Los Angeles, CA – Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced on February 13, 2025, an expansion of Korean support services within the DA's office and a crackdown on crime in Koreatown. Hochman made the announcement during a visit to the Korean American Association of Los Angeles, where he met with community leaders to discuss public safety concerns.
Hochman outlined several initiatives aimed at improving the safety and well-being of the Korean American community. These include:
Expanded Korean Language Support: The DA's office will expand Korean language support services to ensure that Korean-speaking victims and witnesses can access assistance throughout the criminal justice process. This includes providing Korean translation for reporting crimes, completing legal documents, and navigating court proceedings.
Targeted Enforcement in Koreatown: The DA's office will increase enforcement efforts in Koreatown, focusing on crimes such as prostitution, human trafficking, and hate crimes. Hochman specifically mentioned the area around Western Avenue as a重点区域 for increased patrols and enforcement.
Focus on Hate Crimes: The DA's office has established a dedicated team to prosecute hate crimes, including those targeting the Asian American community. Hochman emphasized that his office will aggressively prosecute hate crimes to send a clear message that such crimes will not be tolerated in Los Angeles County.
Addressing Quality-of-Life Crimes: The DA's office will also focus on addressing quality-of-life crimes, such as petty theft, graffiti, and vandalism, which can negatively impact communities. Hochman said his office will work to make Koreatown a less attractive area for criminals by focusing on repeat offenders.
Hochman stressed that the DA's office is committed to working with the Korean American community to address public safety concerns. He urged community members to report crimes and cooperate with law enforcement.
"We want to ensure that everyone in Los Angeles County feels safe and protected," Hochman said. "We are committed to working with the Korean American community to address their concerns and improve public safety in Koreatown."
The initiatives announced by Hochman were welcomed by Korean American community leaders, who expressed their appreciation for the DA's commitment to addressing their concerns.
"We are grateful to District Attorney Hochman for his leadership and his commitment to our community," said Robert Ahn, president of the Korean American Association of Los Angeles. "We look forward to working with him and his office to make Koreatown a safer place for everyone."
Hochman also clarified the DA's office's position on immigration enforcement, stating that the office is separate from federal immigration authorities and does not prosecute individuals based on their immigration status. He noted that California law limits cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities to cases involving violent or serious felonies.
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