FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 4, 2025
Contact:
Ashley Chambers, Ella Baker Center, comms@ellabakercenter.org, 925-953-2302
Alameda County DA Accountability Table Calls Out DA Ursula Jones Dickson for Reversing Resentencing on Death Penalty Cases
Oakland, CA—The Alameda County District Attorney Accountability Table (ACDA Accountability Table) is calling for answers and accountability from DA Ursula Jones Dickson after she reversed resentencing recommendations on multiple death row cases, sending a message that racism in Alameda County’s criminal justice system will go unchallenged.
Alameda County DA Dickson’s move to withdraw offers for resentencing reversed recommendations from former DA Pamela Price to rectify systemic prosecutorial misconduct. The ACDA Accountability Table released the following statement:
This reversal of resentencing death penalty cases from Alameda County DA Dickson undermines community trust and sends a dangerous message: racism in the DA’s office will continue to reign.
DA Dickson is choosing to ignore racial justice and is allowing a clear violation of the U.S. Constitution to continue. This isn’t just about death row—it’s about whether the law applies equally to all people, or whether racism will go unchecked in the name of “tough on crime” politics.
Data shows that Black people make up 71% of people sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole (LWOP) in Alameda County, while only representing 10% of the county population.
The rescinding of these offers directly targets an initiative put into place to respond to a 2024 Judicial order that mandated the Alameda County DA’s office to review all death penalty cases in response to evidence of prosecutor misconduct, including anti-Black and anti-Jewish discrimination.
The misconduct and convictions spanned decades and are still impacting people today. Justice is still being denied. A federal judge ordered a review of these death penalty cases, and DA Dickson’s action threatens compliance and resolution of the issues the federal court found.
The ACDA Accountability Table calls on DA Dickson to offer a public explanation of how the Alameda County DA’s office intends to address known constitutional violations. How will you comply with the federal judicial order? What are you doing to address racial disparities?
The people of Alameda County deserve to know how the District Attorney’s office is upholding the values of our community.
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