Guest Opinion | Kathleen Cady: George Gascon Must Be Fired for His Incompetence, Mismanagement, and Betrayal of Justice

Posted at h in Gascon Must Go by GasconMustGo

By Kathleen Cady, Originally published in Pasadena Now.

When violent crime strikes, victims need swift justice and meaningful support to begin their path to healing. Yet, for the past four years, George Gascon has done nothing but undermine the very foundation of justice in Los Angeles County. His policies have not only devastated victims but have shattered entire communities, leaving behind a wreckage that is both heartbreaking and inexcusable. Gascon has failed every day on the job, and the victims are paying the price.

While Gascon boasts that victim service representatives (advocates) in his Bureau of Victim Services (BVS) are ready to help, this couldn’t be further from the truth. For more than 40 years, these advocates have been essential in guiding victims through the criminal justice system, offering them support and helping them heal. But no amount of resources or dedication from these tireless advocates can undo the damage inflicted by Gascon’s reckless policies. Gascon’s incompetence has only worsened the situation, leading to a tragic decline in available services for those who need it most.

In the last year alone, due to Gascon’s gross mismanagement, his office lost three vital grants, leading to the elimination of seven advocate positions. These advocates were responsible for assisting victims of human trafficking, gang violence, and elder abuse—those who are among the most vulnerable in our society. Gascon’s policies prevent prosecutors from filing gang-related charges or seeking bail for human traffickers or elder abusers, and his incompetence has now gutted the very resources that could support these victims. Because of Gascon’s failures, these victims face an uphill battle for justice and must do so with fewer resources and support than ever before.

And it gets worse.

The District Attorney’s Office, under Gascon’s leadership, controls an “Unclaimed Restitution Fund,” intended to provide financial support to victims in desperate need. These funds could be used to pay for necessities like food and shelter for victims of violent crime or medical equipment for elder abuse victims. But instead of safeguarding these precious resources for those who truly need them, Gascon wanted to change the very definition of “victim” to include anyone he personally deems deserving—without any oversight or approval from the Board of Supervisors. Thankfully, this reckless plan was halted when the DA’s office realized it could trigger yet another audit, but the fact that Gascon even considered it shows his utter disregard for the victims he’s supposed to serve.

It’s no surprise that under Gascon’s watch, the resources meant for victims are dwindling. There are fewer than 50 advocates in all of Los Angeles County to serve victims of violent crime—from murder and rape to human trafficking and elder abuse. Yet, despite this critical shortage, Gascon tried to implement a policy that would have diverted these advocates to assist families of individuals who died in confrontations with law enforcement or while in custody, people who are not victims in the traditional sense. One such case involved a man who was shot by police after refusing to drop his gun while threatening four innocent people. Another involved a person who died of cirrhosis while in custody. These are not the victims that the BVS was established to help. Gascon’s insistence on treating them as such only further undermines the advocates’ ability to support actual victims of crime.

The bottom line is clear: George Gascon abandoned the people he swore to protect. His mismanagement and incompetence have stripped away crucial resources, leaving victims with little support in their darkest hours. Gascon must be fired. The people of Los Angeles deserve a District Attorney who values justice, stands up for victims, and will restore safety and sanity to our communities. N

Kathleen Cady is a retired Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney who advocates pro bono for crime victims in court and at parole hearings.

Read the full article here.