What’s ousted DA Pamela Price up to now? Making a podcast

Former Alameda County District Lawyer Pamela Value can now add a brand new job title to her resume: podcaster.

Working on a platform of preventing mass incarceration, holding legislation enforcement accountable, and reforming the felony justice system from the within, Value shocked many in 2022 when she was elected DA, beating Terry Wiley, a former assistant district legal professional who had been endorsed by former DA Nancy O’Malley. However from Day 1, Value confronted unrelenting criticism from contained in the DA’s workplace and by activists. 

All through her time period, critics accused Value of being “too lenient” on folks suspected and convicted of crimes and mishandling a number of high-profile instances. Committees backing Value’s ouster raised over $1 million, a lot of which got here from rich people.

On Nov. 5, these efforts succeeded: Of the practically 600,000 votes solid by Alameda County residents, 63% — greater than 375,000 voters — supported Value’s recall.

Final month, Value launched “Pamela Value Unfiltered,” an audio and visible podcast that includes her candid takes on native and nationwide politics, police accountability, and felony justice reform.

The Oaklandside sat down with Value to ask her what she goals to perform along with her new podcast, her reflections on the recall election, and her hopes for the brand new DA. This dialog has been edited for size and readability.

What’s your job title now?

I’m a lawyer. I’m a resident of Alameda County. I’m a political activist. I’m an elected member of the Democratic Occasion. I’m the previous district legal professional of Alameda County, and I’m the host of “Pamela Price Unfiltered.”

It looks like podcasting is a medium many individuals are gravitating towards these days. Why did you resolve to begin a podcast?

There’s a lot data that persons are bombarded with. What a podcast does is it lets you get extra in-depth data. It’s not simply based mostly on the headline.

My purpose is to assist folks navigate the complexities of all of the challenges that we’re going through and the world that we’re dwelling in, which is transferring so quick. I wish to deal with points that affect us, our households, our communities, and attempt to assist people perceive or get a perspective on it, which I believe is essential.

How did you provide you with the thought of beginning a podcast?

It wasn’t truly my thought. A number of folks have been telling me, “It is best to do that or this,” “It is best to write a e book,” “It is best to do a podcast,” “It is best to write.”

I’ve been on the prime of the felony justice system as a prime legislation enforcement official within the county, and I’ve been on the prime of the civil litigation system, having to argue instances in america Supreme Courtroom and the California Supreme Courtroom, so I’ve seen the legislation from each side, whether or not it’s civil or felony, from the very best perches.

I’ve additionally been concerned in politics and have carried out one thing that nobody else did in about 100 years, which is run a marketing campaign and win the election for district legal professional of Alameda County. So there’s worth in these efforts and classes realized from that perspective, and I’ll be capable to share a whole lot of that on “Pamela Value Unfiltered.” We’d like numerous voices in our conversations, and sadly, we don’t have that, significantly within the Bay Space.

What does manufacturing for “Pamela Value Unfiltered” appear to be?

It’s a weekly podcast, so each week we’re bringing thrilling subjects and company — some native, some nationwide. Our first podcast episode was on immigration, which is essential for Alameda County. We’re extraordinarily numerous. I appeared on the analysis, and we’re the fourth-most numerous county within the nation. Our variety goes from the Center East to Africa to Latin America to Afghanistan and Thailand. All of us reside in a bubble as a result of we’re so numerous, and we take it as a right. And that makes us a goal, fairly frankly, on this season. So it was essential to deal with that and the way it’s impacting younger folks in our faculties, which is a really delicate topic.

This week, we’re wanting on the Oakland mayor’s race — how we acquired right here, what’s occurred, and what the indictment [of former Mayor Sheng Thao] says.

If we discuss corruption in Oakland politics, it didn’t simply begin in 2025.

