Achievements and Awards

2009

  • More than 400 attorneys, community leaders and concerned citizens attended the 2009 Justice Summit: Defending the Public and the Constitution to show their support for public defense.
  • The Children of Incarcerated Parent’s program, which provides assistance and services to children of a parent who is incarcerated, receives the California Public Defender’s Association’s annual Program of the Year award.
  • In  August 2009, the office’s MAGIC program provided more than 4,500 backpacks to at its annual Back to School Celebration and Backpack Giveaway.
  • The office completed beta testing on its Gideon case management and data system,which awaits full implementation in 2011
  • In December, the Clean Slate program celebrated its 10 year anniversary. The program has helped more than 15,000 people clear their criminal records since 1999.
  • The office tried a record number of jury trials – 250 in 2009. More than 51 percent of all felony trials and 41 percent of misdemeanor trials resulted in no conviction.

2008

  • AB 2377, a bill that would have reduced defense access to records of police misconduct, is pulled in response to a targeted legislative advocacy campaign initiated by Public Defender Jeff Adachi.
  • After video evidence from San Francisco safety cameras helps exonerate several Public Defender’s Office clients, the Board of Supervisors ratifies legislation to allow defense attorneys easier access to footage.
  • The Board of Supervisors passes an ordinance formalizing the Reentry Council. The first of its kind in the nation, the Council will serve as an advisory board to the Mayor in prisoner reentry.
  • Chief Attorney Teresa Caffese is recognized as one of California’s Top 75 Women Litigators by the San Francisco Daily Journal.
  • The Public Defender’s Office published a client guide to the criminal justice system in English and Spanish. Nearly 4,000 copies are distributed.

2007

  • The Office successfully opposed the inclusion of three non-gang members in two civil injunctions filed against San Francisco gangs.
  • The Office opened its 5th Clean Slate Program satellite office, helping English and Spanish speaking San Francisco residents clear their criminal records.
  • Public Defender Adachi received the 2007 California Lawyer of the Year Award.
  • Over 375 activists, educators and lawmakers convened at the Safe Communities Reentry Council 2nd Annual Reentry Summit at San Francisco State University to discuss improvement of services for formerly incarcerated individuals.

Pages: 1 2