Alameda County voters will decide the possible recall of District Attorney Pamela Price for her efforts on criminal justice reform.
Price was elected less than two years ago and promised to lower the incarceration rate, especially among young black men. She said she would not use enhancements to increase prison sentences that she said disproportionately affect people of color.
The start of Price’s term in 2023 also coincided with an increase in crime, with Alameda County seeing double-digit percentage increases in violent and property crimes. Price sparked immediate criticism for her refusal to pursue more serious charges in several cases, which her opponents argued created a “catch and release” system.
Just three months into her term, Price defended herself against criticism over her handling of a case involving the suspects in the 2021 gang-related fatal shooting of 23-month-old Jasper Wu on Interstate Highway 880 in Oakland.
Weeks later, the family of a Pleasanton Home Depot employee was shot and killed by a shoplifter in April 2023 held a press conference to denounce Price and her decision to pursue lesser charges and convictions in the case.
In June 2023, the family of a newlywed couple from San Lorenzo were killed in a roadside shooting spoke out against Price after her office declined to try the 17-year-old suspect as an adult.
And in July of that year, Price was confronted during a heated community meeting about the increase in crime on the same day, the Oakland chapter of the NAACP said the increase in crime was partly due to its “failed leadership.”
Supporters of Price say her opponents have exploited crime victims for political gain and also held public displays of support for the district attorney. sometimes clashing with recall supporters. Opponents of a recall vote included high-profile Bay Area Democrats Barbara Lee and Senator Nancy Skinner, who called the process undemocratic.
But other top Democrats have publicly expressed their disagreements with Price. Earlier this year, Governor Gavin Newsom said he had withdrawn an offer to send prosecutors to help with the district attorney’s files because of what he typified the uncooperative attitude of an officean assertion that Price disputed. The recall campaign also got a boost last month from Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin) who publicly expressed his support like Price’s predecessor, former District Attorney Nancy O’Malley.
Price has said she is committed to repairing decades of mismanagement in the district attorney’s office, as well as compassionate justice and reforming a criminal justice system she says is marred by racism. She argued that she did not have a chance to do the job she was elected to do alleged that the recall campaign was funded by what it called wealthy real estate and business interests outside the city.
Proponents submitted enough validated signatures in April to trigger the recall election. If the recall is successful, the county Board of Supervisors would appoint an interim district attorney until voters choose a new top prosecutor in 2026.
