This post was updated Jan 28 at 8:55 p.m.

Los Angeles residents are calling for a tougher stance on crime after four years of progressive policies.

Nathan Hochman and incumbent George Gascón ran a tight race for the position of LA County’s district attorney in the 2024 general election, with the two candidates campaigning opposing visions for LA’s crime and public safety policies. Hochman’s victory reflects a shift in Californians’ prioritization of public safety over criminal justice reform following a nationwide trend.

The DA, also called the prosecutor, is responsible for ensuring impartiality in the county’s criminal justice system, Jonathan Raven, the assistant CEO of California District Attorneys Association, said. The DA not only shapes local criminal justice policy but also represents the state or federal government in criminal cases, determining the way cases are investigated, charged and addressed.

As an elected position, the DA’s decisions should reflect public sentiment toward criminal justice and public safety, Raven added.

Gascón met the moment when he stepped into office in 2020. Amid the national denouncement of racial injustice and police brutality following the death of George Floyd, Gascón’s pledge to roll back harsh law enforcement made him the “godfather” of progressive prosecutors, according to the LA Times.

In addition to banning cash bail for most offenses and refusing to prosecute misdemeanors like trespassing or drug possession, Gascón vowed to radically reform the mass incarceration he saw in California’s prison system. He argued harsh sentences and mass incarceration disproportionately harmed Black and Latino communities and prevented the prison system from providing adequate resources for inmates’ restoration and rehabilitation.

Nicole Gonzalez, a third-year history student, and Lili Leikam, a second-year political science student, both interned at the LA DA’s office from summer and fall. Gonzalez and Leikam said they observed how challenging it was for deputy DAs to prosecute convictions to the fullest extent due to Gascón’s lenient policies.

In fact, the LA Times reported that over 20 deputies sued Gascón for his retaliation when they opposed or questioned his progressive directives. According to Politico, a little over a year after Gascón took office, 97.9% of union members in The Association of Deputy District Attorneys for LA had voted to oust Gascón.

Crime rates are often used to measure a DA’s success. During Gascón’s four years in office, the number of violent crimes – which include rape, sexual assault, robbery, assault and murder – increased in his second year but decreased in his third, resulting in an overall 12% increase between 2021 to 2023, according to the LA County Sheriff’s Office. However, the number of crimes are not fully representative of a DA’s competency, as there are a number of factors influencing crime that the DA cannot control, such as police staffing levels, according to the LA Times.

Despite a decline in homicide rates and no notable increases in property crimes like robbery during his tenure, Gascón’s lenient policies may have fostered a perception of rising crime rates throughout the city, according to CalMatters. UCLA law professor Shirin Bakhshay said the rising concerns of public safety may speak to the general public’s perception rather than reflecting statistical reality.

According to Vox, these perceptions are influenced by fearmongering perpetuated by political campaigns, heightened media coverage of crimes and the sensationalizing of crime.

“Studies have shown that when people feel tremendous uncertainty, … when they feel that their values are being threatened, a lot of those things can manifest as … a desire for more tough-on-crime responses,” Bakhshay said.

Hochman, an independent law-and-order candidate, addressed this desire in the 2024 election by campaigning for stricter sentencing and dedicated task forces to tackle issues including homelessness and human trafficking. Hochman was sworn into office last month after securing nearly 60% of the votes, beating out Gascón by more than 650,000 votes, according to the LA County Registrar.

In addition to Hochman’s victory, 70% of Californians voted in favor of Proposition 36 to increase penalties for repeated theft offenses and certain drug crimes beginning Jan. 1, according to the New York Times. In fact, the proposition was the only initiative on the 2024 ballot to pass in all 58 counties in California, according to Spectrum News.

The push for a tougher stance on crime wasn’t limited to California.

“Not just in LA, a number of those progressive prosecutors have either been recalled or failed to be reelected because they are getting caught up in this moment of a return to law and order,” Bakhshay said.

In Colorado, voters passed Proposition 128, which would require longer minimum prison time for violent crimes. In Arizona, voters passed Proposition 311, which would charge criminals a $20 penalty fee for every conviction.

Public safety concerns have also been recorded in distinct areas like college campuses. In fact, more than 82% of college students nationwide said they felt concerned about their safety when on campus, according to a 2021 study by the American District Telegraph and The Clery Center.

At UCLA, UCPD reported 1,890 criminal activities in 2024, around a 3% increase since the annual total in 2022. These crimes consisted mostly of theft offenses and assault.

While UCLA deploys its own police force, major crimes that take place in Westwood fall under the local jurisdiction of the LAPD. For especially heinous or complicated crimes, the case will be directed to the DA, who will determine the proceedings.

Raven said it is important for Bruins to feel confident in the elected DA.

“It’s important for you as a student to feel comfortable with your police department that are going to investigate these cases and keep you safe,” Raven said. “Once the police finish the case, you need to feel comfortable that the baton is being passed to the DA office to then focus on public safety.”