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'Did You Know...?' Newsletter
Issue 7, 2017
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Welcome to the seventh edition of our
'Did You Know...?'
newsletter for 2017.
Inside this issue:
- Legislative wrap up
- Safe Drug Take Back Day
- Justice Restoration Project
- DA O'malley announces gun safety campaign
- Domestic Violence Awareness Month
- DA O'Malley opposes federal legislation to remove regulation on gun silencers
- Anti-trafficking outreach campaign
- DA's Justice Academy application deadline
- DA staff out & about
- Felony verdicts
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Over the last month, Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law three bills that the Alameda County District Attorney's Office has sponsored.
AB 41 DNA Evidence Bill was authored by Assemblymember David Chiu and sponsored by Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley, and it requires law enforcement agencies to annually report data on the collection and testing of sexual assault evidence kits to the California Department of Justice. This new law, AB 41, provides greater transparency for survivors and policy makers.
Read more about the bill...
SB 384 Sex Offender Registry Reform Bill was authored by Senator Scott Wiener and co-sponsored by Alameda County District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley and Los Angeles County District Attorney Jackie Lacey. This bill amends the current law that requires all sex offenders to register for life and replaces it with a tiered system of registry. A diverse coalition came together to support this bill, including law enforcement but also Equality California, ACLU, and CALCASA.
Read more about the bill...
AB 993 Examination of Victim of Sex Crimes Bill was authored by Assemblymember Nancy Skinner and sponsored by DA Nancy O'Malley. This bill authorizes the prosecution to apply for an order that a victim’s testimony at the preliminary hearing be video recorded and preserved when the defendant has been charged with aggravated sexual assault of a child under 14 years of age or charged with sexual intercourse, sodomy, sexual penetration, or oral copulation with a child under 10 years of age.
Find out what is on our legislative agenda and the bills we have sponsored on our
Legislation page.
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On Saturday, October 28, the Alameda County DA’s Office will be participating in the
National Drug Take Back Day, in partnership with the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. This will be the last Drug Take Back Day for 2017.
We encourage you to bring any unused, unwanted and/or expired prescription or over the counter medication for free, confidential and safe disposal. It is a great opportunity to rid your home of potentially dangerous expired, unused and unwanted prescription and over-the-counter drugs, thereby helping to prevent prescription drug abuse, theft, as well as promoting environmentally responsible disposal. We can also accept unused pet medication.
We encourage you to bring us your unwanted, expired, and unused medication to one of our four safe disposal sites between
10am and 2pm:
Alameda
McDonald Hall of Justice: 2233 Shoreline Drive, Alameda, 94501
Oakland
Alameda County Family Justice Center: 470 27th Street, Oakland, 94612
Fremont
Fremont Hall of Justice: 39439 Paseo Padre Parkway, Fremont, 94538
Dublin
East County Hall of Justice: 5151 Gleason Drive, Dublin, 94568
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday at one of our Take Back stations!
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Justice Restoration Project Launched
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In early October, DA Nancy O’Malley announced that the District Attorney’s Office, leading a partnership of county agencies, community partners and non-government resource providers, has launched the
Alameda County Justice Restoration Project.
Through the Justice Restoration Project, the guiding principles are focused on successful outcomes for young adults who are on felony probation or who have been charged with certain felony crimes. Not only does the project focus on reducing and eliminating recidivism, but on providing the resources and processes for individuals to build bright futures. The Justice Restoration Project will focus on young adults ages 18-24 and will be evaluated by WestEd, an independent research and assessment organization.
The Justice Restoration Project is a unique project in that it is a 'Pay For Success' project, with seed funding awarded by the Board of State and Community Corrections through a competitive grant program. Pay For Success is a fiscal partnership between a government agency, in this case Alameda County, under the leadership of the District Attorney’s Office, and private or foundation funders. The non-government funds are invested in a project with specific contractual milestones and outcomes.
Read more about the new program...
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Domestic Violence Awareness Month
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This month is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Alameda County Family Justice Center has a
calendar of events listing all of the events hosted by the Center or our community partners in honor of this month. Domestic Violence Awareness Month culminates in the 17th Annual Day of Remembrance, a formal program to honor those killed in an act of domestic violence.
The proclamation recognizing October as Domestic Violence Awareness Month was presented by Supervisor Scott Haggerty to Cherri Allison, Executive Director of the Alameda County Family Justice Center, and Stephen Murphy, Associate Director. The proclamation also acknowledged the important work we do at the ACFJC, as well as the work of more than 80 organizations and agencies who partner with the ACFJC.
If you, or someone you know, has been affected by domestic violence, the ACFJC is here to help you. Please visit the
ACFJC website or call us on (510) 267-8800 to find out how we can help.
