LA County DA Race: Rachel Rossi, The Public Defender

Today on KPCC we’re profiling Rachel Rossi, one of the three candidates running for Los Angeles County District Attorney. The story kicks off a three-part series; tomorrow we profile Former San Francisco DA George Gascon and on Friday we meet incumbent DA Jackie Lacey.

The DA race is drawing national attention; it’s the latest chapter in a national push to elect reformist DA’s across the U.S.

Rossi, 36, grew up in the San Gabriel Valley and worked as a local and federal public defender before jumping into the DA race. She’s positioning herself as a reformer, vowing to work to end what she calls over-policing of communities of color.

Rossi says her focus will be on putting fewer people in prison. Towards that end, she would end cash bail, fully decriminalize homelessness and prosecute far fewer misdemeanors.

Listen to the profile:

GO DEEPER:

• PROFILE: Rachel Rossi Wants To Be LA's Next DA. She's Promising To End 'Archaic' Approach To Justice
• Your Guide To The LA County District Attorney's Race
• Race for LA District Attorney: Key Takeaways From A Contentious — And Disrupted — Debate