Former victim advocates speak out about Boudin’s incompetence and mismanagement of the Victim Services Division and the devastating impact on victims of crime
San Francisco, Calif. – Today, the Democrat-led Safer SF Without Boudin campaign, a diverse coalition of community leaders, small business owners, and families working to recall San Francisco District Attorney Chesa Boudin, was shocked to learn that nearly half of the office’s victims’ advocates have left under Boudin, leaving victims and families of victims of crime without the support they deserve. The San Francisco Chronicle broke a bombshell story earlier today where two former victim advocates who served under Boudin, Jessica Zasola and Edgar Zamudio, and an anonymous source still working in the division, all claim that Chesa is failing victims and the families of victims of crime.
The Victim Services Division (VSD) of the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office is charged with providing support and assistance to victims and their families in the aftermath of a crime, during criminal prosecution, and after a verdict is reached. Since Boudin has taken office, a devastating 20 out of 42 victims advocates have left under his watch.
Former victim advocate Jessica Frances Zuasola said to the San Francisco Chronicle: “In the transition to Chesa, it became less and less about keeping the victims involved. They were hardly getting calls. Marsy’s rights were constantly being violated.” Zuasola continued in the article: “Victims should be the main concern. And at this point, they aren’t”
For nearly seven years, the division was run by Dr. Gena Castro Rodriguez, an experienced psychologist and therapist. But like many of her colleagues, Castro Rodriguez resigned under Boudin’s failed leadership. With her departure, the Victim Services Division lost a strong leader and years of institutional knowledge. Boudin named a new head of the division, Assistant District Attorney Kasie Lee, a former public defender with no clinical or previous direct experience serving victims.
“The District Attorney’s Office is a sinking ship under Boudin. More than 60 attorneys have left since he assumed office. Now, more than half of the office’s victim advocates have left, leaving victims hanging out to dry without the support they deserve,” said Brooke Jenkins, former San Francisco assistant district attorney and volunteer spokesperson for Safer SF Without Boudin. “To make matters worse, their replacements often have little to no experience in their field. This is a clear sign of mismanagement within the District Attorney’s Office. San Franciscans are left to pay the price, and we’re working every day to ensure Chesa’s last day in office is June 7.”
Victim advocates left the office in droves because they felt that victims were not being well served by Boudin. Another former victim advocate, Edgar Zamudio, who resigned said, “he grew tired of seeing victims, many of them low-income Spanish-speaking immigrants, not included in case settlements or not informed their alleged perpetrators had been quickly released upon arrest – often because he hadn’t been told himself.”
Every day, more San Franciscans and victims of crime hurt by Boudin’s incompetence, and mismanagement of his office. Boudin is failing at his job and San Francisco deserves better.
Safer SF Without Boudin is the only official campaign to recall DA Boudin. The campaign submitted approximately 83,487 signatures – 30,000 more than required – to the San Francisco Department of Elections to place the recall on the June 7, 2022, primary ballot. To recall Boudin, voters should vote YES on Measure H. For more information about Safer SF Without Boudin and to join the campaign to create a safer San Francisco, please visit: https://www.safersfwithoutboudin.com.
Post based on press release to ZENNIE62MEDIA, INC.
Safer SF Without Boudin is the only official campaign to recall DA Boudin. The campaign submitted approximately 83,487 signatures – 30,000 more than required – to the San Francisco Department of Elections to place the recall on the June 7, 2022, primary ballot. To recall Boudin, voters should vote YES on Measure H. For more information about Safer SF Without Boudin and to join the campaign to create a safer San Francisco, please visit: https://www.safersfwithoutboudin.com.