SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A strike involving hundreds of prosecutors and public defenders in Sacramento County has entered its second week as they demand higher wages.
"To me, it's like how much is justice worth to you? Because to me it's priceless," said Anita Razo, the mother of DJ Gio who was robbed and murdered in front of their home in North Natomas.
Impacted homicide victim advocates are standing behind the hundreds of Sacramento County attorneys on strike.
Alexa Hansen's sister was also killed in North Highlands in 2018. Both Razo and Hansen have worked closely with prosecutors and attorneys in trying to reach justice for their loved ones. They say other families are suffering as the strike continues.
"The strike is now going into its second week and I can tell you that it's definitely had an impact on public safety. Preliminary hearings, trials, are being delayed, and as a result of that the cases are beginning to stack up," said District Attorney Thien Ho.
Razo says she fears families are waiting in limbo. As advocates, they feel the Sacramento County Attorneys' Association deserves the raise they're asking for.
"I know of at least one for certain that had been pushed back because the attorney is on strike, but not all court cases are able to do that. The one thing that I think anyone that has a case in the DA's office or anyone that is impacted, they need to realize that if these attorneys are not in court, their cases will be dismissed," said Razo.
"You know they have to sit there with us and go through autopsy photos and tell us details about things that happened to our loved ones and they have to sit there and go through court every day. The things that they have to go through on a day-to-day basis is very traumatic and can be very heavy," said Hansen, the founder and CEO of Victim Advocate Angels.
Sacramento County sent ABC10 this statement:
"SCAA provided a counteroffer on Friday, seeking a one-year contract extension and an additional 7.5% wage increase, as well as a 1-4% COLA increase, on top of the 14-15% increases it agreed to in the contract effective January 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025. SCAA employees are among the highest-paid in the County and have the lowest vacancy rate.
An increase of 21.5- 22.5% is well above the median of the labor market and is inconsistent with the County's compensation approach for its employees. The County will continue to negotiate in good faith with SCAA and looks forward to resolving outstanding issues."
The two women are pleading with the Board of Supervisors to reach a deal.
"I also believe that a lot of families are frustrated that there's a monetary value placed on their loved ones and it shouldn't be that way, it shouldn't be that way. These attorneys need to be back in that courtroom fighting for family's justice," said Razo.
Ho says the Board of Supervisors has a budget meeting Wednesday morning where he plans to ask them to resolve the labor strike.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: Hundreds of Sacramento County attorneys are on strike. Here's what they're asking for
