FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 8, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: Jessie Seyfer, public relations officer | (628) 271-9800 | San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org
**PRESS RELEASE**
SF Jury Acquits Man Wrongly Accused of Purposely Running Over Friend’s Foot
SAN FRANCISCO — On July 31, a San Francisco jury acquitted Anthony Sonnier, 55, of felony assault charges stemming from a Feb. 24 incident in which Sonnier accidentally drove over another man’s foot with his car. Before last week’s acquittal, Sonnier was forced to wear an electronic monitor and to stay on home confinement for three months, which severely limited his ability to earn a living.
“It was clear from the beginning that this was an unfortunate accident,” said Deputy Public Defender Will Helvestine, who represented Sonnier. “Mr. Sonnier was trying to get away from his severely intoxicated friend, who had just punched him. There was no need to have a costly trial in this case, nor was there a need to confine Mr. Sonnier at home for months and months. He will never get that time back.”
Sonnier and the alleged victim grew up together in San Francisco and had been friends for more than 40 years. On Feb. 24, they met to catch up and watch the Lunar New Year parade. Sonnier’s friend quickly became inebriated and belligerent, and Sonnier decided to drop him off at the 16th Street Mission BART station. Once there, the alleged victim punched Sonnier, who tried to maneuver his car to get away. In the process, Sonnier accidentally ran over the man’s foot, which prosecutors contended was on purpose. But during trial, the alleged victim took the stand and testified that Sonnier was “a good dude” who he did not believe intentionally tried to run him over.
“In a case like this, a thoughtful evaluation should have led the prosecutor to not file charges in the first place,” said elected San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju. “This trial was not about what happened, but rather why it happened. I applaud our public defender team for showing how the why should result in an acquittal, and I applaud the jury for thoughtfully delivering their verdict of not guilty.”
The defense team on this case included Helvestine as well as Paralegal Nathan Conn and investigators Nigel Phillips and Bret Stemme.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 6, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org
**PRESS RELEASE**
Charges Dismissed Against Black Crime Victim Who Was Wrongfully Charged and Jailed After MUNI Altercation
(Please note photos below that corroborate our client’s account)
SAN FRANCISCO — A San Francisco man spent two weeks in jail after being falsely accused of assault and other charges stemming from an April 16 altercation on a MUNI bus. Jerry Williams, a 53-year-old Black man, was charged with several crimes despite being the victim of crime during the incident himself. Prosecutors dropped all charges on May 24.
“My client is not only innocent, he was the victim,” said Deputy Public Defender Ilona Yañez, who represented Williams. “The fact that Mr. Williams was kept in jail for two weeks, missed classes that he’ll have to retake, and was at risk of losing his housing, is emblematic of the harms caused by police bias and prosecutors’ insistence on unnecessary pretrial detention.”
On April 16, Williams mistakenly dropped some cash on the floor of a MUNI bus while boarding, and the alleged victim, who was behind him, picked it up. Surveillance footage from the bus shows this. Williams asked the man for his money back, and the man denied taking the cash, even though other passengers can be heard on the footage telling him to give it back. The man pushed his umbrella at Williams, who stopped it with his hand as he continued to ask for his money back. The man then reached out, grabbed and scratched Williams’ face, and Williams responded with a single punch in self-defense.
Williams waited for police and gave a full and honest statement to SFPD officers. Everything he said was corroborated by the MUNI footage, which Williams begged the officers to look at. The officers did not search the alleged victim for the missing cash even though Williams had reported it. Instead, they ran a background check on Williams, found out that he was on parole, and arrested him instead of the alleged victim, who appears to be white. Prosecutors charged Williams with felony elder abuse and felony assault and insisted he remain in custody.
Eventually, prosecutors dropped all charges against Williams, but he had to spend two weeks in jail, which has been locked down frequently because of overcrowding and COVID issues. Williams and Yañez believe that race was a factor in the officers’ decisions, as well as bias against Williams for being on parole. Williams was a model parolee who had been on parole for four years and not suffered a single violation in all that time—he has since gotten off parole successfully.
