---

 [ GUEST WORDS ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=378)

#  DA George Gascón Rejects Request to Dismantle Victim Impact Program

Written by ADDA (Assoc. Deputy DA's).

March 16 2023

GUEST COMMENTARY - Today, with only a few hours’ notice, District Attorney George Gascón canceled a meeting that his staff had scheduled a week ago with the Association of Deputy District Attorneys (ADDA). The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the request by the ADDA to reconsider his decision to dissolve the Victim Impact Program (VIP).

VIP is a division of specially trained attorneys who prosecute the most sensitive cases in the office, such as domestic violence, sexual abuse, elder abuse, child abuse, hate crimes, sex crimes, and stalking. Gascón’s planned reorganization would reduce the number of experienced lawyers handling these cases.

“This decision by Gascón to gut this essential unit is rash, self-serving, and retaliatory,” said ADDA President Michele Hanisee. “It will make victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse less safe, and in many cases, put their lives in danger. But what do you expect from a guy who has never tried a case or had to help a traumatized crime victim navigate the court process.”

At a time when reported incidences of domestic violence and sexual abuse are at dangerously high levels, Gascón’s cuts will:

- Reduce the number of attorneys with the specialized training and experience needed to handle such cases;
- Increase caseloads for the already overworked attorneys assigned to prosecute cases involving sexual abuse, domestic violence, elder abuse, and hate crimes;
- Shift responsibility for handling many of these cases to prosecutors who are not trained to handle them;
- Remove the most experienced domestic violence and sexual abuse prosecutors from courthouses across the county;
- Lead to predictably disastrous outcomes for the county’s most vulnerable victims.

These changes effectively transfer Deputy District Attorneys to give the appearance of making a change, but in fact, reduce the number of prosecutors that handle these delicate matters.

“No one outside of George Gascón’s insular and inexperienced executive team thinks this is a good idea,” said ADDA Vice President Eric Siddall. “This level of mismanagement and incompetence is typical of Gascón. His stubborn refusal to pause or rethink this petty power tantrum is arrogant, irresponsible, and a threat to public safety.”

In April 2022, managers in the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office’s Victim Impact Program (“VIP”) sent George Gascón and his executive team a detailed, data-driven memo warning the administration in no uncertain terms that people would suffer and die if he didn’t flood those units with additional resources and personnel.

On February 15, 2023, the [managers’ memo leaked](https://freebeacon.com/democrats/unacceptable-los-angeles-progressive-prosecutor-is-ignoring-a-sex-crime-crisis-according-to-internal-memo/) to the media. Less than 24 hours later, Gascón dissolved the units and retaliated against many of the managers who wrote the memo. Gascón’s dangerous reorganization will take effect tomorrow.

*(The [Association of Deputy District Attorneys ](https://www.laadda.com/)(ADDA) is the collective bargaining agent representing over 800 Deputy District Attorneys working for the County of Los Angeles.)*

[![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20ev%20ad2.png)](https://www.ladwp.com/residential-services/programs-and-rebates-residential/electric-vehicles)

[![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/ME%20DENTAL%20SPA/me%20dental2%208-11-26.png)](https://www.medentalspa.com/)

 [ ![LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/dwp%20level%20pay%205-7-25.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Pay Your Bill Help)")

[![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/candidates%20ad%202026.png)](mailto:nantoni@mindspring.com)

 ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png)

## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays

 Email

 [ ![Dogwatch Banner](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/dogwatch2.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/80 "DogWatch Promo 2 - Home - HB1-1")

 [ ![Your Free DIY Lawn-To-Garden Resource](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/LADWP/LADWP_LEAP_300x250.png) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/88 "LA DWP - Home - HB1-1 (LEAP)")

 [ ![Neighborhood Council Map](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/nc-map-graphic.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/89 "Home - Neighborhood Council Map - HB1-1")

 [ ![Neighborhood Council Meetings Here](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/NewsPromos/nc-meeting%20banner.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/90 "Home - Neighborhood Council Meetings Here - HB1-1")

