San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins faced criticism this week after a detailed cost analysis revealed that prosecuting the August 2024 Golden Gate Bridge protest may have cost taxpayers between $576,000 and $653,000. The analysis, compiled by protester‑turned‑software engineer Nicky Gott, tallied expenses for arrest, charging, trial, and public defense.
How the costs were calculated
Gott’s 15‑page spreadsheet used conservative estimates of salaries for prosecutors, judges, jurors, sheriff’s deputies and courthouse staff, arriving at $218,000‑$255,000 for the trial phase. Defense costs, based on figures supplied by the public‑appointed lawyers, added roughly $282,000. The total does not include investigative salaries, pre‑trial attorneys, or future incarceration costs, which could exceed $127,000 per inmate per year.
Legal experts weigh in
Stanford Law professors John Donohue and Robert Weisberg called the figures plausible but noted they lack context. Weisberg described the analysis as “intellectually honest” yet warned that the raw dollar amount alone is not shocking, since criminal justice always incurs costs. George Fisher, who runs Stanford’s criminal prosecution clinic, said a proper study would separate extra taxpayer outlays from fixed courthouse staffing costs.
DA’s rationale
Jenkins declined to comment on Gott’s numbers but reiterated her belief that the prosecution sent a clear message: illegal bridge blockades will not be tolerated. “It isn’t about incarcerating people for an excessive period of time,” she said. “It’s about finding the right form of accountability for what took place on that bridge.” She also argued that the protest caused additional losses, such as missed toll revenue and wages for bridge workers.
Potential alternatives
Critics noted that the lengthy jury trial could have been avoided had defendants accepted a plea deal. According to defense attorney John Viola, Jenkins offered two plea options—one involving a felony plea with 60 days of sheriff‑run labor, and another with misdemeanor pleas and 90 days of labor—but the offers were rejected.
Impact on future protests
While most of the 26 defendants saw charges dismissed or received minor misdemeanor convictions, seven went to trial and received 30‑day jail sentences. Those seven plan to appeal. The case highlights the tension between deterring unlawful protests and managing public‑fund expenditures, a balance that the DA’s office says is essential for public safety and order.
Original reporting: Mission Local — read the source article.
