December 5, 2025: District Attorney Hochman Marks First Year in Office With Restored Accountability and Rebuilding Trust

LOS ANGELES - One year after taking office and restoring prosecutorial discretion and criminal accountability, Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan J. Hochman is marking his first 365 days with an increase in public safety efforts, major takedowns of organized crime and burglary crews, busting the largest illegal cannabis operation in Los Angeles County history, aggressive prosecution of human traffickers, exonerating factually innocent convicted individuals, and filing thousands of Proposition 36 charges against repeat retail thieves. Those are just a few of the initiatives Hochman has successfully spearheaded since taking his oath of office last Dec. 3.

He also made strengthening the Office and its workforce a top priority by hiring nearly 200 employees, including deputy district attorneys, investigators, and support staff, despite Los Angeles County's steep budget cuts. Seasoned prosecutors working alongside our new employees helped to reduce a case backlog of more than 10,000 to just over 4,000 in little over seven months.

"One year ago, I stood before the community and promised to restore balance and accountability to this Office," District Attorney Hochman said. "Today, the results speak for themselves. We continue to rebuild our workforce, take down organized crime rings, dismantle dangerous drug and trafficking networks and re-center victims as the Office's core mission.

Our work is far from finished. In year two, I will continue to lead this Office by tackling tough issues including violent juvenile crime, mental health diversion abuse, resentencing and exonerating factually innocent convicted individuals, fentanyl trafficking, organized theft rings and anyone who threatens the safety and well-being of Los Angeles County."

District Attorney Hochman's Year-in-Review will offer a more in-depth look at the Office's public-safety priorities, including residential burglary, organized retail theft, fentanyl poisoning, illegal cannabis and drug operations, human trafficking, holding public officials accountable, exonerating the factually innocent, environmental justice and combating street takeovers.

Watch District Attorney Hochman's First Year Message and read the Office's first year report.

"From day one, I took an oath to restore trust, hold criminals accountable and put victims at the center of our work," District Attorney Hochman said. "A year later, our office is stronger, and more than ever, we are committed to ensuring fairness, justice and public safety in our communities. Going into my second year in office, I will continue this hard middle approach. Holding criminals accountable and doing so justly and fairly are complementary, not antithetical ideas, both of which we will pursue fiercely."