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 […]
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 […]
San Francisco Public Defender, Mano Raju, sent the following letter to the Director of Juvenile Probation:
Mano Raju, San Francisco Public Defender Brendon Woods, Alameda County Public Defender
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 […]
Reference: Washington Association of Sheriff’s & Police Chiefs
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
SAN FRANCISCO — Today, in an effort to limit the spread of the coronavirus, the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office will begin filing motions to seek the immediate release of all clients being held pre-trial in San Francisco county jails who are at heightened risk of illness from the virus. People at heightened risk for the […]