“Mr. Williams would never have gone to jail had he not been a Black man on parole,” said elected San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju. “Mr. Williams is justifiably upset that police did not believe him and that they used his parole status against him instead of actually investigating the incident to find the truth. The result was another innocent Black man in jail whose life and livelihood was disrupted because police wrongly deemed him to be the aggressor when he was actually the victim.”
Screenshots of MUNI surveillance footage are below. (Note: these images can also be found here).
ICE’s action comes as people inside and outside detention protest worsening conditions at California facilities
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 31, 2024 PRESS CONTACT: Jessie Seyfer, public relations officer | (628) 271-9800 | San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org
**PRESS RELEASE**
Detained Individuals, Immigrant Advocates Condemn ICE Ending Free Legal Phone Calls Program ICE’s action comes as people inside and outside detention protest worsening conditions at California facilities
SAN FRANCISCO — Immigrant rights advocates are decrying a decision by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)—that goes into effect tomorrow, Aug. 1—to end a free phone call program that has been in effect for many years. Starting tomorrow, ICE officials have said they are cutting off detainees’ access to free calls to attorneys that had been agreed to in ICE’s settlement of a 2016 ACLU lawsuit known as Lyon v. ICE. The decision by ICE to abruptly shut down this program comes as many individuals detained at the Golden State Annex and Mesa Verde immigrant detention centers in McFarland and Bakersfield, Calif., respectively, have stepped up their protests of horrible conditions at the centers.
“Our detained brothers and sisters are now forced to pay a predatory and high cost for phone calls,” said Jose Ruben Hernandez Gomez, who was previously detained at Mesa Verde and who launched a 21-day hunger strike in 2023 to protest conditions at the ICE facilities. Hernandez Gomez is a client of the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office Immigration Unit and has been a legal permanent resident of the U.S. since he was a toddler. “If it wasn’t for these free legal calls when I was in detention, I know for a fact that I would not be here. Were it not for the ability to reach attorneys, I would not have been able to challenge deportation proceedings and would have been deported to a country where I would have faced great harm and even death.”
(Note: Photos of Hernandez Gomez speaking today at a rally in support of the labor protesters can be downloaded here.)
On July 1, 59 detained individuals at the Golden State Annex relaunched a work stoppage to protest stolen wages, termination of the free phone calls, worsening living and working conditions, ongoing retaliation and prolonged detention at the facilities. Detained workers at these for-profit facilities are paid just $1 a day to maintain the facility while they are frequently given spoiled food and deprived of hygiene products, sanitary conditions and basic medical care.
For almost a decade, noncitizens detained by ICE in California’s Central Valley have been able to call their pro bono attorneys for free. This fundamental right—the ability to consult with an attorney from a remote detention center regardless of your financial resources—was hard fought and hard won. The Lyon v. ICE case, filed by the ACLU on behalf of California ICE detainees, alleged that ICE’s restrictive phone access policies violated federal law and the U.S. Constitution. ICE settled the case and established a straightforward system to allow pro bono attorneys—defined as any attorney who undertakes pro bono work as part of their practice—to request a direct-dial “pin” (called a “Lyon pin”) from ICE. Clients and prospective clients could then call pro bono attorneys directly without incurring a charge. In 2020, ICE supplemented the free calls available through Lyon pins with a COVID-era program allotting people in custody nationwide 520 minutes of free phone calls to any recipient, including attorneys (the 520 Free Minute Program). Attorneys could register to ensure that calls to them through the 520 Free Minute program were unmonitored. Now ICE is severing that lifeline, ending the Lyon calls. It also ended the 520 Free Minute Program in June.
“Before our lawsuit secured free legal phone calls for immigrants in ICE detention facilities, it was practically impossible for people to consult with an attorney or gather evidence to support their cases, including asylum claims,” said Bree Bernwanger, an attorney with the ACLU of Northern California. “We’re shocked that ICE would abruptly cut off free legal calls without explaining how it will meet its constitutional obligations to provide detained immigrants with access to counsel.”
“ICE locks people away in civil detention facilities, where people experience abuse and neglect. It obstructs people’s attempts to seek release from their unjustified civil detention. ICE allows private prison contractors to force detained people to work for $1 per day. And now, ICE is cutting the free lines between detained people who seek help from pro bono attorneys to do something about their inhumane conditions,” said Victoria Petty, staff attorney, Immigration Justice at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights of the San Francisco Bay Area (LCCRSF). “Detained people have the right to speak up, including through counsel.”
