LA City Attorney Candidate Marissa Roy Tied to Controversial 100-Day Misdemeanor Freeze

Roy previously discussed a proposal to temporarily halt new misdemeanor charges, raising concerns about public safety

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Marissa Roy, the Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidate for Los Angeles City Attorney, was once linked to a proposal that would have imposed a 100-day moratorium on filing new misdemeanor charges, including low-level offenses like trespassing, petty theft, and public intoxication. While Roy now denies personally supporting such a blanket moratorium, internal documents show she was involved in discussions surrounding the idea during her 2022 campaign for City Attorney.

Why it matters

The City Attorney's office has significant influence over how aggressively laws are enforced in Los Angeles. Critics argue that a temporary halt on misdemeanor prosecutions could lead to a breakdown in public safety and quality of life issues in neighborhoods. However, Roy's platform focuses on expanding diversion programs and moving away from a "one-size-fits-all" prosecution model, arguing that many misdemeanors are rooted in poverty, mental illness or addiction.

The details

The proposed 100-day moratorium on new misdemeanor filings was advanced within the campaign orbit of former City Attorney candidate Faisal Gill. The plan called for temporarily halting new misdemeanor charges while the office conducted a review of enforcement policies and expanded diversion programs. Offenses that would have been affected include trespassing, loitering, public intoxication, minor drug possession, resisting arrest and failure to appear. Critics argue this would have effectively created a "lawless society" for the duration of the moratorium.

  • In May 2022, social media posts referenced "taking time out from filing new charges".
  • The proposed 100-day misdemeanor moratorium was discussed during the 2022 Los Angeles City Attorney race.

The players

Marissa Roy

The Democratic Socialists of America-backed candidate for Los Angeles City Attorney. She was previously involved in discussions surrounding a proposed 100-day pause on filing new misdemeanor charges.

Faisal Gill

A former candidate for Los Angeles City Attorney whose campaign orbit advanced the proposed 100-day misdemeanor moratorium.

Ben Austin

A former prosecutor who argues that a moratorium on misdemeanor prosecutions would effectively create a "lawless society" and undo progress made in improving public safety.

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What they’re saying

“I have never personally supported a blanket moratorium on misdemeanor prosecution. That idea originated from a criminal attorney and was adopted by Faisal Gill.”

— Marissa Roy (The California Post)

“It means cases don't get filed. It means line prosecutors are told to stand down. In our communities, it means that for however long that moratorium lasts, we're basically living in a lawless society where anything goes.”

— Ben Austin, Former Prosecutor (The Post)

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing debate over criminal justice reform and the role of prosecutors in balancing public safety concerns with efforts to address underlying issues like poverty, mental illness and addiction. As the DSA-backed candidate for LA City Attorney, Marissa Roy's stance on misdemeanor prosecutions will likely be a key issue in the election.