The ultimate goals of these analyses will be the thorough implementation of AB 256, the California Racial Justice Act for All, and to improve services and outcomes for Contra Costa Public Defender clients.
Contra Costa, CA - The Center for Policing Equity (CPE) announces a collaborative partnership with Measures for Justice (MFJ) to complete a series of analyses for a comprehensive study on behalf of the Contra Costa County Public Defenders Office (CCPD). CCPD initiated the partnership to better collect and analyze data so that they can more effectively litigate under California's Racial Justice Act for All (AB256). The legislation, which passed in 2022, is a significant improvement on the justice reform focused 2020 Racial Justice Act. CCPD will also use findings from the CPE study to develop interventions in the earliest stages of the criminal legal process to prevent detrimental impacts downstream. The Contra Costa Public Defender’s Office aims to establish more holistic service delivery to their clients to address predetermined barriers to justice and safety.
Ellen McDonnell, Contra Costa County Public Defender, stated: “Our collaboration with the Center for Policing Equity will enable us to develop more robust data collection capacity to use the Racial Justice Act to challenge the racial biases our clients experience at every stage of the criminal legal system. We are excited about this cutting-edge partnership which will also improve our office’s holistic community defense practices.”
"We firmly believe that communities are best served by public safety systems that possess a comprehensive understanding of their dynamics and embrace the full spectrum of the unique lived experience of each community member,” said Juanisha Byrd, Manager of CPE’s Engagement & Impact in Justice Initiatives. “This study will illuminate the information necessary to cultivate true systems of safety that respond to the community's demonstrated needs and close any racial gaps that impede our pursuit of equitable justice."
In January 2023, CPE began a thorough examination of data collection within CCPD and the Contra Costa County courts system, focusing on assessing the high-level demographics of CCPD’s clients and the preventative and post-conviction services available to Contra Costa residents who come into contact with the criminal legal system. This will result in a Countyscape, a Literature Review, and an Initial Data Assessment and Quantitative Analysis. Initial findings will be reviewed with CCPD stakeholders, MFJ, and CPE before the second research stage begins.
In the second phase of research, CPE and MFJ will examine the data trends and specific research questions in greater depth via three modalities: Case Management Data Asset Mapping and Gap Analysis, Qualitative Data Analysis, and Court Data Assessment.
A complete set of findings and recommendations will be published in 2024.