“Confidential, free phone calls are a lifeline for immigrants in detention,” said Lisa Knox, co-executive director with the California Collaborative for Immigrant Justice. “They are one of the few ways they can access legal services and share information about the human rights violations rampant in detention, without fear of retaliation.”
ICE has told advocates that only calls to a limited list of legal service providers who have been approved by the immigration court will be free. But the list of approved providers excludes a vast range of necessary pro bono legal services from eligibility. For instance, providers on the list must offer legal advice related to deportation proceedings, but LCCRSF does not provide such services. Instead, LCCRSF advises and represents detained individuals in cases challenging their detention by ICE as well as the conditions in the detention facilities. Even those who might qualify must submit an application, face a months-long waiting period, and undergo a notice and comment process, before being added.
“ICE’s purposeful erosion of detained individuals’ fundamental and Constitutional rights is shameful,” said elected San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju. “We will continue to challenge injustices like these and we remain inspired by the many individuals inside and outside detention who fight for immigrants’ human rights.”
Jose Ruben Hernandez Gomez speaking today at a rally in support of labor protesters in ICE detention. Photo courtesy LCCRSF.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2024 CONTACT: S.F. Public Defender’s Office | PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org
**PRESS RELEASE**
SAN FRANCISCO — Today, San Francisco community leaders held a press conference to denounce recent measures targeting the unhoused individuals. Speakers called for real and sustainable solutions to homelessness, emphasizing that criminalization is neither an effective nor humane approach. They demanded that San Francisco take immediate action to fill the more than 700+ vacant living spaces it controls in the city.
“Mayor Breed’s recent remarks about aggressively conducting homelessness sweeps and criminally charging the homeless were not only inhumane but counterproductive,” said Julia Arroyo, executive director of Young Women’s Freedom Center. “Criminalizing homelessness only exacerbates the problem and fails to address the root causes. These actions are a violation of basic human rights. Sweeps displace individuals without providing any sustainable solutions, leading to further instability, trauma, and often death.”
The event took place outside the Hotel Whitcomb in San Francisco, where 459 potential rooms for the unhoused sit unoccupied. Leaders from various community organizations addressed the many harmful impacts of current policies and proposed comprehensive strategies to tackle the root causes of homelessness.
“To end homelessness, elected officials must fill vacant units, expand all types of housing—acquisitions, rental assistance, and new construction,” said Jennifer Friedenbach, executive director of the Coalition on Homelessness, San Francisco. “They must provide rent relief to help people remain in their homes, and strengthen eviction protections. And yes, we also need more shelter—but shelter is only efficient if that expensive cost is sandwiched between prevention and housing, so stays in shelter are short and brief, and so many folks can avoid shelter altogether.”
Community leaders emphasized that rather than implementing punitive measures, the city should invest in affordable housing. Creating more housing units and ensuring they are accessible to low-income individuals and families is a fundamental step towards reducing homelessness. Leaders stressed that filling the currently vacant houses would provide immediate relief and stability for many.
“We will continue to demand that the government end its abuse of our unhoused neighbors,” said John Do, senior attorney for the Racial & Economic Justice Program at the ACLU of Northern California. “Everyone has the right to have personal property, and the government cannot seize or destroy personal belongings—whether survival gear, medication, personal IDs, work equipment, or sentimental family mementos. Gov. Newsom has endorsed Caltrans as a model for clearing encampments. This is concerning as Caltrans has a troubling history of destroying people’s belongings, a practice that led to a $1.3 million settlement with the ACLU and the Lawyers Committee [for Civil Rights]. We’ve fought—and won—this battle before, and we will do so again.”
Speakers at the event emphasized the urgent need for compassionate solutions to homelessness in San Francisco. They called for community-based solutions that involve input from those experiencing homelessness and engage the community to ensure that solutions are tailored to the actual needs of the homeless population.
“We cannot arrest our way out of the homelessness crisis, which is primarily caused by economic hardship and high housing costs,” said District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston. “We must urgently house people with the support they need, scaling up programs like Street-to-Home to fill vacant supportive housing units and meet people’s immediate need for housing.”
