News & Events

Today, a graduation ceremony was held at the California Central District’s United States Courthouse in Los Angeles for 10 people who successfully completed the Conviction and Sentence Alternatives (CASA) Program. The event was held in the ceremonial courtroom and presided over by the Hon. Dolly Gee, U.S. District Court Judge, Hon. Paul Abrams, U.S. Magistrate Judge, and Hon. Virginia Phillips, Chief U.S. District Judge. Friends and family attended the graduation ceremony. Staff from the Federal Public Defender’s Office for the Central District of California attended […]..

UCLA School of Law Professor (and former Deputy Federal Public Defender for the Central District of California) Ingrid Eagly has been honored with UCLA’s Distinguished Teaching Award, the highest honor for academic instruction at the university. Eagly, the faculty director of UCLA Law’s David J. Epstein Program in Public Interest Law and Policy, is one of six professors to receive the honor in 2017. The Distinguished Teaching Award was first granted in 1961. It aims to inspire students and faculty by shining a light on […]..

Since its inception in 2005, STAR has worked with more than 100 participants and has successfully graduated 45 individuals...

STAR has a 3-phase structure. Participants “phase up” based on their performance in the program, including participating in substance abuse and/or mental health treatment; attending court sessions and self-help meetings...

All STAR participant treatments plans are individualized based on the participant’s specific needs...

As a STAR participant, you will be expected to attend weekly STAR court sessions, remain in contact with probation and, perhaps most importantly, you must make every effort to remain clean and sober.  In addition to random drug testing, you are expected to engage in some form of drug treatment or therapy, attend at least three 12-Step meetings per week such as AA or NA, secure a sponsor, and seek employment or educational opportunities.  At least once a month, the entire STAR program also participates […]..

No.  In order to participate in STAR, you will need to resolve any pending violations with your sentencing judge before you begin our program.  However, you may want to apply to STAR and observe court sessions before any violation hearing or before your sentencing hearing for a violation so that your judge may take this into consideration when determining what sanctions, if any, you should serve before commencing STAR. To observe STAR, contact Joyce Delaney.  In Los Angeles, STAR meets the first two Thursdays of […]..

The STAR-LA team is comprised of United States District Judge, Otis D. Wright, II, and United States Magistrate Judge, Rozella A. Oliver; U.S. Probation Officers Kristie Rzonca, Susie Rodriguez, and Shane Williams; Assistant U.S. Attorneys Timothy Searight and Laura Alexander; FPD Collaborative Courts Chief Neha Chisterna and Deputy Federal Public Defender Deb Gonzalez, FPD MSW De Anna Dove, FPD Paralegal Joyce Delaney; and therapists Lance Daur and Tina Posey. The STAR-Riverside team is comprised of United States District Judge Kenly Kiya Kato, and United States […]..

You should discuss your decision with one of the assigned Deputy Federal Public Defender...

In addition to the requirements listed above, and your completion of the three phases of the program, all STAR graduates must maintain at least six months of uninterrupted sobriety, attend regular twelve-step meetings, work with a sponsor or other mentor, have stable living conditions, and present a relapse prevention plan.  Upon graduation, your term of supervised release is reduced by one year.  If you have more than one year left of supervised release after you graduate, you will return to regular supervision until your term […]..