Allegheny County DA releases new plea deal policy after criticism

ALLEGHENY COUNY — Allegheny County District Attorney Stephen Zappala on Monday released an updated policy regarding plea deals, after allegations that his office was not offering plea deals to an attorney based on race.

Zappala emailed all of his deputy prosecutors forbidding them from offering any plea deals for the clients of attorney Milton Raiford. Raiford allegedly said there was what he called systemic racism in the local criminal justice system, including the DA’s office.

Zappala said the policy was to avoid “furtter claims of racism.”

The updated guidance released Monday states that if an attorney or defendant raises concerns that the the office is treating the defendant differently with a plea deal because of race, gender, etc — the assistant district attorney will investigate. If necessary the deputy district attorney may also contribute to the investigation and offer input.

But in the updated guidance, nothing was mentioned about Raiford.

“I saw it. I didn’t see my name anywhere in there nor did I see any rescinding of the policy specifically ushered against me. Those things aren’t mentioned,” Raiford said. “The power has gone to his head. That courthouse has been running like a mob. Everybody has got to kiss his ring or everyone else’s ring to co exist there with him.”

Multiple people have demanded an investigation into the DA’s office including the ACLU, Pittsburgh Mayor Bill Peduto, and the Pittsburgh Black Lawyers Alliance.

“I think this memo raises more questions than answers.. It’s not clear that Mr. Raiford is off the hook, that the DA’s office won’t be discriminating against him and his clients,” Vic Walczak, legal director of the ACLU of Pa., said.

Raiford said he hasn’t heard from Zappala.

“You can’t not apologize for doing something heinous and just keep on moving past it with words. I’m not the one judging Steve Zappala,” he said.

The DA’s office did not return a request for comment Tuesday.

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