How does your county compare? Graded by injustice density: cases per capita on the Top 100 list.
See What Your County PAID → All 58 DA Scorecard → All 58 Defender System Scorecard → Interactive Heat Map →San Mateo County has 1.9% of California's population but 5.3% of the injustice cases on our Top 100 list. That makes it the #2 worst county per capita. And that's with only 5 documented cases — counting every Wagstaffe incident individually would make it #1 by a mile.
Crime lab scandal, police framing, shooting unarmed
6 cases | 2.2% of population | 6.3% of cases
Wagstaffe: racial bias, false statements, protects police
5 cases | 1.9% of population | 5.3% of cases
DA withheld Brady evidence
1 case | 0.6% of population | 1.1% of cases
Highest police killing rate, plea mill, jail deaths
4 cases | 2.3% of population | 4.2% of cases
Property defense criminalized
1 case | 0.7% of population | 1.1% of cases
County Injustice Density = (Cases on Top 100 / County % of CA Population) x 10. A score of 10 = proportional representation. Above 10 = overrepresented in injustice. Below 10 = underrepresented (or under-documented).
| Rank | County | Population | % of CA | Cases | % of Cases | Density Score | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | San Francisco | 874,000 | 2.2% | 6 | 6.3% | 28.6 | +A |
| 2 | San Mateo | 764,000 | 1.9% | 5 | 5.3% | 27.9 | +A |
| 3 | Yolo | 220,000 | 0.6% | 1 | 1.1% | 18.9 | +A |
| 4 | Kern | 909,000 | 2.3% | 4 | 4.2% | 18.3 | +A |
| 5 | Marin | 260,000 | 0.7% | 1 | 1.1% | 16.0 | -A |
| 6 | Los Angeles | 10,014,000 | 25.4% | 26 | 27.4% | 10.8 | -B |
| 7 | Ventura | 843,000 | 2.1% | 2 | 2.1% | 10.0 | -B |
| 8 | Alameda | 1,682,000 | 4.3% | 4 | 4.2% | 9.8 | -B |
| 9 | San Joaquin | 779,000 | 2.0% | 1 | 1.1% | 5.3 | +C |
| 10 | Orange | 3,186,000 | 8.1% | 4 | 4.2% | 5.2 | +C |
| 11 | Riverside | 2,418,000 | 6.1% | 3 | 3.2% | 5.2 | +C |
| 12 | Fresno | 1,008,000 | 2.6% | 1 | 1.1% | 4.0 | +C |
| 13 | San Bernardino | 2,181,000 | 5.5% | 2 | 2.1% | 3.8 | +D |
| 14 | San Diego | 3,298,000 | 8.4% | 3 | 3.2% | 3.8 | +D |
| 15 | Contra Costa | 1,153,000 | 2.9% | 1 | 1.1% | 3.6 | +D |
| 16 | Sacramento | 1,585,000 | 4.0% | 1 | 1.1% | 2.6 | +D |
When counties prosecute wrongfully, overcharge, or allow police misconduct, taxpayers foot the bill. These are documented settlement costs and systemic data points from public records.
$238.3M+
Total police misconduct payouts since 2015. Sheriff's Department alone: $73.2M in litigation costs in FY 2021-22. City of LA paid $172.2M additional. Notable: $14M Andrew Wilson wrongful conviction settlement (2021). $8M Ruben Martinez wrongful imprisonment settlement (2024).
Highest Kill Rate
Highest police killing rate per capita of any California county. ACLU sued in 2024: fewer than 5% of misdemeanor defendants had counsel at arraignment. Approximately 50,000 people pleaded guilty to misdemeanors without ever speaking to an attorney (2015-2023).
#1 Injustice Density
Crime lab scandal destroyed hundreds of cases. Police framing documented. 2.2% of state population but 6.3% of top injustice cases. Highest per-capita injustice density score at 28.6.
$23.5M Mandated
ACLU lawsuit resulted in $23.5M minimum public defense funding requirement. Before settlement: 1,462 misdemeanor cases per attorney per year (366% over ABA limit). Average 2 hours 5 minutes per felony case. One plaintiff had 9 different public defenders.
57+ Tainted Cases
Jailhouse Snitch Scandal — largest law enforcement scandal in CA history. Federal DOJ confirmed "pattern or practice" of 6th Amendment violations. Potentially 100+ additional cases affected. Judge Baytieh found "not truthful" by another judge.
$4.7M
Settlements totaling nearly $4.7 million for deputies' alleged excessive force, including $875K for excessive force against arrestees and $3.8M for an in-custody death. Two deaths linked to deputy misconduct.
$282M
Taxpayer cost of faulty felony convictions in CA (1989-2012). Improper homicide convictions alone: $147M (52% of total).
$140/day
Maximum state compensation for wrongful incarceration under PC 4900. $70/day for time on parole. Up to $5M total cap.
95%+
Cases in LA County resolved by plea bargain. Overcharging is documented as a prosecution tactic to pressure pleas.
19%
Percentage of CA wrongful convictions involving inadequate or ineffective defense counsel (National Registry of Exonerations).
39%
CA wrongful convictions involving official misconduct by police or prosecutors. The single largest contributing factor after perjury (42%).
7 of 58
CA counties meeting the minimum standard of 1 defense investigator per 3 attorneys. Close to half of all counties have zero full-time investigators.
County Injustice Density = (Cases on Top 100 / County % of CA Population) x 10