Criminal Justice Reform & Police Oversight
As calls for accountability and transparency in policing grow, our attorneys represent community groups and governments to ensure greater fairness in the criminal justice system. We work closely with our clients and stakeholders to implement creative and sustainable reforms. Our attorneys have experience ranging from drafting ballot measures and ordinances to defending them in court. We also are experienced advisors to public boards, commissions, and agencies at the state and local level.
Police Oversight
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We counseled a general law city in Southern California on the creation of a police oversight body. Together with a community task force, we drafted an ordinance, passed by the City Council in 2020, that implemented a hybrid system of oversight using a civilian oversight board and independent police auditor. As outside counsel to the board, we have developed bylaws and operating procedures and have overseen the publication of audit reports.
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We advised San Diegans for Justice on a ballot initiative to amend the San Diego City Charter to replace the City’s existing police oversight board with a more robust Commission on Police Practices. The 2020 amendment, which passed with nearly 75% of the vote, gives the Commission the authority to conduct investigations and subpoena witnesses and documents relating to deaths resulting from police-interactions and complaints made against police officers.
Prison & Jail Reform
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Representing the Re-Imagine Los Angeles County Coalition, we secured a complete reversal of a trial court ruling invalidating Measure J, an amendment to the Los Angeles County Charter passed by the voters in 2020 that requires significant investments to address the disproportionate impact of racial injustice, to reduce incarceration, and to promote restorative justice.
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With Reform L.A. County Jails, we drafted a successful county-wide ballot initiative that gave subpoena power to the L.A. County Sheriff’s Department Civilian Oversight Commission to effectively and independently investigate misconduct. The measure also created a mandate to develop a plan to reduce jail populations and to redirect the cost savings into alternatives to incarceration.
