Date: February 16, 2021 / Media Contact: Valerie Ibarra, SF Public Defender’s Office (628)249-7946 Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org Adachi Project Releases “One Eleven Taylor”, a Documentary Short Depicting Dangerous Conditions at a GEO Group-run For-Profit Halfway House in San Francisco San Francisco (CA) — Today, the Adachi Project released its first film, One Eleven Taylor (During a Pandemic),...Read More

Date: February 4, 2021 / Media Contact: Valerie Ibarra (628)249-7946 Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org SF Public Defender Launches ‘The Adachi Project’ First-of-Its-Kind Media Initiative Spotlights Public Defenders and Underrepresented Perspectives of theCriminal Legal System in Tribute to Late-Public Defender and Filmmaker Jeff Adachi SAN FRANCISCO – Today, the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office launched “The Adachi Project”, a...Read More

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 13, 2021 MEDIA CONTACTS: Valerie Ibarra – San Francisco Public Defender’s Office – (628)249-7946 – Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org; Lindsey Hortenstine – New Orleans Public Defender’s Office – (404)520-3087 – LHortenstine@opdla.org; Bob McGovern, Massachusetts Committee for Public Counsel Services, rmcgovern@publiccounsel.net;  Daniel Ball, Brooklyn Defender Services, dball@bds.org Public Defenders Nationwide Announce Plan for Immigration Justice, Provide...Read More

January 5, 2021 Media Contact: Public Information Officer – Valerie Ibarra – (628)249-7946 – Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org SF Public Defender Mano Raju’s Statement on the Arrest of Troy McAlister “Tragically, two lives were lost in our midst on New Year’s Eve. Our hearts go out to the families of Hanako Abe and Elizabeth Platt. My office represents...Read More

December 3, 2020 MEDIA CONTACTS: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org, (628)249-7946 ACLU SoCal Communications & Media Advocacy, communications@aclusocal.org, 626-755-4129  Court Slams ICE for Handling of COVID at Mesa Verde Blistering Order Cites Lies and ‘Deliberate Indifference’ to the Safety of Detainees SAN FRANCISCO — In a blistering federal court decision handed down today on the treatment of people...Read More

November 18, 2020 Press Contact: SF Public Defender’s Office – Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org – (628)249-7946 San Francisco Public Defender Launches “CopWatch SF” Database to Ensure Public Access to Available Police Records SAN FRANCISCO – This morning, the San Francisco Public Defender’s “CopWatch SF” database went live, making available hundreds of public records about police and sheriffs. What...Read More

November 11, 2020 PRESS CONTACT: Valerie Ibarra – SF Public Defender’s Office – (628)249-7946 New Documents Reveal ICE and Private Prison Contractor Exacerbates a COVID Outbreak at Immigration Detention Center Hid Risks to Immigrants In Grave Danger Due to COVID Pandemic, Misled Court SAN FRANCISCO – Last night, detained immigrants held at the Mesa Verde ICE...Read More

November 5, 2020 San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju’s Statement on Election’s Implications for Criminal Justice Reform in California “2020 has been a year of divisive politics and a national reckoning with racism, police brutality, and systemic injustice. However, this week there was consensus across California: voters made clear their desire to continue on a...Read More

October 28, 2020  PRESS CONTACT: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office – Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org SF Public Defender’s Office Wins Acquittal for Client Accused of Carjacking and Robbery SAN FRANCISCO – Yesterday, a jury acquitted a client of the Public Defender of all carjacking and robbery charges stemming from an incident in May. The jury found that Valentine...Read More

October 1, 2020 PRESS CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office – (628)249-7946 – Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org SF Public Defender Mano Raju’s Statement on Criminal Justice Reform Bills Signed by Governor Newsom “In the midst of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, a shortened legislative session, and a powerful national grassroots movement demanding systemic change in the criminal legal system, my...Read More