The Equal Justice Society joins the Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights, ACLU-Northern California, Asian Law Caucus, Chinese for Affirmative Action, Citizen Hope and Equal Rights Advocates in sponsoring a debate with the candidates for San Francisco District Attorney on Wednesday, August 3, 2011, from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at the African American Art and Culture Complex, 762 Fulton Street, San Francisco. Candidates Sharmin Bock, David Onek and George Gascón are scheduled to participate.
The leadership of the San Francisco District Attorney is essential in ensuring that the city’s criminal justice system is fair and equitable and fully respects civil rights. The San Francisco DA has also often played a critical leadership role in advocating for progressive and smart criminal justice policies statewide and nationwide.
With the recent Supreme Court case ordering a reduction of nearly 40,000 prisoners from California’s prison system and major changes at the state level re-aligning responsibilities for implementing public safety, the need for bold and innovative leadership on criminal justice policy is especially urgent.
This event will be the first opportunity for all three of the major candidates for San Francisco District Attorney to engage in a dialogue with each other, leading civil rights advocacy organizations, and the community about critical issues in criminal justice and public safety policy.
Candidates will be asked to discuss topics such as the disproportionate impact of the criminal justice system on communities of color, alternatives to incarceration, immigration, police misconduct, criminal justice realignment under AB 109, and policies to promote reentry and reduce recidivism.