What is it?

This is an ordinance that will create a pilot program for a new Office of Victim and Witness Rights, which will provide "comprehensive services to victims and witnesses." It also establishes a right to civil counsel for victims of domestic violence.

Legislative digest (PDF) (not available as of 05/02/22)
Full legal text (PDF)

Why is this on the ballot?

This is on the ballot because the Supervisors could not find enough votes to make it a law via the Board of Supervisors, so the Supervisors took it to the voters.

Sponsor: Supervisor Catherine Stefani
Cosponsors: Supervisors Matt Haney, Rafael Mandelman, and Ahsha Safai
View vote details on legistar

Why vote yes?

Victims of domestic violence deserve a right to counsel, and Prop D provides it. Currently, victims of violent crimes often lack the resources and access to lawyers to defend their rights and seek justice. This new office will ensure that all victims of domestic violence will receive legal counsel, translation services, and other "comprehensive services."

In addition to counsel for domestic violence victims, it also establishes a new Office of Victim and Witness Rights that will advocate for and provide services to victims and witnesses of all types of crime. This will ensure victims are not left behind by the justice system and they receive the support necessary to obtain justice and return to their lives.

One extra note: typically, GrowSF will oppose ordinances that create new departments because, by San Francisco law, the only way to reform laws created by ballot measures is yet another ballot measure. However, this ordinance explicitly grants the Board of Supervisors full authority to "modify the duties of the Office [of Victim and Witness Rights]" by a majority vote. This is the correct way to introduce laws at the ballot box.