Community leaders called on Mayor Breed and the city administration to be transparent about their plans and to involve community organizations in the decision-making process. They expressed a strong belief that through collaboration and a commitment to human rights, San Francisco can create an environment where everyone has the opportunity to thrive.
Among the many organizations involved in this action were The Worker Agency, Young Women’s Freedom Center, the Coalition on Homelessness, the ACLU of Northern California, and the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office.
CONTACT: S.F. Public Defender’s Office | PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org
**PRESS RELEASE**
SF Coalition to End Biased Stops Celebrates ‘Pretext’ Stop Policy Going into Effect, Releases ‘Know Your Rights’ Guide
SAN FRANCISCO —The Coalition to End Biased Stops—which includes over 110 traffic safety and civil rights groups that advocated for restricting the San Francisco Police Department’s use of racially-biased pretext traffic stops—is celebrating that a new ‘pretext stop’ policy will be in effect tomorrow. The Coalition also released a Know Your Rights guide today to inform the public of the new policy. The guide is now available in English on the websites of the Coalition and the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, and translated versions are forthcoming. A PDF version of the Know Your Rights guide is available for download via this link to the press release online.
Background
The San Francisco Police Commission, the independent oversight committee that sets policy and adjudicates misconduct matters for the San Francisco Police Department, voted in spring 2024 to adopt this new policy and gave SFPD 90 days to implement it. The Commission conducted extensive community outreach—including working groups with officers and community members, town halls, and officer-only meetings—and coordinated with SFPD leadership. The new policy limits when police can use certain traffic violations as the primary reason to conduct a stop, citing extensive data showing that these types of stops are often used as a “pretext” to conduct baseless searches.
Pretext stops disproportionately impact Black drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians, who are more often targeted for non-moving or equipment violations. Pretext stops impose substantial fiscal and societal costs, but produce little, if any, public safety benefits. San Francisco mirrors the state and nation in over-policing communities of color via pretext stops, which often do not result in an actual traffic citation, but can escalate to police use-of-force and even deadly outcomes.
Quotes from the Coalition
“The primary goal of this policy has always been to keep people safe when they’re pulled over by police, which is vastly more dangerous for a person of color in San Francisco,” said Brian Cox, Deputy Public Defender and Director of the S.F. Public Defender Integrity Unit. “As advocates, it’s important for us to make sure that people know their rights and have the tools necessary to safely assert them.”
“This policy will help prevent police from needlessly stopping people under the guise of traffic enforcement. This is not only a discriminatory tactic that has disproportionately targeted People of Color, it’s dangerous. Time and time again Black and Brown people have been killed when these totally unnecessary encounters have escalated,” said Yoel Haile, director of the Criminal Justice Program at the ACLU of Northern California.
“For too long, SFPD has disproportionately targeted and harmed people of color via pretext stops. That ends now. We will monitor the implementation of this policy by the SFPD and are prepared to take further action to ensure that racially-biased traffic stops never happen again in our city,” said Alison Goh, President of the League of Women Voters of San Francisco.
“GLIDE has long stood in solidarity with our clients who have been unfairly targeted by police and against the bias that motivates this type of racial profiling. This policy goes a long way toward ensuring that our clients—and all San Franciscans—are treated with respect and dignity. It is vital that accessible information gets out to the community, especially communities of color who have been disproportionately impacted, so they know their rights,” said Eleana Binder, Center for Social Justice Policy Manager forGLIDE.
“This policy is a crucial step in reaffirming that police powers must have clear boundaries. Without such limits, our constitutional and civil rights are jeopardized. By reinforcing civilian oversight of law enforcement, this policy aims to reduce racial disparities in traffic stops and ensure fairer treatment for all,” said Sameena Usman, Senior Government Relations Coordinator for Secure Justice.
“The data is clear: pretext stops have been an unmitigated failure. They are a massive waste of resources that do not result in arrests or discovery of contraband. This policy will allow us to reinvest our resources into strategies that actually keep us safe,” said Police Commission Vice President Max Carter-Oberstone.
