Los Angeles is grappling with a significant crime issue, largely stemming from a small number of persistent offenders, according to District Attorney Nathan Hockman. In an exclusive chat with The California Post, he shared that crowded prisons and lenient laws are contributing to the situation, allowing many criminals to return to the streets—often on bicycles.
“Roughly 10% of individuals are responsible for over half of the crimes committed,” Hockman explained. “These are chronic repeat offenders.”
He further pointed out that the Los Angeles County Jail operates like a revolving door, currently overflowing with inmates. Sheriff Robert Luna is facing tough choices, having to keep serious offenders incarcerated while managing a daily inmate population that ideally should not exceed 12,500 to 13,000.
“One major source of new cases entering the criminal justice system is individuals who have already served time and are now back,” added Hockman.
Last year, the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation released a report suggesting that the implementation of Proposition 57—passed in 2016—could help lower recidivism rates. This measure focused on rehabilitation for nonviolent offenses and minors by lessening penalties.
Yet, opinions vary among law enforcement regarding the regulation’s effectiveness. Hockman criticized legal loopholes that he feels encourage criminal behavior, citing puzzling classifications of certain crimes. For instance, he was shocked to learn that human trafficking involving victims aged 18 and older is deemed a non-serious, non-violent crime in California. This, according to him, would absolutely facilitate increased instances of human trafficking.
“If someone is convicted of a non-serious crime, they could serve only around 50% of their sentence instead of the typical 80%,” Hockman noted. He remarked that some courageous legislators have tried to amend this but have often failed to even get a vote on the matter.
Despite crime rates reportedly dropping—murder cases in Los Angeles alone fell by nearly 19% to 230 last year—Hockman remains skeptical. “I don’t believe these declines,” he remarked. “If we don’t address the core issues, they will always be a concern.”
Hockman’s statements come amid scrutiny over his choice to drop charges against six police officers related to the death of Edward Bronstein, which many have compared to George Floyd’s 2020 death in Minneapolis, as both men were heard saying “I can’t breathe” in their last moments.
In response to criticism, the District Attorney argued that the legal situation surrounding the case—before his tenure—was not sustainable. “It’s absurd to think there was any cover-up in a closed hearing,” he stated, adding that prosecutors doubt they could establish beyond reasonable doubt that the officers acted recklessly.
Still, he mentioned a sergeant involved in the incident accepted a plea deal, and anticipated a nurse present would likely be charged with manslaughter for failing to alert officers as Bronstein lost consciousness.
Hockman chose not to discuss ongoing murder charges against singer D4vid, accused of killing a 14-year-old girl, or a case involving the son of actor Rob Reiner, both still under investigation.