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DA O'Malley Announces Gun Safety Campaign
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Recently, Alameda County District Attorney Nancy O’Malley announced the first phase of a public awareness campaign focused on gun violence and the safe storage of firearms.
When guns are not securely stored, accessibility to firearms too often leads to unintended tragedy as well as violent crime. In partnership with Clear Channel Outdoor, billboards and bus shelters with the message “Save a Life! Lock Up Your Guns” present a stark, graphic reminder of the legal responsibility of every gun owner to keep his or her gun secured and out of reach of children.
“The message is strong and clear and it will save lives,” says DA O’Malley. “If there are children living in or visiting your home, your gun must be secured and locked in a place that no child can access. This is the law in our state. When gun owners follow this law, lives are saved and tragedies are prevented.”
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DA O’Malley Opposes Legislation to Remove Regulation on Gun Silencers
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On October 4, 2017, Alameda County DA Nancy O’Malley, Manhattan DA Cyrus R. Vance Jr, Los Angeles City Attorney Mike Feuer, and 26 additional members of Prosecutors Against Gun Violence (PAGV) announced their strong opposition to provisions in the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act (SHARE Act) which would remove existing gun silencer safety regulations from federal law.
“As prosecutors, we are sworn to uphold public safety in our communities. The SHARE Act would threaten that safety by removing gun silencers from regulation under the National Firearms Act, which for decades has prevented felons, domestic abusers, and other people with dangerous histories from obtaining silencers,” states a letter written to congressional leaders from the PAGV regarding the legislation.
Read more about the SHARE Act and the impact it would have on our communities...
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Anti-Trafficking Outreach Campaign
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The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, in partnership with Abolitionist Mom, has launched a new campaign aimed at combating the sex trafficking of children and teens. Sixty public service ads have been placed on AC Transit buses and Clear Channel bus shelters throughout Alameda County as part of an education effort called ‘Disrupt Sex Trafficking’.
The campaign had input from trafficking survivor leaders and art direction by Garnet Creative. As in past campaigns, Clear Channel Outdoor is a strong partner in helping us spreading this important message.
The 'Disrupt Sex Trafficking' campaign focuses on the methods by which youth are recruited by traffickers and practical steps that can interrupt sexual exploitation of children. Ads reading “Sex Traffickers Love Technology, Too” highlight how exploiters befriend their victims on social media. Another poster, “Girlfriend for Sale,” focuses on how traffickers lure victims into false relationships and then coerce them into the illicit sex trade.
“The terrifying reality is that any child or teen with a device can meet a sex trafficker, even in the safety of their own home. Teens now have hundreds or even thousands of online contacts, and predators use this tool to befriend, lure, and gain the trust of young victims,” District Attorney Nancy E. O’Malley points out.
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DAJA Applications Close Shortly!
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Are you a high school junior or senior?
Do you attend public high school in Alameda County?
Why not join our District Attorney's Office Justice Academy!
The District Attorney’s Justice Academy (DAJA) is a six month learning and working experience for high school students, ages 16 and up, who are interested in pursuing the study of law, justice, social justice, and the courts. The Academy also provides a paid month-long summer internship.
The deadline for applications is fast approaching, so please visit our
DAJA page to find out more about the program, download an application packet, and to view an informational video about the program.
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Oakland Community Safety Fair
On October 14, representatives from our office spoke to over 300 people who attended the Oakland Community Safety Fair. They heard from Assistant District Attorney Esposito about what our office does and how we assist victims of crime.
East Bay Korean-American Senior Services Center Event
In early October, DA Inspector Israel attended an event at the request of the East Bay Korean-American Senior Services Center. We have helped a number of seniors associated with the center successfully seek assistance for issues relating to fraud, so it was wonderful to be invited back to celebrate in the Korean cultural festivities with the attendees.
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People v Sharonee Hyson
Recently, a jury found defendant
Sharonee Hyson guilty of first degree burglary, felony possession of a stolen vehicle, and two counts of unlawful possession of personal information.
Read the summary of the case...
A sentencing date is yet to be determined.
The case was prosecuted by DDA Mark Bennett with assistance from DA Inspector Gus Galindo.
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Do you have a question for the District Attorney?
If you would like to see a particular question answered in our next newsletter, please email us at
[email protected].
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HEAT Watch
: HEAT Watch is the anti-human trafficking program run by the DA's Office. It coordinates the response to help fight trafficking in the Bay Area and beyond.
DA Speakers Bureau
: We provide speakers for your next school or community meeting who come to you with decades of expertise about the law, the criminal justice system and how we at the DA's Office can help you if you have been the victim of a crime.
Point of View
: The well-known legal educational tool written and published by the DA's Office.
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