“Pretext stops are racist, and I am heartened that the Police Commission has finally taken action to end this practice. Too many people of color have been harassed for too long with devastating consequences. No more,” said Paul Briley, Executive Director of Legal Services for Prisoners with Children.
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Here is the Coalition’s ‘Know Your Rights’ brochure available to download:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2024 PRESS CONTACT: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org
**PRESS RELEASE**
State Appellate Court Orders SF Superior Court to Dismiss Misdemeanor Case Due to Unlawful Trial Backlog First Appellate Court decision opens door for dismissal of more than a hundred cases whose trials were unconstitutionally delayed months, years past mandated deadlines
SAN FRANCISCO — A state appellate court has found that the San Francisco Superior Court unlawfully delayed a misdemeanor trial for over a year using COVID-19 as an excuse, despite the fact that all pandemic-related emergency orders had long been lifted. The First Appellate District opinion, issued Monday, held that the Superior Court had gone “beyond its proper judicial role” and had “stepped into the shoes of the prosecution,” and ordered it to dismiss the case. The decision could lead to more than a hundred other cases being dismissed, and could also lead to reversals on appeal for defendants who were convicted after being deprived of their right to a speedy trial.
“The Superior Court’s use of COVID-19 as a reason to endlessly delay trials has always been unjust and harmful,” said Deputy Public Defender Oliver Kroll, who has worked on numerous petitions challenging the Superior Court’s trial backlog. “The Court let usable courtrooms sit empty and prioritized civil lawsuits while our clients waited in jail with charges hanging over their heads. After four years, we’re thankful that common sense has finally prevailed.”
The appellate court noted that it would “take the unusual step” of issuing Monday’s ruling as a “published” version because it wanted to create “binding precedent” that the Superior Court would be obliged to follow in potentially more than a hundred similar cases. Since the Superior Court reopened following COVID-19 closures in 2020, it delayed thousands of individuals’ trials, at its peak leaving more than 240 individuals languishing in jail past their speedy trial deadline in near-lockdown conditions. The San Francisco Public Defender’s office, along with several other community organizations, challenged these delays via litigation as well as public protests.
Prosecutors have, until recently, joined the Superior Court’s argument that COVID-19 was a viable reason to delay criminal cases months, even years, past individuals’ trial deadlines. Now, the appellate court noted this week, prosecutors “not only failed to satisfy their burden to demonstrate good cause for delay but actually concede there was no good cause.”
SF Public Defender Applauds Restoration of State’s Public Defender Pilot Program and Urges Permanent Funding
SAN FRANCISCO, CA – This week, the California State Legislature and Governor reached an agreement that restores funding to the Public Defender Pilot Program (PDPP) in the state budget for FY 2024-2025. PDPP is a three-year grant that funds public defender offices statewide to provide resentencing and reentry support for incarcerated people who have become eligible for sentence review under criminal system reform laws. The Freedom Project is a program of the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, that is made possible by PDPP funding and provides resentencing and reentry services. Mano Raju, San Francisco’s elected Public Defender, issued the following statement:
“The Public Defender Pilot Program is proving that reducing mass incarceration is possible and can be done in a way that furthers community safety, saves taxpayer money, and restores hope to people and their families impacted by incarceration.
I am grateful to the Legislative Budget Chairs Senator Scott Wiener and Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel for their work and negotiations with Governor Gavin Newsom to restore funding to the cost-saving and life-changing Public Defender Pilot Program. I also appreciate the support and leadership from Senate Pro Tem Mike McGuire, Speaker Robert Rivas, Assemblymember Phil Ting, and Senator Nancy Skinner.
Public Defenders, who have represented the majority of people in our state prisons, are uniquely skilled and driven to help implement resentencing reform laws in a holistic way. Our Freedom Project has provided a high level of legal guidance and reentry support thanks to this PDPP grant.
The Freedom Project has represented more than 100 people in resentencing and parole hearings, reunited 89 families, and secured stable housing and community resources for every client coming home. These efforts have prevented over 1,000 years of prison time, saving California an estimated $150 million dollars.
While the Public Defender Pilot Program is important, permanent funding is needed for public defender resentencing and reentry units to continue the work of safely returning people who have shown their readiness to rejoin their families and contribute to their communities. The overwhelmingly successful pilot demands a permanent solution.”
