The innovative juror stipend program has reduced financial hardships, increased jury racial and economic diversity
Posted May 29, 2025
San Francisco - San Francisco’s groundbreaking Be The Jury Program has made it possible for over 4,000 low- to moderate-income San Franciscans to serve on criminal jury trials since it launched in March 2022. The program has shown that paying $100 per day to residents who may otherwise be excluded from jury service due to financial hardship increases the socio-economic and racial diversity of juries to better reflect the demographics of those impacted by crime in San Francisco. The program is funded through the end of 2025, and Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) is working to secure state funding through the State’s budget process to continue the San Francisco program and expand the model to four other counties.
“This milestone marks a real step forward in easing the financial burden on families,” said Mayor Daniel Lurie. “By supporting people while they serve, this program helps ensure that juries reflect the diverse communities of San Francisco—keeping everyone in our city safe."
"Serving on a jury is a civic duty—not a privilege. No one should have to choose between justice and feeding their family," said Treasurer José Cisneros. "We’re proud to have helped launch Be The Jury and will keep fighting to see it grow."
“Be The Jury is one of those simple ideas that actually fixes a real problem. It hurts our democracy when people skip jury duty because they can’t afford it. This program is helping folks participate without taking a financial hit—and it’s making juries look more like the communities they serve. That’s a big deal,” said Assemblymember Matt Haney.
“Be The Jury has made a huge impact in ensuring juries in San Francisco courtrooms actually reflect the diversity in our communities. It’s been a game-changer in enabling nearly 4,000 San Franciscans to contribute their unique perspectives and life experiences to the jury room,” said Mano Raju, the elected Public Defender of San Francisco, whose office spearheaded the program with the support of the Financial Justice Project at the Treasurer’s Office and the District Attorney’s Office.
“I would like to thank the jurors who have been able to serve on criminal trials as a result of this program,” said District Attorney Brooke Jenkins. “Your service has been invaluable as we all work together to deliver justice. Be The Jury has demonstrated over the last three years that a modest investment can significantly impact the criminal justice system and the public’s faith in the system by ensuring that more people are able to overcome financial hardships and serve on juries.”
The San Francisco Be The Jury program compensates low-to-moderate income jurors with $100 per day for jury service in criminal trials, instead of the standard $15 per day. Jurors are eligible if their household income is less than 80% of the Area Median Income ($80,700 for a single person; $115,300 for a household of four) and if they meet one of the following criteria: (1) their employer does not compensate for jury service; (2) their employer does not compensate for the estimated duration of jury service; (3) they are self-employed; or (4) they are unemployed. For more information, see here.
"Potential jurors should not have to decide between serving their civic duty and having enough money to take care of their families," said Yolanda Jackson, Executive Director and General Counsel of the Bar Association of San Francisco. "We thank our partners for championing this program at the state level so that more jurors can serve without economic hardship."
"Be The Jury is a common sense solution to strengthen our justice system," said Michael Tubbs, former Mayor of Stockton and Founder of End Poverty in California. "By removing economic barriers to civic participation, we’re ensuring that our juries better reflect the full diversity of our communities—making them fairer, more representative, and more just."
"Without the Be The Jury program, I could not have afforded to serve on a jury. This program was the only thing that allowed me to continue," said Victorianna Dunn, a Be The Jury participant. "I hope this program can be made permanent so that more San Franciscans can serve."
The San Francisco Be The Jury program has received high praise from its participants, and recognition by the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, KQED, the San Francisco Standard, and Law360. The program was also featured in the independent documentary film “Judging Juries” and in a social media campaign by the Golden State Warriors.
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