Proponents of the new legislation, which quietly passed last
week, say expanding Shapiro’s role will help stem
the tide of shootings in the city. But critics say establishing
so-called “concurrent jurisdiction” between the city’s DA and the state AG
weakens Philadelphia’s home-rule powers, and Krasner’s supporters say it’s
designed to undermine the
progressive district attorney’s efforts to choose which cases do — and
don’t — go to trial.
But on Tuesday, Shapiro was quick to distance himself from
the legislation and pledged to continue collaborating with his Philadelphia
counterpart.
“I’m going to continue to work in partnership with the
District Attorney’s Office,” he said. “I didn’t seek this law and I didn’t
advocate for it … And it doesn’t change anything.”
Krasner, who has sought to cut the city’s jail population
and reduce criminal sentencing, has already seen federal U.S. Attorney William
McSwain file
tougher federal charges in a case in which Krasner’s office accepted a
plea deal, and Police Commissioner Richard Ross has implied that too many gun
charges were being sent to
diversionary programs. And Shapiro’s office has notably hired
some of the prosecutors dismissed by Krasner during his first week in
office.
However, Shapiro’s comments were also a surprise to some of
the state lawmakers who said they were confused about the language in the bill
and stunned by its swift and near-unanimous passage during the hectic climax of
Harrisburg’s budget season.
State Rep. Chris Rabb, who sits on the House Judiciary
Committee and was one of the few Democrats who voted against the final version
of the bill, was succinct when asked who was lobbying for the
concurrent-jurisdiction legislation.
“The attorney general,” he said.
Rabb allowed that Republican State Rep. Martina White, who
cosponsored the legislation, and Philadelphia’s Fraternal Order of Police were
active in promoting the bill as well. But State Rep. Mary Jo Daley also told
the online news outlet The Intercept –– which
first broke news of the legislation –– that Shapiro’s office had
sought to quickly pass concurrent-jurisdiction language.
Rabb called it “a pretty bad bill,” and echoed other
critics’ observations that the language was pared down to only extend Shapiro’s
powers in Philadelphia and only for the duration of Krasner’s first term in
office.
“It was amended to punish Philadelphia. That’s ultimately
what Martina White’s bill did,” he said.
Gov. Tom Wolf similarly criticized the final amendment for
failing to create a statewide concurrent-jurisdiction system. Advocates of this
language counter that Philadelphia drives much of the state’s gun crime.
“District Attorney Krasner deserves a direct explanation
from Attorney General Shapiro of how this targeted attack on his local
authority came to be authored, passed without the apparent knowledge of most
lawmakers, and signed into law by a Democratic governor who otherwise is
supportive of efforts to dramatically reform our system of criminal justice,”
Krasner’s office said in a statement.
In an earlier comment to The Intercept, Roh said she had
“serious concerns” with the bill “and what it signifies for the justice
movement at large.”
Shapiro still struck a positive tone Tuesday. He pointed to
a collaborative relationship between his and Krasner’s offices through the
state-funded Gun Violence Task Force, which focuses on clearing illegal guns
off city streets.
“[Concurrent jurisdiction] doesn’t change the great,
collaborative work that’s being done literally right now by the task force,”
Shapiro said. “People are dying every single day in the city of Philadelphia
because of everyday gun violence. And it’s critically important that no one, my
office or anyone else, acts territorial.”
The AG made these remarks while flanked by numerous local
law enforcement officials, during a press conference to announce a joint drug
raid that had broken up a fentanyl ring in Philadelphia’s Kensington
neighborhood. Among them was Police Commissioner Ross and Executive Deputy AG
Jen Selber, who left the city’s District Attorney’s Office for Shapiro’s about
one year before Krasner’s inauguration.
Krasner, meanwhile, was not in attendance. A staffer from
his office observed the proceedings along with reporters and other onlookers.
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