Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell Talks About The New Face Of Youth Violence
07/12/24 • 27 min
Is youth entitlement driving the outbreak of criminal youth behavior? In this special edition of the Modern Arizona Podcast, host and family law attorney Billie Tarascio interviews Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, who has been front and center when it comes to criminal charges related to youth violence across Arizona’s largest population base. The two attorneys delve into pressing issues such as gang violence, the changing dynamics of gang activities, and the significant impact of video and social media on these trends.
Rachel shares her three decades of experience as a prosecutor, shedding light on how gangs have evolved from geographically and racially homogenous groups to more diverse, social media-connected entities. She also highlights the disturbing rise in violence among youth who seemingly have all they need materially but lack empathy and possess a strong sense of entitlement.
The conversation takes a deep dive into the relationship between law enforcement and the prosecutor's office. Rachel explains the collaborative efforts between police and prosecutors from the outset of investigations, particularly in serious cases like homicides. She provides insights into the investigative grand jury process used to gather testimony and evidence, which played a crucial role in the case of Preston Lord's homicide. Despite the challenges, including the lack of video evidence, this method helped indict seven individuals, demonstrating the critical importance of thorough investigations and legal processes.
Rachel also addresses the frustration many feel regarding the prosecution of youth involved in violent acts, particularly the discrepancies in charges and sentencing. She explains the complexities behind prosecuting cases involving social media videos and the legal limitations that sometimes result in lesser charges. Rachel candidly discusses the challenges of securing harsher penalties within the current legal framework and her plans to propose legislative changes to better address group assaults and increase penalties for such violent acts.
Is youth entitlement driving the outbreak of criminal youth behavior? In this special edition of the Modern Arizona Podcast, host and family law attorney Billie Tarascio interviews Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, who has been front and center when it comes to criminal charges related to youth violence across Arizona’s largest population base. The two attorneys delve into pressing issues such as gang violence, the changing dynamics of gang activities, and the significant impact of video and social media on these trends.
Rachel shares her three decades of experience as a prosecutor, shedding light on how gangs have evolved from geographically and racially homogenous groups to more diverse, social media-connected entities. She also highlights the disturbing rise in violence among youth who seemingly have all they need materially but lack empathy and possess a strong sense of entitlement.
The conversation takes a deep dive into the relationship between law enforcement and the prosecutor's office. Rachel explains the collaborative efforts between police and prosecutors from the outset of investigations, particularly in serious cases like homicides. She provides insights into the investigative grand jury process used to gather testimony and evidence, which played a crucial role in the case of Preston Lord's homicide. Despite the challenges, including the lack of video evidence, this method helped indict seven individuals, demonstrating the critical importance of thorough investigations and legal processes.
Rachel also addresses the frustration many feel regarding the prosecution of youth involved in violent acts, particularly the discrepancies in charges and sentencing. She explains the complexities behind prosecuting cases involving social media videos and the legal limitations that sometimes result in lesser charges. Rachel candidly discusses the challenges of securing harsher penalties within the current legal framework and her plans to propose legislative changes to better address group assaults and increase penalties for such violent acts.
Previous Episode
Debating Protection Orders And Parental Rights
When an order of protection threatened to keep a parent from seeing his children for two years, how did his attorney resolve the situation?
In this episode of the Modern Arizona Podcast, host and family law attorney Billie Tarascio is joined by Kylie Bigelow, Managing Attorney at Modern Law, to discuss a highly controversial case that garnered significant online attention involving a custody situation and the order of protection that had been put in place by the mother. Kylie shares her experience navigating this challenging case where her client, the father, faced the prospect of not seeing his children for two years due to an order of protection upheld by a city court.
The podcast provides an in-depth look into the legal intricacies involved in transferring the case to Superior Court, allowing for a more nuanced consideration of custody and visitation rights. Kylie explains how they filed for temporary orders, which enabled the Superior Court judge to address the overlapping issues of the protection order and the father's right to see his children. This strategic move highlighted the importance of understanding jurisdictional authority in family law cases and leveraging it effectively to protect clients' rights.
The discussion also touches on the broader implications of such legal battles, particularly the polarized views surrounding domestic violence allegations and parental rights. Billie and Kylie explore the delicate balance courts must maintain between protecting abuse victims and ensuring that children maintain healthy relationships with both parents. Kylie emphasizes that judges are equipped to make these complex decisions, often recognizing that someone can be a flawed spouse yet still a good parent.
Next Episode
Special Edition: Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell Discusses Teen Violence
Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell sits down with attorney Billie Tarascio to discuss the Gilbert Goons, sentencing guidelines, why the Goons are NOT charged as gang members, and why they are getting probation. Rachel addresses why charges were declined with regards to some youth alleged to have been involved in assaults, why kidnapping is the theory for the Preston Lord Murder but not other assaults, and more.
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