EL SEGUNDO, Calif. — Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman announced Tuesday changes to policies regarding his office's prosecution of special-circumstance murder cases.

Effective immediately, the prior administration's policy forbidding prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in any case is rescinded. In its place, the new murder with special circumstances policy will consider pursuing the death penalty only after an extensive and comprehensive review and only in exceedingly rare cases, according to Hochman's office.

Additionally, under the new policy, defense counsel will be offered enhanced opportunities to share information about the defendant with the Special Circumstances Committee and DA when the death penalty is under consideration. Murder victims' survivors' views will be sought and considered prior to any final determinations being made.

"I remain unwaveringly committed to the comprehensive and thorough evaluation of every special circumstance murder case prosecuted in Los Angeles County, in consultation with the murder victim’s survivors and with full input on the mitigating and aggravating factors of each case, to ensure that the punishment sought by the Office is just, fair, fitting, and appropriate," Hochman said in a statement.