Impact Justice and the SF Public Defender's Office announced the launch of the Homecoming Project in San Francisco. The Homecoming Project pairs people who are recently released from prison with hosts in the community who can offer a spare room in their home for six months.Read More
A San Francisco jury has acquitted 29-year-old Wyatt Johnson, who was arrested in a multi-agency law enforcement raid at Jefferson Park on Feb. 26. The jury unanimously acquitted him of all charges on Oct. 22.Read More
Today, an SF judge ruled that the teen accused of shooting and attempting to rob 49er Ricky Pearsall will remain in juvenile court instead of being transferred to adult court.Read More
San Francisco jury verdicts in three cases reveal a troubling pattern: vulnerable San Franciscans are being jailed and prosecuted based on weak or misunderstood evidence, rather than offered help. Juries saw through the flaws in the prosecutions and acquitted individuals who should never have been charged.Read More
On Feb. 19, 2025, elected San Francisco Public Defender Mano Raju gave our office’s annual community budget presentation. PD Raju discussed our office’s critical work defending more than 20,000 indigent clients per year, and our services that strengthen communities. Learn about our budget and priorities for 2025-2026 that will allow us to continue pursuing justice...Read More
Police union’s suit challenges new policy that limits pretext stops FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Feb. 5, 2025PRESS CONTACT: Public Relations Officer Jessie Seyfer | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org | (628) 271-9800 SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office has filed an amicus brief joining the City of San Francisco as it fights a lawsuit brought by the SF Police Officers Association regarding...Read More
Body-worn camera footage shows officers shoved, knocked to the ground, and ridiculed a woman who was on her way to work FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 18, 2024PRESS CONTACT: Public Relations Officer Jessie Seyfer | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org | (628) 271-9800 SAN FRANCISCO — San Francisco police in riot gear repeatedly shoved a woman, violently tackled her to...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Oct. 31, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org | Public Relations Officer Jessie Seyfer | (628) 271-9800 **PRESS RELEASE** Jury Acquits Legally Blind Man for Second Time in Two YearsCharles Underwood, who is unhoused, was arrested after a man kicked the boxes he was sleeping in SAN FRANCISCO — For the second time in two years, a San Francisco...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Sept. 10, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: Jessie Seyfer, public relations officer | (628) 271-9800 | San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Man Who Acted in Self-Defense After Stranger–Unprovoked–Screamed at Him and Trespassed Into His Apartment Stranger also returned to his apartment building and was believed to be armed...Read More
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 27, 2024MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** SF Jury Acquits Father of Battery Who Asked Two People to Stop Cutting in Line at Children’s EventOne accuser admitted in court she and her friend made sure their stories matched before talking to police SAN FRANCISCO – On Aug. 13, a San Francisco jury deliberated...Read More
