SF Board of Supervisors Mandate Pre-Interrogation Attorney Consultations for All Youth

On February 26, 2019, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors unanimously passed the “Jeff Adachi Youth Rights” ordinance, which prohibits custodial police interrogations of youth 17 years of age or younger, unless certain conditions are first met. These conditions include: (1) providing the youth legal representation in connection with the interrogation, and (2) requiring that …

​A Great Warrior for Justice: Jeff Adachi 1959-2019 ​

PJDC mourns the loss of Jeff Adachi, Public Defender of San Francisco, who died suddenly ​on​ February 23rd.  PJDC President Patti Lee, who serves as head of the Juvenile Division for the office said of Jeff that “He truly believed in redemption,”  and that he was especially committed to providing the best juvenile defense and …

Los Angeles Supervisors Vote to Phase Out Pepper Spray in Juvenile Facilities

In the wake of a scathing report by the Los Angeles Inspector General regarding the rampant misuse of pepper spray against incarcerated children, PJDC joined dozens of juvenile justice and civil rights organizations to urge the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to phase out the use of pepper spray in all juvenile facilities.  The …