Taxpayers shouldn't fund drug dealers!

Supervisor Dorsey is seeking information on policies and processes in our city’s judiciary and criminal justice system to determine whether wealthy criminal defendants are eligible for free legal counsel funded by San Francisco taxpayers. And if police seize $200,000 in assets from a drug trafficker, how can the City recover any funds to pay for the pusher’s Public Defender legal costs?

We urge you ask the Board of Supervisors to support this investigation and public hearings into how eligibility for free legal assistance is determined in San Francisco.

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Message to the Board of Supervisors:

Dear Supervisors,&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;I write to support Supervisor Matt Dorsey’s request for an investigation of wealthy drug dealing defendants’ eligibility for taxpayer-funded legal counsel from the S.F. Public Defender’s Office. &#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Some current and former drug dealers recently told the San Francisco Chronicle that “they can make as much as $350,000 a year – or even more if they help run a local operation.” And it’s tax-free.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Supervisor Dorsey is seeking information on policies and processes in our city’s judiciary and criminal justice system to determine whether criminal defendants are eligible for free legal counsel funded by San Francisco taxpayers.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;While criminal suspects have a constitutional right to legal counsel, there is no legal right to a publicly funded attorney for suspects who can afford to pay.  In fact, Section 6.104 of the San Francisco Charter explicitly states only that our “Public Defender shall, upon the request of an accused who is financially unable to employ counsel, or upon order of the Court ... defend criminal (suspects).”&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Drug dealing is a plague on our city, and every legal tool available must be employed to fight the scourge of fentanyl and other deadly drugs, which are on pace to kill a record number of people in San Francisco.&#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;I urge you to support this investigation and public hearings into how eligibility for free legal assistance is determined in San Francisco, including the study of other California counties’ standards and implementation approaches. &#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Would you also let me know whether you support such public hearings and investigations? And if the results of the Budget Analyst’s report turn out to confirm the fact that rich drug dealers are likely being represented by the Public Defender’s office, would you support legislation to reduce or end this misuse of taxpayer funds?  &#13;&#10;&#13;&#10;Cc: District Attorney Brooke Jenkins&#13;&#10;      Mayor London Breed&#13;&#10;