"Together, we will continue to demonstrate what is possible when people are given the opportunity to access aid and care instead of a jail cell."

"Years from now, it isn’t the prosecutor’s viewpoint I want on the bench. It’s a PFJ Advocate's. But for me to look them in the eye and tell them that’s possible, there must first be a legal system that values public defenders, and acknowledges their essential role in the process of 'doing justice.'"

Co-Founder Emily Galvin Almanza is profiled in the American Bar Association's monthly publication

Eliana and Ben came to Yolo county to do the hard work of fighting for people ensnared in our criminal system. They've only been on the job for a few weeks so far, but are already making tremendous differences for the people they serve. Copied here are some emails we got about their work (anonymized for client privacy).

I got the call from my client, Brianna, a few days before Christmas in 2020. She was trying to get to her doctor’s appointment in 15 minutes, but her 2006 Nissan Altima was not where she had parked it. “No notification, nothing. Just gone,” she said frantically. I sighed and shook my head. Another tow.

Incarceration and poor health function as a causal loop: being incarcerated negatively affects health, and the factors that contribute to poor health increase the likelihood of system involvement.