National Human Trafficking Prevention Month Proclamation
Proclamation
Alameda County Board of Supervisors
National Human Trafficking Prevention Month
January 2026
WHEREAS, human trafficking is a grave human rights violation and a form of modern-day slavery that strips adults and children of autonomy, safety, and dignity through force, fraud, or coercion; and
WHEREAS, Alameda County remains a hot spot for human trafficking in the United States, requiring a coordinated countywide response that is firm in accountability, unwavering in compassion, and centered on survivor autonomy; and
WHEREAS, in 2024, the National Human Trafficking Hotline received 3,378 signals from California, identifying 1,733 potential cases and 3,603 potential victims, and received 32,309 signals nationwide, identifying 11,999 potential cases and 21,865 potential victims—demonstrating the pervasive and ongoing harm of human trafficking and the urgent need for survivor-centered, prevention-driven responses; and
WHEREAS, survivors of human trafficking are not defined by their exploitation, but by their strength, resilience, and inherent right to live free from violence, exploitation, and control. Human trafficking disproportionately targets and harms historically marginalized communities, including Black, Indigenous, Latino, and other people of color; Asian American and Pacific Islander communities; women and girls; LGBTQIA+ individuals—particularly transgender individuals; and those living at the intersections of poverty, racism, xenophobia, and gender-based violence; and
WHEREAS, Alameda County data demonstrates that survivors are disproportionately Black, Indigenous, and people of color, and that more than half have experienced foster care, while Asian American survivors remain undercounted due to systemic barriers and limited access to trusted reporting pathways; and
WHEREAS, survivors from immigrant communities—including, but not limited to, Asian American and Pacific Islander and Latino communities—are frequently underrepresented in trafficking data due to language barriers, immigration-related fears, cultural stigma, labor exploitation in informal or isolated workplaces, and limited access to culturally and linguistically appropriate services; and
WHEREAS, traffickers exploit survivors in industries such as agriculture, hospitality, construction, domestic work, personal services, and online platforms by weaponizing unmet needs for housing, safety, employment, and belonging. The continued existence of human trafficking in California demands a comprehensive, prevention-driven response and recognizing that trafficking is a preventable form of violence; and
WHEREAS, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office works in sustained partnership with survivor-led and community-based organizations to provide holistic, survivor-centered support that advances healing, restoration, and access to resources; and
WHEREAS, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office Victim Witness Assistance Division includes highly trained advocates with specialized expertise in supporting survivors of human trafficking through trauma-informed, culturally responsive, language-accessible, and immigration-sensitive advocacy, in close coordination with community-based organizations to prevent re-trafficking and promote long-term stability and self-determination; and
WHEREAS, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office in conjunction with the Alameda County Board of Supervisors and community partners have broken the silence surrounding human trafficking and prevented countless incidences of abuse and exploitation, and remain dedicated to treating trafficking survivors with compassion and dignity and provide wrap-around services to support their journey of healing and empowerment
THEREFORE, that this Board of Supervisors, County of Alameda, does hereby recognize January 2026 as National Human Trafficking Prevention Month, and reaffirms its commitment to a survivor-centered, prevention-driven approach that advances dignity, safety, healing, and long-term stability for all individuals impacted by human trafficking.
Official Statement from Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson Regarding the Death of Renee Nicole Good
January 13, 2026
The death of Renee Nicole Good is a tragedy that we all mourn. We pray for her family and friends as they move through this season of grief.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office evaluates every case on the strength of the evidence and whether, or not, the case can be prosecuted.
We are guided by the principle that no one is above the law, including federal agents.
-DA Ursula Jones Dickson
Fremont: 93-Year-Old Man Who Allegedly Shot His Wife Charged With Murder
Official Statement from Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson
Statement from District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson:
December 12, 2025
This moment is one of the most solemn and difficult in my career, and I know it is infinitely more so for the family and loved ones of Steven Taylor. I have met with Steven’s family multiple times, most recently this week. Their pain is not abstract; it is palpable. Their unwavering cry for justice for Steven is not just heard by this office—it is understood, and it resonates deep within the heart of this institution.
The greatest honor of my job is offering solace and helping victims and their families navigate the crushing challenges of loss. Conversely, the deepest agony is when I cannot deliver the resolution and certainty they so desperately deserve. After the most extensive and deliberate evaluation, I must share a profoundly difficult decision. As your District Attorney, I swore an oath to be fair and impartial, to follow prosecutorial ethics, and to uphold the law—and I will never play politics with justice. As tempting as it may be to seek any outcome that might ease the grief of a family, I will not put my finger on the scales of justice to engineer an unjust result.
The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office has filed a motion to dismiss the case People v. Fletcher, docket 20-CR-011755. This request, filed on December 9, 2025, to be heard today, December 12, 2025, is a conclusion founded purely on a meticulous, objective evaluation of the evidence and the applicable law.
My mission is to rebuild an office that truly embodies the spirit of Marsy’s Law—one that fiercely protects the rights of victims. But that commitment must be balanced by the ethical and legal mandates that all prosecutors swear to uphold.
This case was inherited by my administration, initially charged with manslaughter on September 2, 2020. Even the judge who heard the preliminary examination in July 2021, while finding the legal standard of probable cause was met, explicitly commented on the weakness of the evidence, stating that he did not believe a jury would find the defendant guilty beyond a reasonable doubt, which is the required standard for trial.
The unfortunate procedural history of this case cannot be ignored. On March 22, 2024, the Price Administration was recused from this prosecution because the previous District Attorney was operating outside the appropriate legal function, effectively treating this case as a political matter. These actions made it fundamentally impossible to ensure Mr. Fletcher would receive a fair trial.
Following the recall and my subsequent appointment as District Attorney, the recusal was reviewed. On September 12,2025, the recusal was withdrawn and the prosecution returned to this office.
It is an absolute truth that the loss of Steven Taylor’s life is a tragedy. However, this office cannot prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a crime was committed. Our comprehensive review of the evidence brought to light a deeply troubling and fundamental ethical violation: exculpatory evidence was withheld from the defense by prosecutors operating under the immediate previous administration. Prosecutorial ethics and established discovery laws demand that we provide all evidence that tends to show a defendant did not commit a crime. This obligation is non-negotiable. We discovered that prior prosecutors consulted with at least three separate expert witnesses.
- Two of these experts asserted that former Officer Fletcher committed a justified homicide due to the threat of imminent harm;
- The third expert, while more nuanced, also concluded that Fletcher acted reasonably when provided with all the facts.
The expert statements and reports are profoundly exculpatory and were withheld from the defense. Furthermore, the defense’s own expert reached the same conclusion: justified homicide.
The existence of this evidence cannot be disregarded. The prior prosecutors under the Price administration responsible for this ethical breach no longer work here. In a recent hearing, which was prompted by the defense’s motion to dismiss, when questioned about the handling of this exculpatory evidence, they invoked their Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination to insulate themselves from the possibility of criminal prosecution.
The people of Alameda County deserve and expect a justice system that follows the law in every case, without exception. I understand the history. This case was charged and compromised before I arrived. But it is my solemn obligation to evaluate the facts before us now. And those facts, including the statements from civilian witnesses, expert opinions, and the ethical failures that tainted this case, are simply not sufficient to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. We will not prosecute persons where the evidence is insufficient. Criminal prosecution must never be used for political expediency or personal bias.
This decision is not a reflection of a lack of compassion; it is a profound declaration of our commitment to the Rule of Law. I hope that all parties involved in this devastating matter may find a path toward healing.
Alameda County District Attorney Ursula Jones Dickson
Contact: damedia@acgov.org