The past blog entry "Philly DA: Independent Lens series, premieres on PBS tonight" calls attention to the PBS Independent Lens series on DA Larry Krasner, who is a leader in the progressive redefinition of local prosecution and its move away from a focus on incarceration. (Also see "Yard sign, National Crime Victims' Support Week, April 18th-24th, 2021.")
-- "Can a Progressive Prosecutor Survive a 40% Spike in Homicides?," New York Times
-- "Larry Krasner vs. Everybody: Inside the Philly DA’s Crusade to Revolutionize Criminal Justice," Philadelphia Magazine
The 7 episode series, showing on Tuesday evenings, is super well done, at least so far. I frequently criticize documentaries for a constrained and often glib story arc, and that isn't the case here. And the filming is really really well done.
It's not being shown in Philadelphia out of fear of it influencing the primary election there, where in the Democratic race, In the election, Larry Krasner is facing a former prosecutor that he fired, Carlos Vega.
The police union and related groups is out in force against Krasner, blaming him for a rise in murders, although Philadelphia's crime rise is comparable to that of other cities.
The local Democratic Party didn't make an endorsement in the race. Some elected officials support him, others are quiet, and others support Vega, although Vega has lost some support because some of the anti-Krasner police groups sent out incendiary campaign materials.
The "Philadelphia Story" on criminal justice reform shows it isn't easy. Some people who get released will go on to do bad things. Many won't.
One of the many interesting things from the documentary series is that the DA's office under Krasner has a data analysis team led by a criminologist, Oren Gur, and rather than rely on inferences, they study the issues and make policy recommendations based on data.
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/philadelphia-district-attorney-larry-krasner-wins-election-carlos-vega-20210519.html
ReplyDeletelet to good time roll...
ReplyDeleteWell, the NYT article quotes a Penn Law professor, David S. Abrams, who found that the rise in murders is concentrated in existing high crime areas, which makes sense.
ReplyDeleteThe New York Times: Philadelphia’s Progressive District Attorney Fends Off Democratic Challenger.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/19/us/krasner-vega-philadelphia.html
But there is no question that easing up on prosecution will have some impact on crime.
I'd read about Kensington, which was the focus of last night's TV episode. How do you get users of the street? That community is under siege. Injection centers will reduce deaths, but won't change the nuisance conditions.
https://whyy.org/segments/one-womans-mission-to-make-sure-everyone-carries-narcan-including-drug-dealers/
fun biotech aside:
ReplyDeletethe big push is the inflatable narcan, no need to worry about the needle. This is the push for "narcan everywhere".
You know who owns that -- Emergent Biosystems, the star child of MoCo biotech. Better known for vaccines these days.
I'm in the wrong line of work.
Me too. Although I'd say they're better known for production failures...
ReplyDeleteIncredibly disturbing article.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.inquirer.com/zzz-systest/a/heroin-effects-kensington-philadelphia-dealers-violence-20210520.html
About how the clout of the police union is declining.
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/philadelphia/philadelphia-police-union-fop-john-mcnesby-larry-krasner-20210519.html
People didn't blame Krasner for the rise in crime.
https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/philadelphia-district-attorney-larry-krasner-crime-rate-police-experts-20210520.html
Within hours, Pa. Republicans make Larry Krasner impeachment drive a midterm issue.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/pennsylvania-republicans-make-larry-krasner-midterm-issue-20221027.html