The role of the prosecutor is to pursue justice.

This primarily means enforcing the laws passed by the representatives of the people.

Enforcement protects citizens from future crime, but also offers some measure of satisfaction to the victims of crime.

This is the basis of civil society.

But, over the last several years, a growing number of American cities have elected prosecutors who are de-emphasizing enforcement.

This is by design.

These prosecutors openly vow to reform the criminal justice system by means of selective prosecution.

Their motive, seemingly well-intentioned, is that criminals do better when they're not incarcerated.

That many people who are in jail shouldn't be there because they don't present a danger to society.

So, what does this reform look like?

Here are just a few examples.

In Boston, Suffolk County District Attorney Rachel Rollins has ceased prosecuting 15 different offense categories,

including charges like trespassing, stealing less than $250, destruction of property, and drug possession with the intent to distribute.

In Brooklyn, Eric Gonzalez is either refused to prosecute or has rerouted many gun offenders to pretrial diversion programs.

In Los Angeles, George Cascone has actually prohibited prosecutors from speaking at parole hearings.

This forces victims and their families to take on the burden of speaking in opposition to early releases.

He has also ordered his prosecutors not to pursue sentencing enhancements enacted by elected representatives,

including those for third strikes and gang-related offenses.

In San Francisco, Chesa Budin instituted a policy prohibiting prosecutors from seeking bail and heavily restricted their ability to ask for pretrial detention.

This is not a fringe movement.

In addition to the four cities just mentioned, St. Louis, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Houston,

or Landau, Portland, San Antonio, and others have taken the same route.

...