News and Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 30, 2024CONTACT: S.F. Public Defender’s Office | PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** SAN FRANCISCO — Today, San Francisco community leaders held a press conference to denounce recent measures targeting the unhoused individuals. Speakers called for real and sustainable solutions to homelessness, emphasizing that criminalization is neither an effective nor humane approach. They demanded that San Francisco take immediate action to fill...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2024 CONTACT: S.F. Public Defender’s Office | PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS RELEASE** SF Coalition to End Biased Stops Celebrates ‘Pretext’ Stop Policy Going into Effect, Releases ‘Know Your Rights’ Guide  SAN FRANCISCO — The Coalition to End Biased Stops—which includes over 110 traffic safety and civil rights groups that advocated for restricting the San Francisco Police Department’s...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 16, 2024PRESS CONTACT: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | pdr-mediarelations@sfgov.org   **PRESS RELEASE** State Appellate Court Orders SF Superior Court to Dismiss Misdemeanor Case Due to Unlawful Trial BacklogFirst Appellate Court decision opens door for dismissal of more than a hundred cases whose trials were unconstitutionally delayed months, years past mandated deadlines SAN FRANCISCO — A state...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 27, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: San Francisco Public Defender’s Office | PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS STATEMENT** SF Public Defender Applauds Restoration of State’s Public Defender Pilot Program and Urges Permanent Funding SAN FRANCISCO, CA – This week, the California State Legislature and Governor reached an agreement that restores funding to the Public Defender Pilot Program (PDPP) in the state...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 21, 2024 MEDIA CONTACT: PDR-MediaRelations@sfgov.org **PRESS STATEMENT** David DePape’s Public Defender Reacts to Verdict in State Case Argues “vindictive prosecution” issue will be looked at going forward SAN FRANCISCO – Today, in the state case against David DePape, a San Francisco jury found DePape guilty of five felonies related to his actions at the home of...