The District Attorney for San Francisco, Brooke Jenkins, has stated that her office will investigate a number of high-profile anti-Asian crimes to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to sustain charges of hate crime.
Jenkins, a seasoned prosecutor and outspoken critic of Chesa Boudin, the previous attorney general who was removed from office, stated on NBC Asian America that “we shouldn’t be selective about whose laws we choose to enforce.”
In particular, the rules against hate crimes that have been developed in this country to safeguard some weaker communities.
Jenkins’ decision to reexamine criminal cases involving Asian victims, according to Charles Jung, a trial lawyer and executive director of the California Asian Pacific American Bar Association, demonstrates that she is prioritising the safety concerns of the community. Jung is the executive director of the California Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
San Francisco DA Jenkins To Review Past Anti-Asian Attacks Under Predecessor Boudin
The District Attorney for San Francisco, Brooke Jenkins, has stated that her office will investigate a number of high-profile anti-Asian crimes to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to sustain charges of hate crime.
Jenkins, a seasoned prosecutor and outspoken critic of Chesa Boudin, the previous attorney general who was removed from office, stated on NBC Asian America that “we shouldn’t be selective about whose laws we choose to enforce.”
In particular, the rules against hate crimes that have been developed in this country to safeguard some weaker communities.
Jenkins’ decision to reexamine criminal cases involving Asian victims, according to Charles Jung, a trial lawyer and executive director of the California Asian Pacific American Bar Association, demonstrates that she is prioritising the safety concerns of the community. Jung is the executive director of the California Asian Pacific American Bar Association.
Jung said this in a personal capacity, noting Jenkins’ willingness to devote additional resources to a hate crimes unit and to actively engage with Asian American leaders. “I’m optimistic that she’s bringing a new perspective to the issue of how to address intergroup violence and fight Asian hate,” Jung said.
“I’m hopeful that she’s bringing a new perspective to the issue of how to address intergroup violence and fight Asian hate.”
Jenkins, who just a month ago became the first Latina to occupy the job, stated that her agency will start by investigating the dozen criminal cases that were discussed in an article that was published in June by the San Francisco Standard and KQED.
Only two of the twelve incidents were finally charged as hate crimes, despite the fact that all of them were first examined as possible hate crimes.
Nancy Tung, a seasoned prosecutor in the Bay Area who ran for the position of district attorney in 2019, has been chosen by Jenkins to head up the probe.
According to professionals in the field of law, it is highly challenging to bring a prosecution for a hate crime, primarily because it is difficult to find proof that the act was motivated by hatred. Jenkins stated that her agency intends to acquire evidence through the examination of camera footage as well as the online communications of the defendants.
She stated that “we know that in general, when someone utters a slur at the time of the assault, it makes it extremely evident that they are hostile toward you.” “We also want to look at someone’s history of text messages and social media posts,” you said.
One of the incidents that Jenkins highlighted included a Chinese immigrant who was attacked while working to earn money by collecting recyclable cans.
The individual who was physically involved in the attack was charged by Boudin’s office, but the office chose not to pursue charges against another individual who had videotaped the incident, despite the fact that both individuals had used abusive language that was captured on video.
Jenkins stated that with the recorded evidence, the District Attorney’s office has the ability to potentially pursue hate crime charges.
According to Jenkins, this modification to the legal system is “quite small,” despite the fact that a defendant could face an additional three years of jail time as a result of a hate crime enhancement being added to any other sentence for an underlying offence.
She stated, “We’re not talking about something that’s changing the legal landscape horrifically, but it means a whole lot to victims.” “We’re not talking about something that’s changing the legal landscape tragically.”
According to Shirin Sinnar, a legal researcher and professor at Stanford Law School who has conducted considerable study on hate crime statutes, there is no evidence that raising punishments for convictions of hate crimes truly deters others from committing such acts.
“In most cases,” she explained, “someone who commits a hate crime is also committing another attack.” [Citation needed] It is not a realistic assumption to make that they will be discouraged by a small increase in the amount of time they spend in prison.
On the other hand, according to Sinnar, the prosecution of hate crimes has historically been associated with a significant amount of symbolic significance for the victims and their families.
“It is absolutely necessary for targeted crimes to be recognised by the state in some way,” she said, “but this does not necessarily have to take the precise shape of raising criminal terms.”
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S.F. D.A. Jenkins Files Hate Crime Charges Against Man Accused Of Attacking 3 Asian Americans In Dolores Park
A man is facing hate crime charges after allegedly attacking three Asian Americans in Dolores Park last month. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins has announced that 30-year-old Armando Sanchez Vazuquez has been charged with three counts of assault with a deadly weapon and one count of elder abuse.
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This occurrence happened on January 30th, 2023. According to the press release, the criminal complaint states that Sanchez Vazuquez threw a brick and a metal gate at the victims, one of them was 73 years old.
Jenkins emphasised that “no one” should be subjected to bias or violence because of who they are. While the number of hate crimes reported against Asian Americans has decreased since 2021, San Franciscans must remain vigilant and send a clear message that bigotry and violence will not be allowed in the city.
My heart goes out to the elders of our AAPI community, and I want them and all of San Francisco to know that there will be accountability and repercussions for those who choose to participate in hate and violence.
