Education
Georgetown University Public Policy Institute Fellow at the Center for Juvenile Justice Reform, June 2012.
University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley School of Law, Juris Doctorate, May 1997.
University of California at Berkeley, Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and African American Studies (with Honors), May 1994.
Legal Experience
Alameda County District Attorney’s Office, Assistant District Attorney (2012-Present) and Deputy District Attorney (1997-2012)
- Jennifer heads the Human Exploitation and Trafficking Unit (H.E.A.T.) and supervises H.E.A.T Watch, a 5 point strategy to combat Human Trafficking. She manages a team of trial attorneys and staff who prosecute traffickers and trains law enforcement and community members throughout the country about the signs of Human Trafficking and how the community can positively respond and assist survivors. Additionally, Jennifer serves on the Executive Board of the City of Oakland Commercially Sexually Exploited Children (CSEC) Task Force.
- Previously, Jennifer led in the development of Girls Court, a gender-specific court at the Juvenile Justice Center, served on the Gender Responsive Task Force and led in the development of the Young Women’s Saturday Program and SafetyNet, a weekly collaborative case review for juvenile victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Prior assignments include negotiating 75-100 cases in court on a daily basis as the head of a misdemeanor trial team for four years, managing a team of trial attorneys and law clerks, vertically handling domestic violence cases and trying 31 cases to verdict.
Prior to passing the California Bar Examination in 1997, Jennifer assisted in a class action lawsuit representing the interests of inmates under the Texas Department of Criminal Justice which alleged claims of medical neglect and physical and sexual abuse. In addition, she handled administrative claims for denied claimants in the Social Security system.
Community Leadership and Service
City of Oakland Public Safety and Services Commission, Vice-Chair (Present)
The Links, Inc., Alameda Contra Costa Chapter, Member of the Executive Board (Present)
Charlotte Maxwell Clinic for low-income women with cancer, 18- year volunteer (Present)
West Oakland YMCA Board of Managers (2011-2012)
California Association of Black Lawyers, Life Member and Past President (2009-2010)
Charles Houston Bar Association, Past President (2005-2007)
Other present and past memberships include the East Bay La Raza Lawyers Association, Asian American Prosecutors Association, Minority Bar Coalition, Women Lawyers of Alameda County, The Bar Association of San Francisco and the Alameda County Bar Association.
