Orange County, Calif. (KNX) - Orange County officials are pushing ahead with an aggressive policy targeting serial criminals.
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In collaboration with local law enforcement, District Attorney Todd Spitzer's office is putting pressure on repeat offenders, many of whom are allegedly affiliated with gangs based in Los Angeles and Riverside County.
More than 140 defendants are awaiting trial for crimes such as smash-and-grab robberies, burglaries, and home invasion robberies in Orange County. DA Spitzer believes this level of criminality was caused by reduced sentences and easy-release policies used extensively by judges in those other counties during the COVID-19 emergency.
In his policy, Spitzer has authorized hate crime charges against criminal groups targeting Asian families and businesses. "And I hope my colleagues around the state start doing the exact same thing so we can get some real time on these individuals and we can get the judge's attention that these are hate-motivated crimes in a lot of cases," Spitzer said.
In addition to these measures, Spitzer plans to empower voters with knowledge by educating the public about judges who continue to employ these COVID-era policies. The ballot box, he suggests, can be a tool for Orange County residents to demand a tougher stance on crime from their judges.
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