San Francisco Public Defender Jeff Adachi and SFPD Lt. Mike Slade
joined forces yesterday on the steps of City Hall to draw attention to budget cuts
that are threatening the closure of several public defender programs serving
families and youth in economically disadvantaged communities.
Photos by Luke Thomas
By Jeff Adachi
July 15, 2009
Public Defender Jeff Adachi submitted a list of reductions that would be required if his office were forced to cut $1.6 million from its budget, as proposed by Mayor Gavin Newsom. Adachi’s submission was in response to a letter of inquiry from the San Francisco Board of Supervisors.
Adachi said that he would have to cut at least seven attorneys from his staff and would also have to eliminate at least five staff positions. The cuts would result in the elimination of the Mo’ MAGIC and BMAGIC programs, both of which are staffed by the Public Defender’s Office.
Adachi said that firing attorneys from his staff would actually cost the city $700,000 more a year than what it would save by reducing his staff, since these cases would have to be referred to more expensive private attorneys. Adachi noted that he has already reduced his staff by 10 and that he cannot provide proper representation to the 29,000 people the office is assigned to represent each year. Adachi said that he would have to withdraw from as many as 1,500 cases and that this would cause court delays that could drive up the cost of jailing inmates by up to $5 million.
At a press conference held on steps of the City Hall yesterday, Lt. Mike Slade, San Francisco Police Department, said that it would be a mistake to eliminate the MAGIC programs, which have united over 100 community-based organizations that serve families and youth in San Francisco’s Bayview and Western Addition neighborhoods.
“As a police officer, I have worked with the MAGIC programs, and know that they help kids from getting into trouble,” Lt. Slade said.
Lt. Mike Slade
MAGIC was formed in order to better coordinate the work of neighborhood-based service providers and to encourage collaborative programming to benefit children, including the 2,100 children represented by the Public Defender’s Office each year.
The office would also lose social workers who ensure that children in the juvenile justice system receive care, treatment and guidance consistent with their best interests, as mandated by the California Rules of Court. This includes creating individualized treatment plans, and integrating mental health, special education and counseling services available through the school district, government agencies and community-based service providers.
Adachi hopes that the Board of Supervisors votes to restore his budget.
“It’s the right thing to do because it will ultimately save the city millions. It will also ensure that our justice system is working and that innocent people are not convicted of crimes they did not commit,” Adachi said.
Read the Public Defender’s response to the Board of Supervisors on-line at www.sfpublicdefender.org
The Hunger Site
July 20, 2009 at 11:36 am
Richmondman says,”Adachi chooses to fund social programs at the expense of providing legal services, and then complains that he doesn’t have enough for legal services. DUH!”
If these “social programs” are no longer funded then the cost of legal defense will surely increase. You will be happy to pay for the increase in the PD’s services, right?
You’ve obviously never been the victim of a violent crime as I’ve been. I would have much preferred to not have been attacked in the first place than to have been a victim. Prevention is about more than mere dollars and cents, it is about people’s lives.
DUH!
July 16, 2009 at 2:59 pm
The issue is not whether the MAGIC programs are worthwhile, it is that they should not be included in the Public Defender’s budget. Adachi chooses to fund social programs at the expense of providing legal services, and then complains that he doesn’t have enough for legal services. DUH!
July 15, 2009 at 11:15 pm
MAGIC is to the Public Defender what toothpaste and dental floss are to dentists.
If people brush and floss, they won’t need the dentists’ services so much. MAGIC could indeed reduce the need for the Public Defender’s services by transforming youth to take a positive path rather than the criminal path. MAGIC prevents youth from being criminalized by channeling them into thriving and productive lifestyle choices. If a few hundred thousand dollars of the PD’s budget invests in prevention on the front end, rather than costly legal proceedings and incarceration on the back end, then MAGIC is where I believe my tax dollars should be going. As someone who has been the victim of a violent crime, as well as a mother of three children who’ve all known murder victims, I opt for safe communities populated with happy youth over a community with children not getting the services and attention they need. The police value the MAGIC program as a key to dramatically reducing violence. MAGIC is a bargain considering the minimal cost we pay in return for so much good! It is all connected and I categorically reject Ruth’s comments.
July 15, 2009 at 2:55 pm
There is a strong part and a weak part to Jeff Adachi’s argument.
The strong part is that he has already reduced his staff of lawyers by 10. Cuts to his budget that would require additional cuts to lawyers are unreasonable.
The weak part is his request for continued funding to MAGIC programs. These programs involve social work, not legal defense. Most of the work consists of sending out info and coordinating meetings.
The state court order that Adachi cites (5.663) specifically says that public defenders are NOT reasonable for “nonlegal services to the child.”
If regrettable cuts have to be made, this is the place to make them.