“With each step of the legal process, the case against her is unraveling, as it should. The deeply problematic charges brought against ADA Teran seek to penalize a public servant for fulfilling her ethical duty to ensure transparency and uphold the Constitution, all in the name of shielding police misconduct behind a veil of secrecy.”
– Cristine Soto DeBerry,
Executive Director, Prosecutors Alliance
Prosecutors Alliance Executive Director Cristine Soto DeBerry issued the following statement on Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón’s announcement today that he would seek to resentence Lyle and Erik Menendez:
“District Attorney Gascón’s decision to move to resentence the Menendez brothers reflects his commitment to public safety, second chances, rehabilitation and justice.
We now know that trauma during childhood can have a serious impact on development, and research tells us it should be considered during sentencing. We also know that young people age out of crime and that people convicted of violent crimes who are released after decades in prison rarely commit new crimes of violence.
Our criminal legal system must have mechanisms to revisit extreme sentences when we are presented with new information – especially evidence of trauma and abuse that wasn’t previously considered – and when individuals have done the hard work of rehabilitation.
DA Gascón has resentenced at least 300 individuals, and these cases are never taken lightly. The Resentencing Unit – and the court that hears the motion for resentencing – considers numerous factors to determine whether someone is eligible for resentencing and possible release, including an individual’s conduct while in prison, the circumstances of the crime, and any trauma or abuse that may have contributed to the crime and was not taken into consideration at the original sentencing. Crime victims are an important part of the process and have the opportunity to provide their input.
Keeping people imprisoned simply for the sake of punishment is not justice and it does not make us safer. We support DA Gascón’s continued use of his resentencing power to ensure that those who deserve a second chance have the opportunity to safely return home.”