A public database to help ensure a robust implementation of California’s Racial Justice Act
Racial Justice Act
The Racial Justice Act is a California law which prohibits the State from pursuing convictions or sentences based upon race, ethnicity, or national origin. For the RJA to be effective, the public must be able to access policies and data from prosecutors. But this information — which should be readily available — is often difficult to obtain.
Since the law's enactment in 2020, the ACLU, with the support of BraunHagey & Borden LLP, has sought access to prosecutorial records that will ensure a robust implementation of the RJA. The records that we have received, and relevant analyses and court orders, are available here.
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Communications
2020_Contra Costa County_Racial Justice Act Discovery Request in Docket #05-192292-1.pdf
County
Contra Costa County
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Source
Office of the Contra Costa District Attorney
Summary
This is an internal email at the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office. This 5 page email/attached document involves a discovery request from Yolanda Huang related to the Racial Justice Act, where the defense has requested various records concerning policy statements, training materials, and specific case data from 2015 to 2020 in Contra Costa County. This document is from December 14, 2020 and was produced by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office on March 31, 2022 in response to a July 23, 2021 PRA request.
Communications
2020_Contra Costa County_Racial Justice Act Further Guidance and Updates .pdf
County
Contra Costa County
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Source
Office of the Contra Costa District Attorney
Summary
This is a document from Venus D. Johnson (Contra Costa DDA) sent to the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office. This two page email provides further guidance on implementing the Racial Justice Act.It details how to handle discovery requests, defines what constitutes good cause for granting such requests, and outlines the requirements for subsequent hearings, with reference to CDAA training materials. This document is from December 27, 2020 and was produced by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office on March 31, 2022 in response to a July 23, 2021 PRA request
Communications
2020_Contra Costa County_Racial Justice Act Motion to Compel Discovery in People v. Vargas.pdf
County
Contra Costa County
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Source
Office of the Contra Costa District Attorney
Summary
This is an internal email at the Contra Costa District Attorney's Office identifying a defendant's Racial Justice Act discovery motion seeking, i.e., "office policies, data, etc." This 114 page document includes as an attachment the motion to compel discovery under the Racial Justice Act, focusing on the specific requirements for substantiating claims of racial bias, the evidence needed to support such claims, and the procedural steps involved in these legal challenges. This document is from December 14, 2020 and was produced by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office on March 31, 2022 in response to a July 23, 2021 PRA request.
Policy or Training Materials
2020_Contra Costa County_Racial Justice Act Opposition Advice.pdf
County
Contra Costa County
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Source
Office of the Contra Costa District Attorney
Summary
This is an email communication from Destiny Ramsey of the LA County DA's Office via the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) listserv. This two page email is a request for advice on opposing a motion filed under the Racial Justice Act. The attorney's email details the challenges faced by prosecutors in responding to these new types of motions. This document is from May 21, 2020 and was produced by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office on March 31, 2022 in response to a July 23, 2021 PRA request.
Communications
2021.01.06_Contra Costa County_Racial Justice Act Digest.pdf
County
Contra Costa County
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Source
Office of the Contra Costa District Attorney
Communications
2021.01.07_Contra Costa County_Racial Justice Act Digest.pdf
County
Contra Costa County
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Source
Office of the Contra Costa District Attorney
Summary
This is an email communication via the California District Attorneys Association (CDAA) listserv. This 2 page email discusses the establishment of a "community for the Racial Justice Act" within the CDAA. The digest was sent to district attorney offices to facilitate collaboration and prepare for the Act's implementation. This document is from January 8, 2021 and was produced by the Contra Costa County District Attorney's Office on March 31, 2022 in response to a July 23, 2021 PRA request.