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left-wing group’s 10 Policies Secretly Given to DAs

A confidential memo containing a ten-point policy agenda has been distributed to progressive District Attorneys across the country, outlining a roadmap for sweeping criminal justice reform. This investigation reveals the contents of the memo and the influential left-wing group behind it.

Who is the Left-Wing Group Behind the Policies?

A new report has uncovered a concerted effort to reshape criminal prosecution in major American cities. The strategy originates from a memo quietly circulated by a well-funded but low-profile left-wing group known as the “Alliance for a Just Future” (AJF). While not a household name, the AJF has spent years cultivating a network of progressive prosecutors and providing them with legal and strategic support.

The organization describes its mission as working to “dismantle systemic inequities within the carceral state.” Critics, however, argue that its policies prioritize ideology over public safety. The group is primarily funded by a handful of billionaire philanthropists and large foundations dedicated to progressive causes.

This recent move to distribute a specific ten-point plan represents a significant escalation of their influence. Instead of merely offering general support, the AJF is now providing a direct, actionable playbook to prosecutors, many of whom were elected with financial backing from organizations connected to the AJF.

The “Progressive Justice” Playbook: A Closer Look at the 10 Policies

The memo, titled “Ten Steps Toward Equitable Prosecution,” provides a clear and concise list of directives for DAs to implement. These policies aim to fundamentally change how crimes are charged, prosecuted, and sentenced. Here is a breakdown of the ten points:

1. End Cash Bail for All Misdemeanors and Non-Violent Felonies: The memo urges prosecutors to stop requesting cash bail, arguing it disproportionately harms low-income individuals. Instead, it advocates for release on recognizance for a wide swath of offenses.
2. Decline to Prosecute “Quality of Life” Crimes: This policy instructs DAs to systematically decline charges for offenses such as trespassing, loitering, public urination, and disorderly conduct, reframing them as issues of poverty and public health, not criminality.
3. Establish “Conviction Integrity Units” with External Oversight: While many offices have these units, the AJF model insists on including non-lawyers and community activists on review panels to re-examine past convictions.
4. Eliminate the Use of Sentencing Enhancements: This directive calls for an end to policies that add time to sentences, such as gang enhancements or the use of prior convictions to justify longer prison terms.
5. Drastically Reduce Charges for Drug Possession: The playbook recommends treating all personal-use drug possession cases as non-criminal matters to be addressed through civil citations or diversion programs, regardless of the substance.
6. Cease Cooperation with Federal Immigration Agencies (ICE): Prosecutors are instructed to adopt policies that prevent their staff from notifying ICE about the immigration status of defendants or victims.
7. Ban the Prosecution of Individuals Under 18 in Adult Court: This is a blanket policy to ensure no minors are ever tried as adults, irrespective of the severity of the alleged crime.
8. Create Resentencing Units for Long-Term Inmates: DAs are encouraged to establish units dedicated to systematically reviewing and recommending sentence reductions for individuals who have already served 10 or more years in prison.
9. Mandate Diversion Programs as a Default: For a broad category of property crimes, including shoplifting under $1,000, the memo states that diversion and restorative justice should be the default, with prosecution as a last resort.
10. Collect and Publicly Release All Prosecutorial Data: To promote “transparency,” prosecutors must publish detailed, anonymized data on who they charge, what they charge them with, and the plea bargains offered.

Why Were These Policies Distributed “Secretly”?

The clandestine nature of the memo’s distribution has raised serious questions about transparency and democratic accountability. Experts suggest several reasons why this influential left-wing group would opt for a behind-the-scenes approach.

First, by avoiding a public announcement, the AJF and its allied DAs can circumvent a potentially contentious public debate. Policies like declining to prosecute certain crimes are often controversial and could face significant pushback from residents, business owners, and law enforcement unions if openly discussed.

Second, the “secret” rollout allows for a coordinated, multi-city implementation without appearing as a top-down mandate. It creates the impression of an organic, local movement, when in fact, prosecutors in different states are working from the exact same playbook.

Finally, a quiet approach allows these policies to be enacted and normalized before they can be effectively challenged politically or at the ballot box. Once these changes are part of a DA’s standard operating procedure, reversing them becomes much more difficult. This strategy appears designed to create a new status quo under the radar.

The Impact on Communities and Law Enforcement

The implementation of these ten policies, even partially, could have a profound effect on public safety and the justice system. Supporters argue that these changes will lead to a more equitable system, reduce prison populations, and save taxpayer money. They contend that traditional prosecution has failed and that a new, more compassionate approach is necessary.

However, critics, including many within law enforcement, warn of dire consequences. They argue that refusing to prosecute “quality of life” crimes emboldens lawlessness and degrades urban environments. The police feel their efforts are undermined when they make arrests only to see charges immediately dropped, a phenomenon discussed in our previous report on declining police morale.

Business owners in cities where similar policies have been tried often report an increase in theft and a decrease in safety for their employees and customers. The combination of ending cash bail and declining to prosecute property crimes is seen by opponents as a green light for repeat offenders.

Ultimately, the debate centers on two competing visions for justice. One, promoted by the AJF, sees the system itself as the primary problem. The other sees the prosecutor’s main role as enforcing the laws as they are written to maintain public order. The quiet push by this left-wing group ensures this fundamental debate happens not in public forums, but inside the closed doors of the District Attorney’s office. For more on the broader movement, organizations like the Vera Institute of Justice provide extensive research on prosecutorial reform.

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