Jeff Rosen

Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen is a nationally recognized leader in criminal justice reform. His changes to one of the largest prosecutorial offices in the country include: reducing the jail population, diversion programs for non-violent offenders, expungements for low level drug crimes, prison reform, and promoting the highest ethical prosecution standards. This, all while keeping crime at its lowest rate in decades, by vigorously and successfully prosecuting murderers, rapists, drug traffickers, domestic violence abusers, child molesters, corporate polluters, and those who commit fraud against the elderly. 

Since 2011, Mr. Rosen has overseen the largest prosecutor's office north of Los Angeles, serving a population of almost two million. The District Attorney's Office has over 620 employees, including 190 deputy district attorneys. 

From gang homicides to human trafficking to cyber-crime, the DA’s Office prosecutes tens of thousands of cases in court each year and diverts thousands of others to achieve justice inside and outside of court. Under Mr. Rosen’s leadership, the Office is more diverse than ever, with women comprising just over 50% of prosecutors and African-American, Hispanic, Asian-American, and LGBTQIA+ individuals representing more than 40% of the prosecutors. 

Mr. Rosen’s administration has successfully prosecuted many notable cases, including: 

- The Los Gatos woman for hosting drunken parties for young teens and facilitating sexual acts. 

- Former County Supervisor George Shirakawa for stealing public funds. 

- The Nuestra Familia criminal street gang for murder, drug trafficking, and robbery. 

- Three correctional officers who beat to death mentally ill inmate, Michael Tyree. 

- The kidnapper and killer of 15-year-old Sierra Lamar. 

- The nation’s largest mushroom grower in a multi-million dollar judgment for water pollution. 

- Numerous sex traffickers of women and children, which called for the creation of the LEIHT Human Trafficking Task Force. 

- Stanford swimmer Brock Turner for sexually assaulting an unconscious young woman. Inspired by the Brock Turner conviction, Mr. Rosen released Chanel Miller’s powerful victim impact statement that was read by millions. Releasing the statement helped change the law in California to ensure appropriate prison sentences for those convicted of sexually assaulting unconscious victims, in addition to intoxicated and conscious victims. 

Mr. Rosen has received numerous awards, including: the Justice Award from the Northern California Innocence Project, the Wester Sweet Award for Legal Activism from the NAACP, the Unity Award from the Minority Bar Coalition, special recognition as an early member and strong supporter of the National Asian and Pacific Islanders Prosecutors’ Association, the Guardian Award from Freedom House for anti-human trafficking leadership, the Pacifica Institute’s Iftar Speaker’s Series, and the Human Rights and Justice Award from the National Council of Jewish Women.