反對罷免三藩市地檢官博徹思

關於支持還是反對罷免地檢官博徹思的辯論,不僅要討論他是否有在三藩市依法執行刑事司法及保障公民安全,還需要了解罷免運動背後更深層次的政治衝突,以及對司法公義的理解。

我們在談論刑事司法時自然離不開討論罪與罰,也就是說,誰對別人造成了傷害,以及應該如何處罰?然而,刑事司法系統往往對貧窮、黑人、土著和有色人種社區非常不公,這樣結構性的不公平使得暴力惡性循環,創傷和仇恨代代相傳,犯罪永無休止。因此,全國很多地方的地檢官正努力推動司法改革,試圖打破惡性循環。三藩市地檢官博徹思也是在厲行他競選時對選民的承諾。由此可見,罷免他的職務是政治角力,與他刑事司法改革工作毫無關係。

自地檢官博徹思2020年1月上任以來,三藩市在囚犯減少明顯下降的情況下,整體犯罪案件數量也有所下降。

他推出了以嫌犯對社區的危害程度、而非嫌犯經濟的地位,來決定是否應把嫌犯關押在監獄等候審判。如果你非常關心年輕一代,你會注意到,這幾年,被拘留的違法少年減少了三分之二。博徹思還成立了一個獨立的冤假錯案調查委員會,以確保沒人在監獄中無辜受刑。地檢官也首次聘請了受害者倡導員,在受害人最困難的時候給他們提供與文化及語言背景相應的幫助。他還指定專門為財產犯罪受害者,包括店面遭破壞的業主和商家,提供支持的專員。博徹思與灣區其他地檢官和州檢察長邦塔合作,有效打擊有組織性的零售盜竊。

由於全國針對亞裔、黑人、土著和有色人種社區的襲擊事件的上升,博徹思更指派一名助理地檢官,專門負責起訴仇恨犯罪。地檢官的其他優先政綱還包括經濟公義,大力保護廣大員工的合法權益。

其實,地檢官博徹思上任不久就有人開始推動對他的罷免。罷免地檢官博徹思的經費主要來自於三藩市共和黨及其委員會。該委員會最大的一位捐助者是William Oberndorf,他也是共和黨的主要捐助者。

他曾向共和黨多數黨領袖Mitch McConnell捐贈超過100萬美元。除William Oberndorf外,該委員會主要依靠特朗普的支持者的捐贈。

我們明白,社會制度改革很多時都會遇到阻力,也可能是困難的,不少人也會對改革的成效有質疑。但是,當社會存在根深蒂固的弊病時,選擇一切照舊,那將會更危險。

目前司法系統僅關注將犯罪的人起訴和收監,並不能解決我們現時嚴峻的社會弊病,包括社區安全。我們只有解決暴力根源,社區才能獲得真正安全。博徹思正在盡心盡力保障社區安全,所以我們要一起投票反對H提案,反對罷免博徹思。

【本文由李正元、陳慧君、力儲文、苗麗娟、莫力加、金貞妍和Amar Thomas聯合撰寫】

Opposing the recall of SF District Attorney Chesa Boudin

Authors: Janice Li, Li Miao Lovett, Queena Chen, Jane Kim, Faauuga Moliga-Puletasi, Mano Raju, and Amar Thomas

The debate over recalling Chesa Boudin as a progressive District Attorney goes beyond whether criminal justice has been served in San Francisco and the safety of its citizens. Let’s get to the heart of the political conflict, which goes deeper to essential questions regarding what justice is.

When we talk about criminal justice it often involves violence. Who commits it, and how should they atone for it We can ask the same question when the perpetrator is the system itself. The criminal justice system is often criminally unjust to the poor, and BIPOC communities. And progressive DAs around the country have been trying to flip that script, because systemic violence really sets the stage for more violence, for perpetuating trauma that is intergenerational and holds back communities from ever just ‘getting over it’. We oppose the attempt to recall DA Boudin because he is doing the job that voters elected him to do, consistent with his campaign promises. There are political efforts to unseat him that have little to do with criminal justice reform.

Since his election in November 2019, DA Boudin has achieved a significant reduction in jail population while overall crime rates have been reduced; ended the use of cash bail, so people are held in jail based on danger to the community, not economic status. And if you are concerned about the welfare of the young and the innocent, he has reduced juvenile detention by two-thirds, and he’s established an independent innocence commission to ensure no one languishes in prison for a crime they did not commit. For the first time, the DA’s office in San Francisco has hired victim advocates who provide culturally sensitive support in situations that are often emotionally charged. He’s also provided support to victims of property crime including home owners and merchants facing storefront vandalism, working in alliance with other Bay Area prosecutors and State Attorney General Rob Bonta to combat organized retail theft. His office has an Assistant District Attorney dedicated to prosecuting hate crimes, as our country has seen incidents and assaults on the rise against Asian Americans and other BIPOC communities. Economic injustices are part of his priorities; he created the innovative worker protection unit which supports protecting worker rights.

In fact, attacks on DA Boudin started right after he took office. The recall campaign supported by the San Francisco Republican Party and funded by a committee whose largest single donor, William Oberndorf, is a major Republican donor that has given more than $1 million to Republican Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, and, in addition to Oberndorf, the committee relies on support from donors to Donald Trump.

Yes, the danger of reform is that change could go too far. The unfortunate truth is that those in power will resist change while our communities languish from injustice. The danger of business as usual is that just focusing on prosecution and prison do not solve the worst of our social ills. Communities are safer when we address the root causes of violence. Vote no on H–No to recalling Chesa Boudin.

星島廣場