Mitigation Specialists

As the first Chief Mitigation Specialist at Yolo County Public Defender’s Office, Emily leads the office’s social services unit, aka the Mitigation Unit. A licensed mental health professional who has worked within indigent defense for over 8 years, Emily’s background and training enables her to recognize social, mental, and/or developmental condition which may have affected a client’s behavior and contributed to involvement in the criminal legal system. Her goal within the office is to empower both clients and attorneys by helping to voice our clients’ unique and individual stories; advocate for treatment & program alternatives to incarceration; and assist with removing barriers to services in the community. In her tenure within the Yolo Public Defender’s Office, Emily’s contributions have led to the expansion of the office’s Mitigation Unit and the creation of the office’s associated non-profit, Yolo Public Defender CARES. When not in the office working hard on cases or with her team, Emily enjoys running, traveling, and renovating her mid-century home.

Brittani Archer is a mitigation specialist at the Yolo County Public Defender’s Office where she provides a range of social work services to both pre- and post-adjudication cases. With a long-standing passion to serve and support those who are system-impacted, Brittani began with this office as an undergraduate intern before obtaining her master’s degree in social work, later returning as a full-time employee. Brittani is proud to be working in a role that allows her the opportunity to connect with and walk alongside those impacted by incarceration, hear their stories, and support them in reaching their personal goals towards a holistic well-being. Currently, Brittani is working towards becoming a licensed clinical social worker. Besides fighting the system, Brittani enjoys spending time outdoor with her dogs, making crafts, and eating good food.

Eleni Bonilla is a Mitigation Specialist at the Yolo County Public Defender’s Office with over eight years of direct service experience, most recently in holistic criminal defense. Eleni’s passion for helping others is what motivated her to obtain both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in social work. Striving to provide the highest level of care to our system impacted clients, Eleni started at the office as an undergraduate intern and now continues to pursue licensure as a Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). Within the office, Eleni has been instrumental in the planning and coordination of several Public Defender outreach events including multiple holiday toy drives and the Defenders of Tomorrow, a high school summer engagement event. In her free time, she enjoys travel, reading, and baking.

Tonya Jacobs is a Mitigation Specialist in the Adolescent Defense Unit. She brings over eight years of experience working with incarcerated individuals. With a Master’s in Social Work and a Bachelor’s in Social Science focused on criminal justice, Tonya is passionate about advocating for rehabilitation of children and young adults accused of criminal behavior. Impacted by the criminal legal system and subsequently spending her adolescent years in foster care, Tonya believes wholeheartedly in the power of rehabilitation and knows firsthand that people can change.
In her current role as a Mitigation Specialist, she provides critical support for clients navigating the juvenile delinquency system, working closely with clients, their families, community organizations to ensure every child she helps receives the services they need to succeed. Tonya has also developed a specialized interest in helping incarcerated adults, who were under the age of 26 at the time of their commitment offense, get a meaningful opportunity for parole. She crafts comprehensive social histories for parole hearings to contextualize each individual’s story. Tonya is committed to her advocacy and believes that people have the capacity for growth, redemption and the ability to transform their lives to positively contribute to society.

Kristin Hemple-Zapata is a Behavioral Health Case Manager with the Yolo County Public Defender’s Office, where she advocates for clients facing a wide range of challenges, including substance use, mental health conditions, and intellectual disabilities. Working at the intersection of behavioral health and the justice system, Kristin is committed to ensuring that every client receives compassionate, client-centered support and access to the services they need to move toward stability and independence. Kristin earned her B.S. in Counseling and Psychological Science from Arizona State University, graduating Summa Cum Laude. She is currently pursuing her Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology, expanding her clinical knowledge and further strengthening her commitment to culturally responsive, evidence-based care. Beyond her professional life, Kristin is a devoted wife and dog mom. She finds joy in spending time with her family, traveling, attending baseball games, cooking, and getting lost in a good board game. She brings the same warmth, curiosity, and grounded presence to her personal life that she brings to her work with clients.