District Attorney Jeff Rosen’s Criminal Justice Reforms, Special Units, and Task Forces

District Attorney Resentencing Law

In partnership with criminal justice activists, DA Rosen sponsored and lobbied the state legislature to pass a historic and nationally recognized law (AB2942) that empowers prosecutors to facilitate the early prison release of inmates who have rehabilitated themselves and "where further confinement is no longer in the interest of justice." This impactful law has already resulted in the prison release of dozens of individuals who have become productive and law-abiding members of our society.

Conviction Integrity Unit

DA Rosen has created an innovative, first of its kind, and nationally acclaimed Conviction Integrity Unit to investigate innocence claims and implement the most professional and ethical practices in criminal prosecution, including double-blind eyewitness identification, Open File Discovery, a Brady Committee to investigate police officer misconduct, a collateral consequences policy to prevent undocumented individuals from deportation for low-level offenses, and a model protocol for the independent, objective, and transparent investigation of police officer-involved shootings.

Worker Exploitation Task Force

A key way to fight discrimination against immigrant communities is a task force DA Rosen created that launches targeted investigations to protect and heal the victims of labor trafficking, wage theft, and illegal exploitation and raise awareness about how these insidious crimes negatively impact our communities of color.

The Cold Case Unit

DA Jeff Rosen kept his campaign promise to revive the Cold Case Unit to give hope to the families of victims of crime. He did so vigorously. By using the most advanced DNA technology to investigate unsolved murders and rapes the unit has solved dozens of cases and brought closure to long-suffering families.

The Human Trafficking Unit

Between July 2019 and June 2020, DA Rosen’s Human Trafficking Unit filed charges against 80 defendants and achieved a 97% conviction rate. Just as important – 83 victims were provided advocate support and other services to help them heal and move forward. In addition, DA Investigators partnered with Alcohol Beverage Control to identify labor traffickers exploiting employees at several liquor retail stores. DA investigators also worked with the Milpitas Police, FBI, and State Department to dismantle an organization operating a network of brothels with trafficked women in San Jose, Milpitas, and South San Francisco. Investigators rescued and freed several trafficked women.

A Pro-Active Victim’s Services Unit

Under Mr. Rosen's leadership, the DA's Office created a Victim Services Unit to provide court support, counseling, funeral expenses, emergency housing assistance, restitution, and other services to thousands of crime victims each year.

Community Prosecutors

DA Rosen dispatched a team of Community Prosecutors into underserved neighborhoods to work with local non-profits and leaders to reduce youth crime, graffiti, vandalism, gang activity and truancy family justice.

DA Rosen created a series of Family Justice Centers staffed with multi-disciplinary professionals throughout the County, to make sure that domestic violence survivors have easier access to legal help, shelter, food, and counseling.

Gilroy Strong Resiliency Center

In the aftermath of the mass shooting at the Gilroy Garlic Festival, he created the Gilroy Strong Resiliency Center, the first on the West Coast, to help the community address ongoing trauma.

VTA Victim’s Family Assistance Center

Within six hours of the 2021 mass shooting at the Valley Transportation Authority railyard in San Jose, the DA’s Office authorized the opening of a Family Assistance Center staffed by mental health professionals, victim advocates, claims specialists for victim compensation programs, and the DA himself. The FAC served more than 130 people.

The Parent Project

DA Rosen implemented the twelve-week Parent Project® course, completed by thousands of local families, to keep young people out of the criminal justice system by helping parents of troubled teens strengthen their families. Worker Exploitation Task Force

A key way to fight discrimination against immigrant communities is a task force that launches targeted investigations to protect and heal the victims of labor trafficking, wage theft, and illegal exploitation and raise awareness about how these insidious crimes negatively impact our communities of color.