 #HB1-1

 [ ![Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/HHR/AHF-rent-too-high.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/104 "Home - HHR Rent is too High - SB-2")

[![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/something%20you%20should%20know2.jpg)](https://mail.citywatchla.com/podcasts)

 [ ![Cheap Gas](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/banners/cheap-gas2-10-24.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/component/banners/click/96 "Home - Cheap Gas - HB1-2")

 #HB1-2

 ---

##  Featured CityWatch Stories

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/34/065h-34e1b43b.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395)

### [Reminder to the Red States, Turnabout is Fair Play](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33212:reminder-to-the-red-states-turnabout-is-fair-play&catid=395)

GELFAND’S WORLD - Indiana has been pounded by rains that resulted in widespread flooding. While the rain was still comi…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/d8/066m-d8f0fac6.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33229:democrats-finally-tell-iowa-and-new-hampshire-you-dont-go-first-anymore&catid=395)

### [Democrats Finally Tell Iowa and New Hampshire: You Don’t Go First Anymore](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33229:democrats-finally-tell-iowa-and-new-hampshire-you-dont-go-first-anymore&catid=395)

GELFAND’S WORLD - Earlier in the week, the Democratic National Committee did something good. Mind you it wasn’t great…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/d0/065o-d02f23ac.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378)

### [California’s Empty Classrooms Are a Warning Sacramento Can’t Ignore](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378)

A STUDENT'S VIEW - California is spending more on public education, yet classrooms are emptying, campuses are closing…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/da/066j-daf22e28.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33231:a-prisoner-a-peacemaker-and-israels-defining-choice&catid=375)

### [A Prisoner, A Peacemaker, and Israel’s Defining Choice](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33231:a-prisoner-a-peacemaker-and-israels-defining-choice&catid=375)

P.O.V - Marwan Barghouti remains one of the most consequential—and controversial—figures in the Israeli-Palestinian con…

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/media/yootheme/cache/df/065q-dfb89383.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33224:john-mckinney-on-what-separates-the-city-attorney-candidates&catid=401)

### [John McKinney on What Separates the City Attorney Candidates](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33224:john-mckinney-on-what-separates-the-city-attorney-candidates&catid=401)

INTERVIEW - Voters will have a clear and defining contrast in the goals and objectives of the remaining general electio…

---

##  [ GUEST WORDS ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=378)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/066i.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33233:antisemites-want-jews-to-feel-like-outsiders-we-should-refuse&catid=378)### [Antisemites Want Jews to Feel Like Outsiders. We Should Refuse.](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33233:antisemites-want-jews-to-feel-like-outsiders-we-should-refuse&catid=378)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/Aug-2026/065o.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378)### [California’s Empty Classrooms Are a Warning Sacramento Can’t Ignore](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33213:californias-empty-classrooms-are-a-warning-sacramento-cant-ignore&catid=378)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/060g.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33131:california-doesnt-have-a-school-funding-crisis-it-has-a-leadership-crisis&catid=378)### [California Doesn't Have a School Funding Crisis. It Has a Leadership Crisis.](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33131:california-doesnt-have-a-school-funding-crisis-it-has-a-leadership-crisis&catid=378)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/059c.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33119:smoking-gun-letter-shows-lausd-was-warned-before-approving-billion-dollar-pay-raises&catid=378)### [Smoking Gun Letter Shows LAUSD Was Warned Before Approving Billion-Dollar Pay Raises](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33119:smoking-gun-letter-shows-lausd-was-warned-before-approving-billion-dollar-pay-raises&catid=378)

