Rachael
Melford

As a teenager, Rachael was intrigued by investigations and planned to pursue a career in law enforcement, specifically as a homicide detective. She ultimately decided to pursue a law degree in the hopes that she would be able to satisfy her curiosity in investigations while also providing a voice to historically marginalized and disenfranchised groups.

Experience

Rachael investigates allegations of discrimination and harassment, sexual misconduct, bullying, and retaliation in workplace environments. She’s also experienced serving public sector clients, with a focus on investigations conducted under the Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act (POBR) and the Firefighters Procedural Bill of Rights Act (FBOR), including handling investigations against members of the executive command.

Rachael’s legal career began at the Yuba County Public Defender’s Office.  She represented indigent criminal defendants in a wide variety of cases and conducted independent investigations, interviewing and consulting both lay and expert witnesses, in preparation for trial. She was also assigned to several collaborative and restorative justice courts.  In the drug courts, she assisted non-violent drug offenders achieve and maintain sobriety, with the shared goal of reducing recidivism. In the conservatorship court she protected the rights of the gravely disabled suffering from developmental disabilities and mental illness by conducting living condition evaluations, medical treatment assessments, and reviewing annual accountings to ensure all expenditures were necessary and in the best interest of the individual conserved.

After moving back home to Southern California, Rachael continued her criminal defense work in the private sector and expanded her practice to address law enforcement misconduct through civil actions filed under 42 U.S.C. §1983 and California Civil Code §52.1.

Seeking a less adversarial role with the potential for a broader impact, Rachael joined the Orange County Office of Independent Review. There, she provided oversight to several public safety agencies by identifying high-risk and high-liability conduct through impartial investigations that entailed policy reviews, data analysis, interviews with individuals in the criminal justice system, and training audits. She drafted multiple reports recommending remedial measures rooted in evidence-based best practices. She conducted independent investigations of officer-involved shootings, custodial deaths, the use of chemical restraints on detained youth, and compliance with reproductive and healthcare rights for incarcerated persons. Rachael also fielded and investigated complaints filed by incarcerated persons and other members of the community.

Rachael is fluent in Spanish.

Outside of the Office

Rachael is a self-described foodie and loves exploring new restaurants, food halls, and ghost kitchens. She also enjoys traveling to new places and immersing herself in and learning about different cultures.

“Whatever you chose to do, leave tracks. That means don’t just do it for yourself. You will want to leave the world a little better for your having lived.” – Ruth Bader Ginsberg