News Spotlight
Report: California Top Destination for Human Traffickers
SACRAMENTO—California is a top destination for human traffickers who coerce people into the sex trade or hard labor through force or fraud, according to an 18-month government study released Tuesday... Read More
California Seen as Destination Spot for Human Trafficking
SACRAMENTO -- A new report released on Tuesday said thousands of people are becoming modern day slaves to human traffickers.
One of those victims was at Capitol Hill on Tuesday and spoke with NBC 11's Michael Luery.
"Esperanza," as she identified herself because she said she feared the human traffickers who brought her from Mexico to Los Angeles to work in a crowded sweatshop, used to be a sweatshop worker... Read More
Human Trafficking More Common in California
California is the top destination in the U.S. for people who force women and girls into hard labor and sex trade. U.C. Berkeley researchers found 57 forced labor operations over a five year period, in about a dozen California cities, involving more than 500 people from 18 countries... Read More
Kamala Harris Celebrates Unopposed Bid For District Attorney
San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris held an election night party Tuesday at Tosca Cafe, but the real victory came Aug. 10 when the popular, well-connected incumbent learned she'd have no competition in her bid for a second four-year term.
It was the first time since 1991 a San Francisco district attorney has gone unchallenged, an especially rare feat in a city with so many lawyers with political ambitions... Read More
Public Safety, Back On Track
OPINION About a year and a half ago, James was dealing drugs on a street corner in San Francisco. He wasn't a hardened repeat offender, just a young man with little education and few prospects. He got arrested and soon faced adult felony drug charges for the first time... Read More
Gay Man Heads DA's Child Assault Unit
Gay men sometimes get a bad rap when it comes to children, often being labeled as pedophiles. But that's not what San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris saw when she hired openly gay Julius De Guia last year to lead the office's child assault unit.
Harris saw only a talented professional who would fit into the team she was building.
"The fact that he is a gay man is a bonus, not a negative," said Harris, "because he has a level of awareness and sensitivity to issues that impact vulnerable people."... Read More
The Chronicle Endorses D.A. Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris was elected district attorney in 2003 by steering a sensible course between the devoutly progressive incumbent Terence Hallinan and the more conservative attorney Bill Fazio.
Harris rejected the labels of "tough on crime" and "soft on crime." Her oft-repeated pledge has been to be "smart on crime."... Read More
Witness Assistance Program Given a Boost
Witnesses to violent or gang-related crime once intimidated by potential repercussions for snitching will see additional support services from The City if they do indeed agree to testify.
District Attorney Kamala Harris, police Chief Heather Fong and other Bay Area law enforcement officials introduced the new changes to the state’s relocation and support program Thursday.
Witnesses and their families will have assistance settling in new communities and finding doctors, schools, job and educational opportunities and other services if they testify... Read More
Bill Passed To Reform Witness Protection Program
Bay Area law enforcement officials announced an upgrade today to the state's program for witnesses of violent crimes to encourage them to speak out as well as to guarantee support for them from officials.
For the first time in nearly a decade, what was formerly known as the Witness Protection Program, has been drastically reformed by SB 594, San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris said today at a news conference, where she was joined by three other Bay Area district attorneys and the San Francisco chief of police... Read More
No one is running against S.F. district attorney in fall election
San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris collected more than $500,000 from donors for her re-election effort, lined up high-profile endorsements and launched a campaign Web site.
Then the clock at the Department of Elections struck 5 p.m. Friday, the deadline for filing candidacy papers. Harris found herself with no challenger in the Nov. 6 election - the first time that has happened to a San Francisco district attorney since 1991... Read More
