View this email in your browser

December 2021, Issue 23

The Justice Journal

The monthly newsletter of the
Philadelphia District Attorney's Office 

Twitter Twitter
Facebook Facebook
Instagram Instagram
DAO Dashboard DAO Dashboard
Read the Justice Journal online for links to resources and reports:

https://bit.ly/JusticeJournal

As we approach the new year, a bloody and heartbreaking measure of our national and local gun violence spike has been reached in Philadelphia: more than 500 homicides, many by guns and increasingly of women and children victims. This history-making increase comes even as violent crime generally has declined and total crime has remained relatively flat during the pandemic in most major jurisdictions.   

The new year brings another, related, and likewise heartbreaking and bloody metric: 2022 is regarded by many scholars as the 50th anniversary of the start of America’s infamous 500% spike in mass incarceration. These two landmarks directly connect, and divesting from our disastrously costly system of mass incarceration is the only way to re-invest in what actually works to make us safe from gun violence and fix what it took 50 years of mass incarceration to break.  

Safety from gun violence is a matter of justice for everyone, but especially poor, Black, brown, and young people. It is unconscionable that we are the most powerful nation on the planet and also the most powerless -- politically -- to address and stop preventable harm and death. We should all be outraged and moved to action: meaningful, sustainable action that lifts up communities and breaks cycles of trauma and harm.

But what we ought not do is repeat what has always been tried before, and failed before, simply because it was easy and politically palatable. Mass incarceration has not only failed to make us safe, it remains a knee to the necks of Black and brown people and poor people, creating perpetual cycles of violence. The supposedly ‘tough on crime’ era beginning in the 1970s turned out to be crime’s best friend: a mantra to justify wrecking public education, mental health and drug treatment, and equal investment in opportunities for young people in the most endangered communities.

Young people deserve quality education and healthy, safe spaces to play, learn, and grow. All people deserve access to healthcare, period, including for behavioral health and substance use disorder treatment. And Philadelphia deserves a modern law enforcement apparatus that has the tools and sweeping capacity to use forensic science to swiftly and accurately solve shootings right now. As of this writing, just 28% of homicides by gun and 16% of non-fatal shootings have resulted in arrest in 2021. That is an urgent call for all of us in law enforcement to do better and invest in enforcement that actually works. 

Right now, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is itself on trial -- literally -- for depriving mostly Black and brown and poor communities of a thorough and efficient system of public education. That is not coincidental to this moment. More than 100,000 Americans have died this year alone from preventable overdose deaths. That, too, is not coincidental to this moment.

Nationally and locally, we are in a gun violence spike built on despair because 
we have systematically failed to meet the needs of disadvantaged and vulnerable Americans. My administration always has and always will continue to seek accountability for people who engage in violence and destructive crimes, who harm others and take lives. But we need our partners across public and private institutions to join us in the bigger fight for justice -- the fight to prevent the next murder by gun, to spare the next victim. 


Finally, I love this city fiercely, as do most Philadelphians. We need to take our heartbreak and outrage and put it to work for the good of our neighbors, in our beloved city of neighborhoods. In 2022, we know what to do: We need to divest from a half century of mass incarceration and re-invest in prevention and enforcement that actually work. 

DA Larry Krasner 

Do not hesitate to contact us at Justice@Phila.gov
with a question, comment, or concern.
Law enforcement can't hold those who commit violent crimes accountable without the public's assistance. Learn more about the case clearance process and how we can all work together to make a #SaferPHL.
Please note: The DATA Lab is working to update the Philadelphia DAO Public Data Dashboard to account for the local and national shifts from the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). When re-launched, rather than rely on police classification of incidents, the Dashboard will use a statute-based classification system. Learn more.

The chart below generated by the District Attorney’s Transparency Analytics (DATA) Lab highlights the number of incidents reported by the public to the Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) from March 1 to August 31, 2021. The graph then breaks down the number of incidents with arrests made by PPD and incidents with cases charged by the DAO, including commercial burglaries, homicides, non-fatal shootings, and property offenses from that six-month period up to and including November 30. The first column indicates the number of incidents reported to PPD for each category. The second column indicates the number of incidents where PPD made arrests. The third column indicates the number of cases charged that were submitted to our office by PPD.

Our office files charges in almost all cases brought by police for which sufficient evidence exists. Check out this previous DATA Story to learn more about the Incident-Arrest-Charge Funnel, and bookmark our DATA Dashboard for the latest stats and research on Philly’s criminal justice system.

For the Commonwealth highlights the important work our prosecutors are doing to help secure justice in specific cases brought by the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office.

Assistant District Attorneys Kara Heininger & Eamon Kenny of our Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit helped secure justice in a case involving a defendant accused of sexually abusing his daughter. A jury found the defendant guilty of all charges. He will be sentenced by the Hon. Genece Brinkley in January.
Assistant District Attorney Allison Christian of our Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit helped secure justice in a case involving a defendant accused of three stranger rapes that occurred in 2011, 2014, and 2015. The defendant, who was apprehended in 2019 after a CODIS identification linked his DNA to all three forensic kits, used a knife in one incident and a crowbar in another. The survivors testified at trial. He was found guilty by a jury and is scheduled for sentencing by the Hon. Anne Marie Coyle in January.
Assistant District Attorney Maggie McDermott of our Family Violence and Sexual Assault Unit helped secure justice in a case involving a defendant accused of sexually abusing his partner’s daughter for years. The defendant was found guilty of Rape and related charges by the Hon. Charles Ehrlich and is scheduled for sentencing in January.

