Manhattan's newly elected DA, Alvin Bragg, has ordered prosecutors to stop seeking prison sentences for most offenses, and to downgrade felony charges in cases which include armed robberies and drug dealing, according to the New York Post.

In his first memo to staff on Monday, Alvin Bragg said his office "will not seek a carceral sentence" except with homicides and a handful of other cases, including domestic violence felonies, some sex crimes and public corruption. -NY Post

"This rule may be excepted only in extraordinary circumstances based on a holistic analysis of the facts, criminal history, victim's input (particularly in cases of violence or trauma), and any other information available," reads Bragg's memo.

According to Bragg, whose campaign was funded in part with a $1 million donation from billionaire George Soros, also told assistant DAs that they must now keep in mind the "impacts of incarceration," including whether it actually increases public safety (ZH: to keep violent criminals physically separated from the public? Uh, yeah...)

When prosecutors want to put a convict behind bars, they can't ask for more than 20 years for a 'determinate' sentence - i.e. one which can't be reviewed or changed by a parole board, according to the report. 

What's more, "The Office shall not seek a sentence of life without parole," which according to state law is a punishment reserved for the worst offenders; murderers, terrorists, serial killers, cop killers, and people who kill children under the age of 14 during sex crimes or torture.