"Where a white legal professional might see stats, I see people. Because, after all, the systemic issues that affect my clients have also affected me."
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Partners for Justice (PFJ), a national nonprofit dedicated to transforming public defense across the country, awarded Andrew Strong, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for the Public Safety Group in San Diego County,with the inaugural Partners for Justice Champion Award for his innovation and support of public defenders.
After serving communities for seven years and helping eliminate nearly 9,000 years of potential exposure to incarceration nationwide, PFJ launched the Champion Award to elevate public policy leaders who have demonstrated exceptional commitment to investing in public defense and equal justice.
“I am deeply honored to accept the inaugural Partners for Justice Champion Award on behalf of the County of San Diego’s Public Safety Group. This recognition reflects the tireless work of our defenders, advocates, and community partners who stand alongside individuals navigating some of the hardest moments of their lives,” Strong said. “True justice is only possible when people—no matter their circumstances—have the support, dignity, and representation they deserve. Partners for Justice embodies that mission, and I am proud to join them in advancing equity and fairness in our justice system.”
In 2023, PFJ was invited by San Diego County’s Racial Justice Commission to partner with the San Diego County Public Defender (SDCPD) to exclusively serve children and young people involved in the criminal legal system. It was under Strong’s guidance that San Diego became the only county among PFJ’s 45 service locations nationwide to bring a PFJ team of three Client Advocates onboard through direct community engagement. Today, it is the only location doing exclusively youth-focused work.
Client Advocates serve as bridges between young people entangled in the legal system and the resources they need to stabilize and succeed moving forward. Through the partnership, youth clients of the public defender’s office receive not only legal representation in court but also have access to the wraparound services essential to preserving housing, employment, family stability, and overall well-being.
“The San Diego County Public Defender’s Office is deeply grateful for the transformative work of Partners for Justice and its advocates. Their presence has expanded the scope of public defense by ensuring that our young clients not only receive zealous legal representation but also have access to the resources necessary for stability and long-term success,” said San Diego County Public Defender Paul Rodriguez. “Andrew had the vision to connect us with PFJ, encouraged our collaboration, and helped us find the necessary resources to make this partnership work.”
Since placing a team in San Diego, Advocates have worked with over 300young people, who had, on average, three separate service goals each and successfully provided those services an incredible 87% of the time.
Advocates assisted youth in a variety of matters—from enrolling in health insurance, accessing mental health treatment, and obtaining transitional or permanent family housing, to completing court-ordered programs.
“Andrew’s leadership, dedication, and support of Partners for Justice programming in the San Diego area have helped us achieve phenomenal results,”said Emily Galvin Almanza, PFJ co-founder and executive director. “When public defenders have the support of their local leaders, they can be more than just constitutionally-mandated government actors—they can be guardians of public safety, public health, economic mobility, and a person’s future prospects.”