David DePape’s Public Defender Reacts to Verdict in State Case
Argues “vindictive prosecution” issue will be looked at going forward
SAN FRANCISCO – Today, in the state case against David DePape, a San Francisco jury found DePape guilty of five felonies related to his actions at the home of Nancy and Paul Pelosi in 2022. The jury found him guilty of residential burglary, false imprisonment of an elder, dissuading a witness from reporting a crime, threatening a family member of a public official, and aggravated kidnapping. DePape was previously tried and convicted in federal court and was sentenced to 30 years in federal custody. DePape’s attorney in the state case, San FranciscoDeputy Public Defender Adam Lipson, issued the following statement:
“We are disappointed with the finding of guilt for kidnapping for ransom. We do not believe he committed kidnapping for ransom. It’s unfortunate that it was ever charged. The decision to charge that crime is a textbook case of vindictive prosecution. It was only charged after it became clear that the attempted murder charge would be dismissed under California’s double jeopardy statute. We filed a vindictive prosecution motion arguing that the kidnapping charge should be dismissed because, among other issues, it was filed 30 days after all parties had stipulated that the trial had begun. The Court denied our motion, ruling that the trial had not yet started. This is one of the legitimate legal issues that will be looked into going forward.
“Aggravated kidnapping carries a penalty of life without the possibility of parole. This means that after Mr. DePape serves his 30 years in federal custody, he will be transferred when he is 71 years old to spend the rest of his life in a California prison. Mr. DePape was living a very isolated and lonely life while dealing with mental health challenges when he got wrapped up in a lot of conspiracy theories which led him to this place. He will be continuing to deal with these challenges and more as he faces the reality of spending the rest of his life in prison.”
SF Public Defender MAGIC Program & City Leaders Celebrate Summer Kickoff for Youth Programs in Fillmore Western Addition
SAN FRANCISCO – Today at Civic Center Plaza, the San Francisco Public Defender’s MAGIC Programs co-hosted its annual Summer Kickoff for youth programs within the Mo’MAGIC Collaborative, located in the Fillmore Western Addition. Bringing together over 500 youth and staff with summer reading gifts, bounce houses, and food trucks to celebrate the start of a magical summer, the Summer Kickoff builds community amongst different summer programs and exposes kids to STEM, art, literacy, and recreational activities.
“We’re so proud that our MAGIC Programs have been creating year-round opportunities for youth to grow, learn, and build stronger communities for the past 20 years,” said San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju. “Kicking off summer with a day of fun and community-building is an important way to show San Francisco youth and families that their lives and academic success matter to all of us.”
“MAGIC’s Summer Kickoff is one of our largest annual events, and we love to see Civic Center Plaza and the steps of City Hall filled with local youth building friendships in the community,”said Brittany Ford, Executive Director of the MAGIC Programs.
“Summer is a special time of year, a season of opportunity to learn through play, enjoy outdoor activities, and make lasting memories,” said Sheryl Davis, Executive Director of the San Francisco Human Rights Commission, and founding Director of Mo’MAGIC. “It is also a critical time for making educational gains, as summer learning loss can erase months, if not years, of student achievement. I am grateful for the MAGIC programs’ continued commitment to creating spaces for young people to learn in a fun and engaging way over the summer months.”
“Mo’MAGIC is an incredible asset serving youth in San Francisco. From the Bayview to the Fillmore, Mo’MAGIC understands how to empower young people and keep them out of violence through their engagement programs and career development opportunities,” said Mayor Breed. “Summer break can be a challenging time to keep youth engaged, and Mo’MAGIC’s Summer Kick Off event delivers joy straight to students and the resources they need as the school year ends to encourage learning over the break.”
“For over three decades, DCYF has been dedicated to funding summer programs at community-based organizations throughout San Francisco that keep our children and youth learning, engaged, safe, healthy, and ready to succeed when school starts again in the fall,”said Dr. Maria Su, Executive Director of the San Francisco Department of Children, Youth, and their Families (DCYF). “Investing in summer programming for children and youth is a wise and worthwhile investment in San Francisco’s future, and we are proud to invest in all of the organizations participating in the Summer Kickoff event.”