 [ ![](https://mail.citywatchla.com/images/stories/July-2026/057n.jpg) ](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33074:silencing-palestine-no-protecting-jewish-students-and-keeping-politics-out-of-the-classroom&catid=378)### [Silencing Palestine? No—Protecting Jewish Students and Keeping Politics Out of the Classroom](https://mail.citywatchla.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33074:silencing-palestine-no-protecting-jewish-students-and-keeping-politics-out-of-the-classroom&catid=378)
<div data-id="1" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-emailform eb-1 eboxContentLocker"
	data-options='{"trigger":"onPageLoad","trigger_selector":"","delay":3000,"early_trigger":true,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":1,"reverse_scroll_close":true,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":10000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"slideInDown","animation_close":"fadeOutDown","animation_duration":400,"disable_page_scroll":true,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #1 - Global Email Signup Form","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog eb-formVer" role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog1" aria-label="dialog1">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<form action="https://citywatchla.us2.list-manage.com/subscribe/post?u=34d69f33624fd058ee9b56516&amp;id=4bfa422f51&amp;f_id=00d6c2e1f0" class="eb" method="post" id="mcform-1" name="mcform-1" target="_blank">
			<div class="eb-form-header"><p><img src="/images/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png" alt="be a city watcher" width="350" height="97" loading="lazy" data-path="local-images:/2023/06/be-a-city-watcher.png"></p>
<p>Sign up to receive our special e-news blasts on Monday and Thursday evenings!</p></div>
	
					<div class="eb-field-row">

			
			
			
			<input class="eb-input" type="email" name="EMAIL"  placeholder="Email address"  id="EMAIL" value="" required>

			
		</div>
										
	<div class="eb-footer">
    	<button class="eb-btn" type="submit" name="subscribe" style="background-color:rgba(93, 183, 93, 1);color:rgba(255, 255, 255, 1)">
    		Sign up    	</button>
    </div>
</form>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>
<div data-id="3" 
	class="eb-inst eb-hide eb-yesno eb-3 "
	data-options='{"trigger":"onScrollDepth","trigger_selector":"","delay":0,"early_trigger":false,"scroll_depth":"percentage","scroll_depth_value":80,"firing_frequency":2,"reverse_scroll_close":false,"threshold":0,"close_out_viewport":false,"exit_timer":1000,"idle_time":1000,"close_on_esc":false,"animation_open":"fadeInUp","animation_close":"fadeOut","animation_duration":300,"disable_page_scroll":false,"test_mode":false,"debug":false,"ga_tracking":true,"ga_tracking_id":"G-P16BQ7X1SW","ga_tracking_event_category":"EngageBox","ga_tracking_event_label":"Box #3 - Yes \/ No Donation Popup Box","auto_focus":false}'
	data-type='popup'
	>

	<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-outside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>
	<div class="eb-dialog " role="dialog" aria-modal="true" id="dialog3" aria-label="dialog3">
		
		<button type="button" data-ebox-cmd="close" class="eb-close placement-inside" aria-label="Close">
	<img alt="close popup button" />
	<span aria-hidden="true">&times;</span>
</button>	
		<div class="eb-container">
						<div class="eb-content">
				
<div class="ebox-yes-no">
	<div class="ebox-yn-text">
		
		
		<div class="ebox-yn-headline" style="font-size:22px;color:#888888">
			<p>If you only give once a month, would you consider giving to CityWatch?</p>
<p>Your support fuels our mission to promote and facilitate civic engagement and neighborhood empowerment, and to hold area government and its politicians accountable.</p>
<p>Would you like to help? Even if you can only give $5, it will make a difference.</p>		</div>
			</div>
	
	<div class="ebox-ys-buttons" style="font-size: 16px;">
		
<a
					data-ebox-prevent="0"
		data-ebox-cmd="close"
				target="_self"
		href="https://www.citywatchla.com/donate"
		rel="noopener"
	
	
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#2ec664;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Yes
	</a>
<a
	
	
			data-ebox-cmd="close"
		href="#"
	
	
	class="ebox-ys-btn"
	style="background-color:#ef2345;color:#ffffff;min-width:100px">
	Not Right Now
	</a>	</div>

	</div>			</div>
		</div>
	</div>	
</div>