The California Legislature passed the Racial Justice Act (RJA) in 2020 to eliminate racial bias in the California criminal justice system. The Los Angeles County Public Defender’s Office created a Racial Justice Act team to address this new legislation in criminal cases. This team looks at historical bias in the criminal legal system and how it affects legal procedures, trials, charging and sentencing. Our RJA team works directly with trial lawyers to challenge discriminatory practices such as biased or racially coded language by individuals in a case or during trial or disparities in charging, convictions, and sentencing.
The RJA team collaborates with community partners and attorneys from private, public, and federal practice to provide support, outreach, and training on the Racial Justice Act.
In 2023, the Racial Justice Act became retroactive now applies to certain post-conviction cases. Our RJA team is working diligently with clients in prison to obtain relief for people who experienced racism and/or bias in their case.
If you think you may have an RJA claim, email RJA@pubdef.lacounty.gov.