The criminal justice landscape in Alameda County is witnessing an overhaul as District Attorney Pamela Price ushers in two new divisions to address gender-related crimes and broader justice issues. Last Friday, DA Price announced the launch of the Gender Justice Division and the Advancing Justice Division within the Alameda County District Attorney's Office, according to an official press release on the DA's website.
"Gender is often a feature of power dynamics, including the abuse of power, which can lead to assaultive behavior, sexual exploitation and violent confrontations in our communities," DA Price explained. After taking office in January 2023, she researched innovative strategies in other jurisdictions. She drew inspiration for the new Gender Justice Division during a planning phase that included consultations with Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez and his Chief Deputy Michelle Kaminsky.
The reorganization's blueprint includes the previously established Anti-Slavery Prosecution Unit (ASPU), spearheaded in November 2023, to combat human exploitation crimes. December marked a consolidation phase for these crimes under the jurisdiction of ASPU, further integrating efforts to combat gender-based violence. DA Price entrusted the operation of the DA’s Gender Justice Division to Senior Deputy District Attorney Justin Kollar, revealing that this division would encompass several specialized units such as the Sexual Assault Unit, the Family Justice Center, the Victim Witness Division, and the Domestic Violence Prosecution Units.
Tiffaney Gibson, who boasts twenty-eight years within the legal trenches, including nine in Alameda's DA's office, is set to steer the Advancing Justice Division. This segment will group the Juvenile Justice Division, Collaborative Courts, the Civil Rights Bureau, and the Consumer Justice Bureau. Price expressed her enthusiasm for leading with innovative and equitable prosecution strategies to tackle some of the county's most egregious issues. "I appreciate the leadership of both District Attorneys Gibson and Kollar as they have stepped up to help us implement a new vision of justice for our office and our County, as well as the Bureau and Unit leaders who will help them lift up our office and serve the people who live, work and play in Alameda County," she said via the Alameda County District Attorney's Office press release.
