News and Press Releases

The first study to assess the impact of the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office reentry social work program found that alternatives to incarceration, reduced sentencing, and avoided jail days obtained as a result of reentry advocacy saved California state prisons over $5,000,000 and San Francisco County over $1,000,000.

The 2009 Justice Summit was the first focused effort by the California Public Defenders Association, California Attorneys for Criminal Justice, Bar Association of San Francisco and the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office to bring awareness to the national crisis in public defense.

Public defenders and defense attorneys from around California met in San Francisco today to discuss how budget cuts are affecting their work. What cuts are public defenders being asked to make, and how are those cuts impacting their ability to defend people accused of crimes who can't afford a lawyer?

San Francisco Bay Guardian, Politics blog: While Mayor Gavin Newsom gallivants around the country...other city leaders are doing the hard work of restoring San Francisco values. On Wednesday, there are two shining examples of this uphill battle that take place on opposite ends of Civic Center Plaza. First, SF Public Defender Jeff Adachi hosts “Justice Summit 2009: Defending the Public...

Public Defenders, Criminal Justice Leaders from around U.S. to Convene in San Francisco SAN FRANCISCO – Over 300 people in support of public defense will gather on Wednesday, May 6, 2009 to hear Judge Thelton Henderson, senior federal judge of the Northern District of California, speak to the importance of the Sixth Amendment right to counsel, which is currently being...