“This work doesn’t happen without the hard work of all the organizations that have been a part of the magic over the years,” said James Spingola, the Executive Director of Collective Impact, a community partner of Mo’MAGIC’s summer events that helps to convene service providers and create meaningful and lasting opportunities for Western Addition youth year-round.
MAGIC (Mobilization for Adolescent Growth in our Communities) was founded in 2004 by the late Public Defender Jeff Adachi as B’MAGIC in Bayview Hunters Point in response to a community-identified need to address the impact of trauma, poverty, and violence on youth in targeted districts, and to close the school-to-prison pipeline. It expanded to Mo’MAGIC in the Fillmore Western Addition in 2006. The two programs were consolidated under current Public Defender Mano Raju in 2022 as B’Mo’MAGIC with Brittany Ford as the Executive Director. MAGIC partners with community-based, faith-based, and non-profit organizations, city and county agencies, schools, and other stakeholders to create opportunities for youth to grow and thrive in safe and healthy communities.
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Fillmore & Western Addition youth from the Mo’MAGIC Collective gather on the steps of City Hall for the 13th Annual MAGIC Summer Kickoff to a summer of camps, continued summer learning, and community building. City leaders welcomed the kids to festivities in Civic Center Plaza. June 12, 2024
PRESS CONTACT: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org
**PRESS RELEASE**
San Francisco Public Defender’s Office Urges Gov. Newsom to Restore Resentencing Funding
The CA Legislature requested last week that the governor restore this effective program, which reunites families and saves taxpayers millions.
SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office is urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to restore funding—as the state Legislature requested last week—for the Public Defender Pilot Program (PDPP), which reunites families and reduces mass incarceration. This program funds resentencing programs throughout the state, such as the SF Public Defender’s Freedom Project which has saved taxpayers an estimated $150 million in its first two years. Resentencing is a process by which a judge reviews a sentence in light of new “second look” laws that are designed to reduce mass incarceration in California, releasing those who have demonstrated they are safe and ready to reenter and contribute positively to the community.
“We are thankful that the Legislature agrees that the PDPP is a critical program that helps to remedy injustices and historical racial inequities in the legal system,” said Deputy Public Defender Danielle Harris, who manages the Freedom Project. “We hope the governor will do the same. The PDPP is a modest investment with huge cost savings.”
The San Francisco Public Defender’s Freedom Project is one of several public defender resentencing units in California to receive PDPP funding. Last week, the Freedom Project held a luncheon to celebrate the 88 clients whom the program has helped to be resentenced. It’s estimated that the project has eliminated over 1,000 years of incarceration and all the associated costs. Since the PDPP funding allowed the Freedom Project to fully staff its holistic team – including lawyers, paralegals, and social workers who do meticulous release planning and support clients during their reentry – there has been no recidivism.
“I am one of thousands of Californians who became eligible for resentencing thanks to new laws, but I was only able to start my life again because a public defender’s office was funded by the state to represent me through the process,” said Belinda Anderson, a Freedom Project client who attended the celebration. “So many people who are eligible for resentencing remain locked away, without access to the courts or to counsel who can help.”
Gov. Newsom proposed cutting the $40 million remaining in PDPP funds — just 0.014% of the state budget — earlier this year, and Legislators have requested that he restore that funding. Budget negotiations are ongoing, and the legislature has until June 15 to pass a final budget.
“Public defenders are uniquely motivated to help implement important justice reforms such as those that recognize the harm and wastefulness of excessive punishment,” said Mano Raju, the elected Public Defender of San Francisco. “The PDPP is proving that reducing mass incarceration is not only possible, but also saves the state money in the long run and gives individuals an opportunity to contribute to their communities and enhance public safety for all.”
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The Freedom Project hosted a luncheon for the 88 individuals the team has helped get released from prison and reunited with their families. Several folks gave personal testimonials about how having holistic support through the resentencing process and parole hearings made it possible for them to prove their readiness for release, sometimes after decades of incarceration, and the beautiful ways their lives are unfolding now that they’re once again free. May 28, 2024 at Culinary Artistas, San Francisco.
