pleasure to have worked with you.