I assumed it was fascinating how, in your first episode, you introduced up the Laken Riley Act, which was the first thing President Trump did in his second time period. The legislation directs U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to deport anybody with out authorized standing who’s charged with minor crimes like shoplifting or theft, in addition to extra severe crimes. That’s a change from ready till the individual is convicted.

In fact. Individuals must know that, and so they haven’t gotten that data on a regular basis.

I bear in mind in early January, my pastor referred to as me and he was alarmed. He stated, “[ICE is] coming into churches.” It’s unhealthy when you may have pastors who’re very frightened for his or her congregations.

There’s a lot that has spiraled out of a story of inhumanity. I’m very upset with what’s taking place in Fremont, the place they mainly made it illegal to feed the hungry and cold. 

Are you able to tease any subjects or company who shall be featured in future episodes?

For March, which is Girls’s Historical past Month, I’m going to have two superb ladies on my podcast. 

We’re going to have a podcast episode on enhancements and a feminine lawyer who is aware of all about that. 

And we’re going to have a podcast episode with Dr. Mia Settles-Tidwell, who has written an incredible e book referred to as “Unscathed: A Harm Reduction Strategy for Women of Color in the Workplace.” It’s about how ladies of colour who’re preventing for social justice go into poisonous environments and are available out unscathed.

Does that second matter resonate with you?

Oh, sure.

Let’s take a step again and take a look at the Nov. 5 election. Practically 63% of voters approved the recall in opposition to you. Are you able to converse to the obvious readiness of so many Alameda County voters to recall you?

The method of the recall, which began instantly after I used to be elected, was about seeding the citizens to get them ready to vote in the best way that they did. And the way do you try this? With misinformation. With amplifying something unfavorable, suppressing details about something optimistic, and weaponizing victims.

I name it “the best Jedi thoughts trick” — persuading folks that somebody who’s a sufferer of sexual harassment, sexual assault, and home violence doesn’t care about victims. I imply, how is that? Some may say it’s gaslighting. I say it’s a Jedi thoughts trick.

We did such superb work on behalf of victims that I’ll all the time be so happy with. And but, the general public was not stored knowledgeable about that, and our efforts to tell them went over folks’s heads.

There was, truthfully, a concerted marketing campaign with an entire lot of cash behind it to form the narrative. And that was a course of. So by the point you bought to November 2024, you had two years of individuals being advised, “Oh no, you possibly can’t have this Black girl answerable for this workplace.”

It’s fascinating that you just described the recall as a “course of.” Are you able to develop on that?

I used to be coping with a backlog of instances. I walked into the workplace on the Sufferer-Witness Help Division, and I used to be like, “Who’s getting providers right here?” Think about this room being stuffed with information strewn in every single place and advocates crying about how unhealthy it was. The requirement that the police give us police reviews inside 10 days wasn’t being tracked or monitored. With out that data, we weren’t capable of present providers to victims, so we needed to create all types of methods. It was actually unhealthy. Within the first quarter, we have been making an attempt to determine tips on how to repair it and get our footing.

Most individuals [in other jobs] get a probationary interval of 90 days, six months, perhaps even a 12 months — we had per week. And instantly, folks have been saying we didn’t know what we have been doing. That was when the assaults began.

I’d say that the county was below assault from Day 1. There was an intense need to not have a progressive Black girl problem the system. The backlash was early and acquired extra intensified.

On election night time, I used to be assigned to cowl the recall marketing campaign’s official watch celebration. I spoke with a number of murder victims’ households who stated they have been upset with you. I noticed some households who have been, fairly frankly, praying in your recall to succeed. These households have clearly been via a whole lot of trauma and had very sturdy emotional reactions to the recall. Is there something you’d prefer to say to them?

I can’t actually converse to their trauma. I didn’t know them. They didn’t know me.

The victims I labored with, and the households I met with, actually appreciated the work we did for them and the truth that we stood with them. Sadly, in our view, these folks, who have been recruited as a part of the recall, turned political actors as a result of they weren’t actually wanting on the info of what we have been truly doing. There was nothing lets say to them, like, “We’re serving to course of your claims. We’re sending advocates to courtroom with you. We’ve acquired inspectors standing by that will help you.”

