After Long Battle, Public Defender Successfully Secures Release of Transgender Client from ICE Detention SAN FRANCISCO – Yesterday, the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office secured the release of Lexis Hernandez Avilez, a 41-year-old transgender woman who spent the last 17 months detained by ICE, most recently in Texas.  Her story made headlines in January of...Read More

April 21, 2020 DETAINED IMMIGRANTS FILE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT AGAINST ICE, DEMAND IMMEDIATE RELEASES FROM EXTREMELY UNSAFE CONDITIONS DURING GLOBAL PANDEMIC  Lawsuit Also Defends First Amendment Right to Hunger Strike Over Dangerous Conditions SAN FRANCISCO – Immigrants detained at the Mesa Verde Detention Facility and the Yuba County Jail filed a class action lawsuit against...Read More

In response to the serious public health concerns related to the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), our office has been leading the way in advocating for the health and safety of those who come into contact with the criminal legal system and who may be incarcerated in local jails, juvenile detention, immigration detention, and prisons....Read More

Public Defender Mano Raju Says “Zero Bail” measure is critical tool to prevent spread of COVID19 in jails throughout the state Today’s Emergency Bail Schedule implementation means people should be released from jails throughout the state starting at 5pm San Francisco — On April 6, the Judicial Council of California voted to implement a set...Read More

Federal Judge orders ICE to release four detained immigrants at risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19 infection SAN FRANCISCO – On April 8, 2020, a federal judge ordered the release of four immigrants detained in two ICE detention centers in California on the grounds that their age and medical conditions make them especially vulnerable...Read More

Calls Mount for Release of Vulnerable Prisoners as Justice System Struggles to Respond to Coronavirus By Marissa Lagos – KQED As much of California life grinds to a halt because of the coronavirus pandemic, some groups are asking local and state officials to take sweeping actions — including letting people out of prison or jail...Read More

Coronavirus fears prompt call for SF police to halt arrests in non-violent cases Public defender asks SFPD to reduce ‘all unnecessary contact’ with detainees who pose no safety risk By Michael Barba – San Francisco Examiner – March 12, 2020 Citing the need to undercut the spread of coronavirus, San Francisco’s public defender has called...Read More

Jury Acquits Mother Charged with DUI after Fleeing Domestic Abuse SAN FRANCISCO — Yesterday, a jury found Liz Anaya, 31, not guilty of DUI charges that arose when she was fleeing domestic abuse from her partner.  Her attorney, Deputy Public Defender Nitin Sapra, successfully argued that she had not planned on driving that night, but only did...Read More

By Darwin BondGraham – The Appeal – Mar 11, 2020 San Francisco Officials Push to Reduce Jail Population to Prevent Coronavirus Outbreak The public defender and district attorney both directed their staffs to keep individuals who are more vulnerable to the virus out of jail. The two public officials on opposing ends of San Francisco’s...Read More

Release some inmates to ease coronavirus threat in jail, California official says By Don Sweeny – March 11, 2020 – The Sacramento Bee Should jails free some inmates to help curb the spread of coronavirus? Yes, one California official says. Mano Raju, the San Francisco public defender, released a statement Tuesday urging sheriff’s officials to...Read More