Cassie Gazipura

SENIOR STAFF ATTORNEY

Cassie Gazipura is a Senior Staff Attorney at For The People, where she collaborates with district attorneys, public defenders, policy leaders, and community-based organizations,  leading special initiatives to expand Prosecutor-Initiated Resentencing.

Cassie comes to FTP with a background in criminal defense and special expertise in post-conviction relief, including supporting clients in addressing the collateral consequences of a criminal record. She also has experience advocating for victims of crime, as well as collaborating with court partners, county agencies, and community-based organizations on policy reform efforts.  

Prior to For The People, Cassie worked as a Deputy Public Defender in Santa Cruz County where she represented the accused and developed and managed the office’s Clean Slate Program. As a public defender, she participated in collaborative efforts to better meet the needs of incarcerated women, implement evidence-based domestic violence programming, and adopt restorative practices in criminal cases. Most recently, Cassie spent three years as Staff Attorney and Grants Manager at Monarch Services, a Santa Cruz County nonprofit that serves victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and human trafficking. Cassie is currently on the board of Women Lawyers of Santa Cruz County and at Caroline’s Nonprofit Thrift shop.  

Cassie holds a J.D. from Loyola Los Angeles and Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Music. In her free time, Cassie enjoys beach days with her husband and daughter, traveling, and live music. She currently lives in Santa Cruz with her family.