Wednesday, June 5, 2019
The vote to close down juvenile hall was a historic moment in juvenile justice reform. I am excited and proud to be part of the movement to re-envision this system. These institutions are not rehabilitative. The racial disparities are stark, and the confines of juvenile halls have a harmful effect on youth’s mental and physical […]
San Francisco– Representatives from the Public Defender’s Office will be advocating for the release of previously sealed police personnel files during Wednesday evening’s Police Commission meeting, Deputy Public Defender Jacque Wilson has announced. “Law enforcement in San Francisco is deliberately sandbagging the release of these records,” said Wilson. “But we are pushing back just as […]
Monday, June 3, 2019
A man who was arrested for violating a stay-away order that he thought had expired was acquitted, Public Defender Manohar Raju has announced. Charles Thomas, 65, faced up to six months in jail for accidently knocking on the door of an ex-neighbor that he had been in conflict with and who had taken out a […]
Wednesday, May 29, 2019
Newly-appointed Public Defender Manohar Raju is committed to continue to improve the circumstances for our clients, not only post-jail, but also during their time in custody. That’s why we are excited to announce a new partnership with the San Francisco Public Library’s Jail and Reentry Services program (JARS). This program circulates books to people who are […]
Wednesday, May 15, 2019
On April 18, 2019, the SF Board of Supervisors called for an investigation of the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) for improperly leaking a confidential police report regarding Mr. Adachi’s death, which would later be disseminated throughout the country. We do not know the motive for leaking the report or how it occurred. We do […]
Thursday, April 4, 2019
San Francisco— A man with a neurological disorder that was approached and then forcibly pushed to the ground by a police officer while he attempted to board a paratransit van was acquitted of battery and resisting arrest on Wednesday, Public Defender Manohar Raju has announced. Marvin Cosby, 60, was looking at a year in county […]
Thursday, February 21, 2019
San Francisco– Two cases of people charged with domestic violence ended in acquittal this week after juries examined the evidence and decided that each one was based on false assumptions, Public Defender Jeff Adachi announced today. Elijah Watson, 38, and Chenille Moldovan, 43, were both found not guilty after altercations with their partners lead to […]
San Francisco—The jury hung 9 to 3 in favor of acquittal in a case involving a man who defended himself against a group of assailants on Valentine’s Day 2016, Public Defender Jeff Adachi announced today. Richard Contreras, 30, was charged with two homicides, an attempted homicide, carjacking and assault after he fired at men in a […]
Wednesday, January 23, 2019
A person of color who was prosecuted after he was barred entry to his own apartment building by a security guard that didn’t believe that he lived there has been acquitted of all charges, Public Defender Jeff Adachi announced today. Shaun Huddleston, 52, was facing up to two and half years in jail for battery […]
Friday, January 18, 2019
Los Angeles—The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office was honored with the prestigious “Champions of Public Defense” Award on Friday from the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (NACDL) for its work on behalf of bail reform. The award was presented at NACDL’s Race Matters II Conference in Los Angeles and recognizes “an individual or organization […]