A few of the instances have been so previous, and I knew that the best way my predecessor [O’Malley] had beforehand dealt with them was inappropriate. There have been individuals who have been charged wrongfully, and we needed to repair that, however people didn’t perceive that. They thought, “You modified the costs.” Effectively, we needed to comply with the proof.

There have been a number of instances the place, if I may’ve sat down with the mom [of the victim] and stated, “Let me stroll you thru how this case acquired right here,” perhaps she would have understood. I believe they have been so politicized at that time — actually by November 2024 — that there was no rational dialog [to be had] with them. Their grievances have been amplified within the media. If you happen to had a grievance, you might stand up and get on the information.

I watched the video the opposite day of my press convention with the household of Rachel Elizabeth Imani Buckner, which was, for my part, probably the most horrific home violence crime on this county, ever. She didn’t get the identical media protection as a result of she was a Black girl. However once we prosecuted that case and efficiently held the person who killed her accountable, the media didn’t cowl that case. I stood on the steps of the courthouse with that household and about 25 of their supporters — and no one lined that.

[Editor’s note: There was news coverage about the trial of Joseph Roberts, who was found guilty of second-degree murder, but some articles didn’t mention Price by name.]

I met with households after I may. I perceive the brand new DA says she’s going to fulfill with each household and each sufferer of a violent crime. I hope the media holds her accountable to that promise.

Talking of the brand new district legal professional, there’s been some chatter about Jones Dickson reorganizing the Public Accountability Unit, which you created in 2023 to prosecute law enforcement officials and different public officers accused of misconduct. What have you ever heard concerning the new DA? And what are your ideas on this “undoing” of your work?

I’ve heard that she’s fired greater than 25 folks. I’ve heard there have been a whole lot of people who didn’t get the chance to make a case about why they have been certified for the place and why they have been employed.

[Editor’s note: We reached out to Jones Dickson’s office asking her about the staffing changes Price mentioned and whether any of Price’s claims are true. The DA’s office told The Oaklandside in an email that Jones Dickson would not be able to respond to Price’s claims by our deadline.]

After we left, my largest concern was the instability of the workplace. We employed 200 folks, and never having the method of choosing the DA was traumatic for everyone within the workplace, not having a transparent dedication from the incoming chief that she wouldn’t hearth these folks was unsettling for many individuals within the workplace.

I employed an excellent group of individuals. They’re very dedicated to working for the residents of Alameda County. We diversified that workforce tremendously, and we introduced folks in who reside or have been raised in Alameda County, so that they’re natives right here and really of the neighborhood. So I hope that legacy shall be revered.

Each DA has the correct to set his or her insurance policies. I had the correct to do mine, regardless that folks felt like that they had the correct to inform me that I couldn’t do it. The very fact is that each district legal professional has the correct to resolve how they wish to set up the workplace.

In my first three months, we fired, perhaps, three folks. In comparison with what’s taking place right here, we took a distinct method. We didn’t are available with a sledgehammer saying, “We’re going to smash folks. We’re going to undo all the things.” We took our time. We did an office-wide survey. We talked to as many individuals as we may for the victim-witness advocates. We did particular person surveys and particular person conversations with every advocate, and acquired their suggestions and what they wanted. I’m proud to say that all the things they requested for, I gave it to them. We made it occur.

Earlier than we adopted the special directive — the coverage on sentencing and charging — we met with the charging deputy and checked out what they have been utilizing, how that they had been skilled, and what their requirements have been. Was there any consistency, and the way have been they being held accountable for his or her resolution? So we took our time, and I believe that’s the mature approach and the easiest way to do it.

