Sacramento County DA Announces 42 Layoffs

As a result of , the Sacramento District Attorney's Office will lay off 42 employees by Aug. 1, District Attorney Jan Scully announced Wednesday.

The layoffs, which include 31 prosecutors, will mean many crimes in the county will go unpunished, Scully said in a press release.

"When criminals know there are no consequences, they are encouraged to keep committing crimes, and arrests have no deterrent effect," Scully said in the release. "When criminals do not fear consequences, residents of our community cannot feel safe whether at home or in their communities. More importantly, victims feel the criminal justice system and their government have failed them."

Scully said she will eliminate her Special Investigations Unit, which targets "major fraud, white collar fraud, and political corruption cases." Also set to be cut are the district attorney's Major Narcotics Unit, Vehicle Theft Unit and Misdemeanor Trial Unit.

"My office will stop investigating and reviewing officer involved shootings and deaths of individuals who die while in custody," Scully said in the release.

The district attorney's office will also leave vacant 13 open positions.