Greetings! I am writing to let you know that we are gathering signs-ons for a letter to support the SF Public Defender’s budget this year to address the systemic underfunding of our office compared to the rest of the criminal legal system, and to address the increasing high and unmanageable caseloads that our attorneys are facing.
Black, brown, immigrant, and very low-income communities continue to be disproportionately stopped, arrested, and booked in San Francisco County Jail, causing intergenerational harm to the most vulnerable in our communities. We are fighting for these resources so that our office can respond to the increase in arrests by the police and effectively represent our clients.
To that end, I’d like to invite you to sign on to a community letter supporting the SF Public Defender’s Office’s urgent budget request.
The Public Defender’s Budget is roughly 60% of the District Attorney’s Budget and less than 17% of the Sheriff’s Budget. It is also less than 7% of the police budget. In fact, the Mayor’s proposed increase of $61 million to the police department’s budget this year is almost the same amount as the Public Defender’s entire budget.
Here’s a link to our 2025 Community Support Letter. If you’d like to sign your organization onto this letter, please fill out this very short google form by Wednesday May 7, 2024.
If you signed on last year, and are fine to be included again this year, there is no action needed. (If you would like to be removed, please email me.)
Your support for our public defender office would be so appreciated. Thank you for considering this sign-on request!
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