The DAO joined Philadelphia Police, the Attorney General’s Office, and multiple state and federal law enforcement partners for a public safety discussion hosted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Eastern District of Pennsylvania. The City of Philadelphia was recently selected for the U.S. Department of Justice National Public Safety Partnership (PSP) program, and will receive specialized assistance with training, forensics capability, and more to support law enforcement efforts to reduce gun violence and accurately identify perpetrators so that they may be arrested and removed from the community.  

We recognize that our clearance rates are fairly low,” Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw said during a media briefing that followed the meeting. “We recognized that higher clearance rates could serve as a prevention point, or something to deter [gun violence].” 

Learn more about the National PSP here.

Thanks to all of the employers, social service providers, and residents in South Philly, Spring Garden, and North Philly, who took part in November's MOBILE ONE STOP Job & Resource Hub. The DAO's Community Engagement Unit remains committed to connecting neighborhoods most in need of resources with the supports necessary to improve lives. Our next Job & Resource Hub will take place in January. Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook for details when they become available.
The DAO was honored last month to host our 3rd Annual Veterans Day Ceremony. DA Krasner, Assistant District Attorney Shawn Baldwin, Assistant District Attorney Juan Carrillo, Assistant District Attorney Joshua Barnett, and DAO Chief Financial Officer Keith Daviston (all four current or former service members) gave remarks and recognized DAO staff who currently are or have served and sacrificed for community and country. The DAO is grateful to Commissioner Lloyd Remick and Donald Atkins for joining us, and we extend a very special thanks to the Sea Shanty Chorus, Maritime Academy Charter School, and the Sea Cadet Charter School for their beautiful performances.

Congratulations to Yoni Brook, Ted Passon, Nicole Salazar, and the entire documentary team behind “Philly D.A. for winning Breakthrough Nonfiction Series at the Gotham Awards. The eight-part documentary series looking at DA Krasner’s surprise victory in 2017 and the first few years of his administration as Philadelphia’s reformist prosecutor has also been named by critics at Variety and the New York Times as among the top 10 TV shows of 2021. Watch the filmmakers accept the Gotham Award here: 2021 Gotham Awards - Best Nonfiction Series.

We're always looking for ways to forge partnerships and address the concerns of residents. If you would like us to host a community forum, contact Justice@phila.gov.
Unintentional shootings that occur because children are able to access firearms are tragic and completely preventable. If you own firearms, make sure they are safely secured out of kids' reach. It's the law in Philadelphia. Contact Temple Safety Net to request a free, no-questions-asked gun lock today and help prevent tragedy.
Philadelphia DA's Office looks at parole reforms
(Philadelphia Tribune)

Philly DA Krasner pitches forensics improvements to help end surging violence
(NBC Philadelphia)
Two charged in shooting death of 14-year-old, 3 others sought
(Fox 29)
Philadelphia DA says prosecutors hid evidence for years in a 2003 murder case
(Philadelphia Inquirer)
DA's Office One-Stop Job and Resource Hub goes mobile
(Philadelphia Tribune)
Philadelphia man charged with attempted murder, other offenses for shooting ex-girlfriend
(CBS Philly)
Prosecutor Roger King put many on death row. Now, his record is tainted.
(Philadelphia Inquirer)
A third man is exonerated in debunked 30-year-old murder investigation. Two others are suing the city.
(Philadelphia Inquirer)
Man wrongfully accused of six murders files federal lawsuit against Philadelphia, former DA Lynne Abraham
(6 ABC)
13 Philly officers taken off streets after audit reveals body-worn camera discrepancies
(NBC Philadelphia)
A Philadelphia woman starts over at age 62 after being shot in the face
(Philadelphia Inquirer)
Family and friends mourn 'fun-loving' Pottstown High senior fatally shot by robber in North Philly
(Philadelphia Inquirer)
Time for Safehouse to ask for forgiveness, not permission, on Philly supervised injection site, experts say
(WHYY)
Hunger, filth, constant danger: Prisoners' accounts of Philly jails paint grim picture
(Philadelphia Inquirer)
Incarcerated men pool their money to buy science lab kits for South Philly first graders
(WHYY)
I've led two of the nation's largest police departments. Here are six steps to make law enforcement fairer and more equitable.
(Philadelphia Inquirer)
Recent opioid settlement is a 'slap in the face' to suffering families.
(Philadelphia Inquirer)
The police killings were years ago. New prosecutors are reopening cases.
(New York Times)
New study reveals low staffing, burnout in the nation's largest prosecutors' offices
(Lafayette College/Association of Prosecuting Attorneys)
Blowing the whistle on the gun industry
(The Daily Show)
Accusations of cronyism plague the ATF's gun ballistics program
(The Trace)

Behind the tweet that became the rallying cry for the insurrection
(Mother Jones)
Twitter Twitter
Facebook Facebook
Instagram Instagram
DAO DAO
Our mailing address is:
Philadelphia District Attorney's Office
3 South Penn Square
Philadelphia, PA 19107


Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.