Ajla Husic
Ajla Husic
Ajla Husic serves as the Lead Immigration Attorney for the Santa Cruz County Public Defender’s Office, and she is receiving this award today in recognition of her commitment to advancing social equity and justice for all members of the community.
Ajla established and leads a Padilla unit at the Public Defender’s Office that provides timely immigration guidance to attorneys representing noncitizen clients facing criminal charges, helping ensure that every person receives informed and fair representation.
Her specialized efforts on post-conviction relief under Penal Code section 1473.7 have helped individuals obtain relief from convictions that could otherwise create severe immigration consequences, offering them an opportunity to move forward.
Ajla also co-leads a Removal Defense workgroup that hosts workshops and provides direct support to community members at risk of deportation, offering critical information during uncertain times.
Drawing on her lived experience as a refugee, Ajla brings deep compassion and perspective to her work, strengthening trust and expanding access to meaningful support. Through both direct client assistance and systemic advocacy, she advances fairness and inclusion while helping individuals navigate some of life’s most challenging circumstances.
The Sheriff’s Office Sexual Assault Investigations Unit
Detective Jack Cahoun, Detective Jessica Ross, Detective AJ Waltrip, Detective Elizabeth Englehardt, and Sergeant Marquis Booth
Left to right: Detective Jack Calhoun, Detective A.J. Waltrip, Sergeant Marquis Booth, Detective Fabiola Galindo, Detective Jessica Ross
Not pictured: Elizabeth Englehardt
The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office Sexual Assault Investigations Unit is responsible for all sexual assault investigations involving both adult and juvenile victims, managing cases that frequently involve significant evidentiary, emotional, and legal complexities.
Detectives in this unit conduct trauma-informed interviews, process forensic and digital evidence, coordinate with Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners, and work closely and advocacy partners so that survivors receive the support and resources they need.
In 2025 the Unit was assigned over 290 cases, reflecting both the breadth and intensity of their workload, yet despite this demanding volume, the team continues to deliver timely, thorough, and victim-centered investigations that meet the needs of survivors, partner agencies, and prosecutors.
A significant example of the Unit’s capabilities began in August 2024, when a report involving a 14-year-old victim expanded into a complex, multi-agency investigation uncovering the exploitation of multiple juveniles, and through extensive investigative work, coordinated countywide collaboration, and close partnership with the District Attorney’s Office, the Unit secured the suspect’s conviction and a 25-year state prison sentence in September 2025.
Beyond their core duties, the unit also manages specialized investigations critical to public safety, including in-custody sexual assault cases under the Prison Rape Elimination Act, investigations involving child sexual abuse material and technology-facilitated exploitation, and cases related to violations of sex-offender registration requirements.