[Editor’s note: One of the first things Jones Dickson did was to repeal Price’s special directive. Price’s directive from early 2023 generally prohibited deputy DAs from using enhancements to add time to defendants’ sentences upon conviction of certain crimes.]

Whenever you wish to shield public security, you need to consider what’s working and what’s not working. I actually didn’t are available and say, “On Day 1, I’m going to signal this govt order and undo this.” I imply, it’s Trumpian, proper? That’s not a correct solution to handle a corporation. However all people’s completely different.

Have you ever had any conversations with Jones Dickson?

As soon as the recall handed, I made it clear to the county administrator that we might do our half to ensure there was a clean transition. 

Chief Royl Roberts and I made ourselves accessible to any of the candidates who wished to speak about what was taking place within the workplace. I directed each unit supervisor and department head to arrange a memorandum of the present standing of their unit, what they wanted, what their staffing was, and what their goals have been. I do know that she had entry to these reviews after I left. They have been dated as a result of the method took so lengthy, however not less than there was an overview of what the workplace was doing and the way it was organized.

To my data, she has not reached out to me. She has her personal counsel.

I’ll say the workplace that she left 13 years in the past was very completely different from at this time’s workplace.

[Editor’s note: Jones Dickson was a prosecutor in the DA’s office from 1999 to 2013, before she became a superior court judge.]

Do you may have any hopes, worries, fears, or the rest concerning the present DA’s administration?

Not per se. Public security ought to all the time be on the forefront of any district legal professional’s thoughts. I do know it was on the forefront of my administration.

I believe you need to consider that from a broad lens of, how do you shield public security? There’s not one solution to do something, proper? 

I believe the local weather wherein the workplace now operates may be very completely different. The Racial Justice Act is obligatory and must be complied with. The resentencing laws should be complied with. 

[Editor’s note: The Racial Justice Act, AB 2542, strengthened defendants’ ability to challenge convictions that may have been influenced by racial bias. The resentencing laws Price is referring to allow courts to resentence defendants to shorter terms if their prior sentence is found to be unduly harsh or not in the interest of justice.]

There’s now a push for restorative justice. All of the legal guidelines for felony justice reform that have been handed within the final 15 years do apply to the Alameda County DA’s Workplace, and implementing these legal guidelines does require somebody with a dedication to civil rights, police accountability, victims’ providers, and ensuring that the administration of justice is truthful.

In order that’s my hope: that they received’t return to the times when the group was dominated by white males and the DA turned a blind eye to police misconduct. I’d hate to see our county return to the times when folks have been excluded from juries based mostly on their race or faith. 

Hopefully, we received’t return there.

Are you able to say a little bit extra concerning the reforms you’re speaking about?

Sure. California has Proposition 57, which stops district attorneys from charging juveniles as adults. The info confirmed that it was principally Black and brown juveniles who have been being charged as adults.

Whenever you take a look at LWOP — life with out the potential of parole sentences — in Alameda County, it’s a really racist utility. I hope we received’t return to that.

[Editor’s note: Price is correct that studies have found racial disparities in life without parole sentences, especially for Black juvenile defendants.]

That jogs my memory of Prop. 36, which critics say brings us again to the period of mass incarceration in California. What are your ideas on that?

Prop. 36 has the hazard of criminalizing drug dependancy, and that will be extraordinarily backward for a state like California.

I believe folks don’t notice the unintended impacts of public insurance policies once they cross them. This goes again to your query concerning the victims who have been praying for the recall — whenever you make public coverage based mostly on concern, ache or grief, it often seems unhealthy.

Take a look at the Laken Riley Act. This younger girl was brutally murdered, and based mostly on folks’s outrage, they wrote the Laken Riley Act. It’s unhealthy public coverage.

Having a recall earlier than the DA truly has the possibility to unpack her baggage can be unhealthy public coverage. It has thrown the whole system in turmoil. It has set us again as a result of whether or not we’ll ever get an opportunity to elect one other district legal professional is questionable.