Manhattan District Attorney, Under Fire, Adjusts Lenient Policies
Source: NY Times
The Manhattan district attorney on Friday issued harsher new guidance on the prosecution of gun possession and robbery that revised and in some cases reversed policies in a memo, released in his first week in office, that had been criticized as too lenient.
Within days of taking office on Jan. 1, the district attorney, Alvin Bragg, instructed prosecutors in the memo to avoid seeking jail time for all but the most serious crimes. Its release prompted weeks of pushback from police officers, business owners and public officials and marred the first month of his tenure.
Much of his time since has been devoted to clarifying and modifying the policies outlined in the document, which he has acknowledged was confusing and legalistic.
The memo had instructed prosecutors to avoid seeking jail time for certain crimes including robberies, assaults and gun possession. Mr. Bragg has said in several public appearances that the impact of the changes outlined in the memo had been overstated and misunderstood.
On Friday, in an email to his staff, Mr. Bragg said that the document had been a source of confusion, rather than clarity, and emphasized that it was up to the offices prosecutors to determine how best to handle individual cases.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/04/nyregion/manhattan-da-alvin-bragg-memo-prosecution.html
chowder66
(9,070 posts)iluvtennis
(19,858 posts)cinematicdiversions
(1,969 posts)We need to crackdown on the criminals in New York not give free mugging weekends.
Jacson6
(350 posts)ripcord
(5,399 posts)We want to stop gun crime but we don't really want to be too tough on people who commit gun crimes.
erronis
(15,257 posts)I'm still waiting for shoulder rocket-launchers to become popular - with NRA/USSR support, of course.
When all true Americans start to walk around with zillion-watt lasers that can instantly smoke someone 5 miles away, perhaps gov't will start caring?
ripcord
(5,399 posts)winstars
(4,220 posts)Cyrus Vance had at one time coddled tRumP...
Then Vance was "was on the case" for what, the last 2-3 years?
Now he'd retired.
And THIS is the guy we hope can help save the country?
AG James of NY only does civil cases.
Fantastic!!!
NOT
cadoman
(792 posts)It will close drumpf in like a vice.
winstars
(4,220 posts)Vance still being there or a new DA who we AREN'T reading about in the above story would be... better, IMHO.
Thats all I am saying.
Fitzmas more likely, again.
Calista241
(5,586 posts)And we don't want a loud, outspoken prosecutor to do this. That kind of action may feel good, but it can be used by the defense.
winstars
(4,220 posts)As far as tRump goes...
Or for NY'ers...
IbogaProject
(2,815 posts)Why does gun possesion get lumped in with shoplifting? A gun, especially an unregistered one is a weapon with the primary purpose to maim and kill. That should be a no bail offence, or at least a very costly bail if NY requires everyone to qualify for a bail amount. NY has always be off that way, 4-6 for drugs, 2-3 for armed robbery etc. I guess they want a body in the ghetto before the are willing to take it seriously and then only half heartedly.