(FOX40.COM) — Another Northern California district attorney’s office is implementing a ‘race-blind’ charging initiative to help eliminate potential bias from prosecution decisions.
The San Joaquin County District Attorney’s Office announced it began testing race-blind charging last week and will be “fully operational” by Dec. 20. The move comes after AB 2778 , which mandates race-blind charging, was signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom. The legislation was modeled after Yolo County District Attorney Jeff Reisig who introduced the concept in 2021 .
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What is race-blind charging?
Race-blind charging means prosecutors make charging decisions without knowing anyone’s race. Case files redact racial identifiers such as names so that prosecutors can review cases based on evidence alone.
“As District Attorney of one the most diverse counties in the nation, I am proud we’re not just complying with the law; we’re setting the standard for justice in California,” said San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas. “By early adopting race-blind charging, we’re ensuring our justice system operates without racial bias. I’m proud that San Joaquin County is leading the way, demonstrating our commitment to true equality.”