News and Press Releases

The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office released previously unseen video surveillance footage of what happened the morning of March 17, 2021, at UN Plaza, when SF Defender client Steven Jenkins was arrested for hitting Xiao Zhen Xie at the corner of Market and 7th Streets. KTVU’s Andre Torrez reports on the video showing Mr. Jenkins as the victim of an...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 8, 2021 MEDIA CONTACT: SF Public Defender’s Office – Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org – (628)249-7946 **PRESS STATEMENT** Deputy Public Defender Eric McBurney’s Statement on Case Involving His Client Steven Jenkins Includes Previously Unreleased Video Surveillance “My name is Eric McBurney, the Deputy Public Defender representing Steven Jenkins, who was arrested on March 17, 2021, after witnesses saw him strike...

Our Integrity Unit keeps close tabs on the Police Commission and police officer misconduct. Our data revealed that, since 2016, more than two dozen SFPD officers have quit before a finding could be made by the Police Commission in serious misconduct investigations. This means an officer can undergo screening when moving to another department and never have a disciplinary mark...

For Immediate Release: March 25, 2021  Media contacts: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office / (628)249-7946 / Valerie.Ibarra@sfgov.org  Civil Rights Corps / Amber English Coleman / Media@CivilRightsCorps.org  **PRESS RELEASE** California Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Pretrial Rights in Re Kenneth Humphrey Decision Court unanimously rules California’s money bail system unconstitutional, reiterates that detention should only be used if absolutely necessary...

A Message from Public Defender Mano Raju: “I am honored to accept the James Madison Freedom of Information Award for our CopMonitor database. Thank you to the Society of Professional Journalist – Freedom of Information Committee of Northern California for recognizing the work of the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office in our active pursuit of transparency around policing.  The CopMonitor...