San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins criticized pretrial release policies that allow repeat drug offenders back on the streets, arguing the system encourages recidivism and erodes public safety.
Jenkins spoke at a community meeting, pointing to the Tenderloin district as an example where the same individuals are “rotating through our courtrooms, on our streets” because the law does not hold habitual offenders accountable.
She described current practices as untenable, saying authorities cannot live in a society where people repeatedly break the law without serious consequences.
In defending her stance, Jenkins acknowledged the tension with the presumption of innocence, but insisted that for those clearly demonstrating they will not follow the law, the justice system must intervene more decisively.
Her remarks break with many in her own party who oppose tougher pretrial detentions, drawing sharp reactions from the public defender’s office, which accused her of fearmongering and undermining judicial independence.