Chesa Boudin
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About Chesa
Boudin's research focuses on criminal law and procedure. Overarching themes in Boudin's writings include criminal justice reform, the impact of incarceration on children and families, the progressive prosecutor movement, and the intersection between public health and criminal justice. Boudin previously served as the elected district attorney of San Francisco, and a public defender. He serves numerous boards, including the Prison Law Office, and was the founding chair of the board at Civil Rights Corps. Boudin is the founding executive director of Berkeley's Criminal Law & Justice Center, a policy and advocacy hub.
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Proposes to move away from an all or nothing focus on pleas or jury trials and to reframe criminal procedure in a way that emphasizes robust pretrial adjudication. Highlights various legal proceedings—such as grand juries, preliminary hearings, and witness depositions—that can strengthen the criminal process before a trial.
Explores the unique risks climate change and extreme heat pose to jails, prisons, and the people who live and work in them.
Shares findings from the first ever survey of prison visitation policies in all fifty states. This article led to multiple states changing policies to expand access to visitation.
Describes the vast population of children with incarcerated parents. The central argument reframes sentencing law and prison visitation policy through the lens of children’s rights, rather than the traditional frame of prisoners’ rights.
Traces the roots of South Africa's laws criminalizing sex work to apartheid and argues that continued criminalization of voluntary sex work is wasteful and destructive.
A travel memoir that combines a personal journey and adventure travel through the lens of Latin American politics.