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

San Francisco Public Defender Statement on  First Confirmed Case of Coronavirus in San Francisco County Jail “While we knew it was nearly inevitable the virus would make its way into the jail, I am still deeply concerned to learn today that an incarcerated person in the San Francisco County Jail system tested positive for Coronavirus....Read More

San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju’s Statement on the Board of Supervisors Legislation to Close CJ4 April 14, 2020 “After months of collaborating with Supervisor Fewer’s office and community partners on the legislation to close County Jail 4, I am proud that it will be introduced at the Board of Supervisors meeting today. County Jail...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

SF-Public-Defender-District-Attorney-Joint-Letter-to-Governor-Newsom-3.27.20-1DownloadRead More

All of our incarcerated clients – including our clients in immigration detention centers – continue to be at a heightened risk of being exposed to COVID-19, and my office is fighting every day for their health and safety. Immigration detention facilities are particularly at risk with regards to spread of infectious diseases because of congregate-style...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

San Francisco Public Defender, Mano Raju, sent the following letter to the Director of Juvenile Probation:Read More