DeepSummary
The podcast episode discusses the progressive prosecutor movement, a relatively new approach in which prosecutors aim to take a more nuanced and less punitive approach to criminal justice rather than simply seeking maximum convictions and sentences. It explores the origins of this movement in the late 2010s, driven partly by increased visibility of police brutality cases and a backlash against traditionally "tough on crime" policies.
The hosts examine whether the progressive prosecutor approach has been successful in reducing incarceration rates and crime. While some progressive prosecutors have faced backlash and been voted out, the movement appears to be gaining traction overall, especially in major cities. However, the discussion highlights that prosecutors' ability to actually impact crime rates may be overstated, as factors like poverty, education, and addiction play a bigger role.
The episode also touches on how some Republican-led states have moved to limit the discretion of progressive prosecutors, allowing governors to reassign cases from elected prosecutors deemed too lenient. This has raised concerns about the politicization of the criminal justice system.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The progressive prosecutor movement aims to take a less punitive approach to criminal justice, rather than simply maximizing convictions and sentences.
- While facing significant backlash, the movement has made electoral gains, particularly in major cities where voters support a different prosecutorial approach.
- Prosecutors likely have less direct impact on crime rates than commonly assumed, as socioeconomic factors like poverty, addiction, and education play a bigger role.
- Some Republican-controlled states have moved to limit prosecutorial discretion and override progressive prosecutors, raising concerns over the politicization of the justice system.
- Despite some high-profile losses, the progressive prosecutor movement appears to have staying power and is part of a broader rethinking of America's criminal justice system.
- Debates around progressive prosecutors reveal divides over whether reforms should prioritize perceived toughness for its own sake versus more nuanced approaches focused on community wellbeing.
- The media narrative has largely portrayed the movement as failing, contrasting with its electoral successes in giving voice to public desires for criminal justice reform.
- By reframing the role of prosecutors, the movement is testing assumptions about the connections between prosecution, punishment and public safety.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “We've learned so, so much.“ by Josie Duffy Rice
- “The governor's campaign is failing. He needed something to put him in the national spotlight. Crime is down in orange and Osceola counties, not up. And that decrease has happened since I took office two and a half years ago.“ by Monique Worrell
- “If you listen to the media, not even just the right wing media, but the media overall, you definitely think that the progressive prosecutor movement has been a failure. But that's wrong, at least at the ballot. Box. People want a different kind of prosecutor. They recognize that the criminal legal system is excessive and cruel and expensive, but there are ways in which it's being challenged that really don't get a lot of media attention.“ by Josie Duffy Rice
Entities
Organization
Product
Book
Person
Episode Information
What A Day
Crooked Media
6/22/24