Manhattan’s new DA Alvin Bragg has ordered his prosecutors to stop seeking prison sentences for hordes of criminals and to downgrade felony charges in cases including armed robberies and drug dealing, according to a set of progressive policies made public Tuesday.
Bragg said that offenses like marijuana misdemeanors, resisting arrest, trespassing, and subway turnstile jumping would no longer be prosecuted by his office and that prosecutors should not seek bail for suspects waiting for trial.
In addition, when prosecutors do seek a prison sentence, it should not be for more than 20 years in prison without eligibility for parole, Bragg said, adding that longer prison sentences do not deter criminals or make society safer.
CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL MEMO TO DA STAFF
Bragg thinks longer sentences do not deter crime and make society safer.
“Go back 35 years, you saw sort of increased incarceration not necessarily leading to public safety benefits, and then the most recent chapter in our city pre-pandemic, incarceration and crime both decreasing, that’s what we have to get back to,” he said.
This seems like a big deal. Newly elected Manhattan DA Bragg promises no prison time for any sentence except for murder and some violent felonies (plus white collar and government malfeasance). This is after trial and conviction. https://t.co/QgrNTFMahG pic.twitter.com/bqLuRK6CV3
— Peter Moskos (@PeterMoskos) January 4, 2022
Non-incarceration. "The Office will not seek carceral sentence other than for homicide" or "class B violent felony in which a deadly weapon causes serious injury, domestic violence felonies," and some others.
"The rule may be excepted only in extraordinary circumstances." 6/ pic.twitter.com/oAoVPK5cSI— Peter Moskos (@PeterMoskos) January 4, 2022
This is absolute insanity!
As if our criminal justice system wasn’t already a revolving door, the Manhattan DA is offering an open ticket to criminals of all sorts to act with impunity! https://t.co/Bd1HpOcp7I
— Dov Hikind (@HikindDov) January 5, 2022
They should firstly lose ALL government benefits.
And they wonder why gun sales have gone through the roof…
We are being told to protect ourselves .. And with no alternative, WE must.. This is lunacy!
Ah but if you dare present a fake vaccine ID then you go stratigraphy to the clink for a year!
We have our priorities so skewed!
Edit: “Straight to the clink…”