What do crime victims actually want — and what do they need?

“It’s not going to bring my mom back.” This is what Terryln Hall said to Alabama authorities as she asked them to spare the life of Joe Nathan James Jr., the man responsible for murdering her mother. Despite this, on July 28, Alabama authorities ignored Hall’s wishes and carried out the execution. Alabama’s Attorney General Steve Marshal justified the execution, arguing he must “ensure that justice is done for the people of Alabama.”

Sadly, many prosecutors and officials pursue harsh sentences, even death, against the wishes of the victims in a case. Our criminal justice system seeks to balance the needs of our communities, victims and even offenders in an effort to serve the public’s interest and work for the people. That means keeping our neighborhoods safe, holding individuals accountable in a manner that is fair and equitable and using taxpayer resources judiciously.

Victims’ voices must be centered in advocacy in the name of the people. However, far too often, the wishes of victims have been reduced to only those seeking revenge for their pain while disregarding those seeking redemption and healing Victims have a range of opinions about punishment, but nearly all agree, what they most want is to be safe and protect others.

Across the country, every attempt to recall or challenge a modern prosecutor includes a common theme and tactic: A handful of victims are pushed front and center to criticize data-driven policies that reduce our reliance on mass incarceration. We most often hear from victims in the aftermath of a tragedy who decry these policies as unjust, unsafe and unwanted by the victim community.

So are policies like those pursued by District Attorney George Gascón serving the public interest and centering victims’ voices? Or do victims pre

fer and is Los Angeles better served by the approach favored by those seeking to recall him?

Surveys show that victims of violent crime in Los Angeles support policies like Gascón’s that promote rehabilitation and prevention over longer periods of incarceration by a margin of 2 to 1. Gascón’s policies also serve the broader public interest as they are shown to reduce recidivism, which means reductions in future offending, victimization and taxpayer spending.

There are indeed victims who want the maximum sentence imposed, but the suggestion that this is the desire of most victims ignores the truth. Victims want to ensure they are safe and that no one else will have to experience the same thing. That’s why, when asked, most victims want support for things ranging from medical bills and therapy to home security systems that give them a sense of safety rather than a longer period of incarceration.

Unfortunately, our wasteful spending on incarceration has deprived victims of the resources they want and deserve. State spending on victim services represents about 1% of what California spends on the prison system. A recent survey of 711 victims of crime conducted by the Prosecutors Alliance found that nearly 40% of victims were never offered support to recover from the crime. .

In cases where an arrest is made and a case is filed, victims’ opinions on sentencing varies. As you can imagine, in the immediate aftermath of a trauma wherein someone loses a loved one, victims often do want the maximum sentence imposed. Often, however, the desire to see the harshest penalties imposed wanes as victims make their journey from victim to survivor.

Years after a tragedy, most victims simply don’t want someone else to go through what they experienced.

It’s a sentiment reflected in the research, which shows that six in 10 victims prefer shorter prison sentences and increased spending on prevention and rehabilitation. In addition, victims prefer that the criminal justice system focus more on rehabilitating people who commit crimes than punishing them by a two-toone margin.

Powerful special interests like police unions and the prison guard lobby are spending millions of dollars to lift up only the voices of victims who back harsh sentencing policies. After all, to enforce these policies we need more police officers, more prison guards and more prison cells. However, with the majority of the victim community seeking other interventions, making policy based on those who are most visible and vocal is not advocacy for the people, let alone victims of crime.

The Prosecutors Alliance and our members are working to ensure victim support and healing is at the center of our work. This year, in conjunction with our partners, we successfully secured over $77 million to support victims of crime. The funds include $50 million in direct assistance for survivors, $23 million to expand Trauma Recovery Centers statewide, and $7 million to reimburse survivors for expenses ranging from funeral costs to relocation. Modern prosecutors know the value of healing and the safety it brings to communities.

It’s time to give greater meaning to supporting victims of crime, and prosecutors like George Gascón are heeding that call by implementing policies that serve our victim community and the public interest alike.