#23: Prosecutor as Innovator: The DA’s Power to Move the Needle of Justice
The prosecutor sits in a powerful position in the American criminal justice system, deciding who to charge and with what, and wielding significant discretion. Some prosecutors use this power to focus narrowly on crime but George Gascon, District Attorney in San Francisco, CA, uses his office to attempt to better the system, to increase public safety, and to make his city a stronger community.
From the “Neighborhood Courts” restorative justice program to the creation of a “Behavioral Health Justice Center” model for handling mentally ill people in the justice system, District Attorney Gascon stands out for both innovation and compassion.