San Joaquin County District Attorney Ron Freitas Proactively Implements Race-Blind Charging Initiative

Stockton, CA - Under the proactive leadership of District Attorney Ron Freitas, the San Joaquin County District Attorney's Office is proud to announce the early adoption of a "Race-Blind Charging" policy. The Office is testing this week and will be fully operational by December 20, 2024. This initiative, mandated by California's Assembly Bill 2778, will make San Joaquin County one of only two DA’s Offices fully operational in the state, positioning District Attorney Freitas and his administration as leaders in criminal justice reform in the Central Valley.

What is Race-Blind Charging?

Race-blind charging means prosecutors make charging decisions without knowing anyone's race, aiming to eliminate bias by:

- Redacting racial identifiers.

- Reviewing cases based on evidence alone.

A Statement from DA Ron Freitas:

"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. 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."

About AB 2778:

Assembly Bill 2778 requires all prosecution agencies to adopt race-blind charging to combat systemic biases. DA Freitas has positioned San Joaquin County as an example for others by implementing this policy ahead of the legal deadline.