Los Angeles District Attorney Nathan Hochman has vowed to hold criminals accountable in the county.
In a video shared to X, Hochman said he stood at the border of San Bernardino County and Los Angeles County, a border that “criminals used to actually look forward to when they entered Los Angeles county, as the laws weren’t being enforced as much as they were in San Bernardino.”
“Got a rude awakening for those criminals,” he continued. “We’re back. The DA’s office is working with law enforcement. We’re going to actually enforce the laws and hold criminals accountable.”
Hochman made significant policy changes regarding the prosecution of special-circumstance murder cases, including lifting the ban on seeking the death penalty, earlier this year.
Hochman’s decision stood as a dramatic reversal from the previous administration’s blanket prohibition on capital punishment. Under the new policy, defense counsel will have greater opportunities to present mitigating information before a decision is made. The views of victims’ families will also be sought and considered.
“I remain unwaveringly committed to the comprehensive and thorough evaluation of every special circumstance murder case prosecuted in Los Angeles County, in consultation with the murder victim’s survivors and with full input on the mitigating and aggravating factors of each case, to ensure that the punishment sought by the Office is just, fair, fitting, and appropriate,” Hochman said at the time.
Upon being sworn in as district attorney in December, Hochman said, “The unifying frustration I’ve heard from residents is their growing fear for their safety. People now factor fear into their daily lives, and that is unacceptable.”
