Progressive prosecutors in a number of cities (e.g., Alvin Bragg in New York, Kim Foxx in Chicago, Larry Krasner in Philadelphia, George Gascón in Los Angeles) have adopted what some maintain are “soft on crime” policies and/or practices, the purported rationale for which is that criminal codes have a disparate impact on minority offenders. No-cash bail, raising the threshold for offenses to be prosecuted as felonies, undercharging, and probation/early release are but a few of these policies.
Data suggest these progressive policies do, in fact, disproportionately benefit minority offenders. But progressives are largely silent about the effect of their policies on the victims of crime (which cohort also is disproportionately minority) as well as the secondary consequences of rampant, unpunished crime: business flight, mass looting, plunging property values, food/retail “deserts,” and general societal dysfunction.
The U.S. Commission on Civil Rights is examining the specific causes for the increase in crime and its effect on victims. As part of the examination, a public hearing will be held on November 17 at 9 a.m. at commission headquarters, 1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1150, Washington, D.C. In addition to time for subject-matter experts (law enforcement, criminologists, etc.), 20 five-minute slots will be reserved on a first-come, first-served basis for any members of the public who wish to testify. You’re also welcome to submit written comments regarding how crime and government policies/practices related to crime have affected you (the commission tends to hear from progressives far more often since they’re usually much better organized in this regard).
Written comments may be emailed to victimsofcrime@usccr.gov or mailed to the address noted above. There’s no prescribed word limit for such comments (in the past, public comments have ranged from as few as 20 words to more than 10,000). Comments must be received by December 18 to be included in commission deliberations.