Reducing Reliance on Incarceration in San Francisco through Effective Collaboration

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

In 2010, San Francisco had one of the lowest incarceration rates in the nation. Since that time, and with the added responsibility of Public Safety Realignment in 2011, San Francisco further reduced the criminal justice population, without increases in serious and violent crime rates. Between 2009 and 2013, San Francisco’s state prison, county jail, and adult probation populations, as well as probation revocations to state prison, all declined significantly. These reductions were possible because of collaborative relationships, evidence-based practices, progressive initiatives, and focus on alternatives to incarceration implemented by San Francisco’s criminal justice partners, who are committed to seeking the least socially harmful manner of managing crime, addressing the needs of those who offend, reducing recidivism, and creating safer communities. In this discussion, the leaders of San Francisco’s criminal justice agencies will discuss successes, challenges, and lessons learned in creating a collaborative culture and reducing reliance on incarceration through data-driven decision making, evidence-based practices, alternative sentencing programs, and collaborative courts.
Chief Adult Probation Officer Wendy Still will lead this roundtable discussion and has invited: District Attorney George Gascón, Public Defender Jeff Adachi, Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi, Director of Health Barbara Garcia, and Director of San Francisco Collaborative Courts Lisa Lightman.

Sub Unit

• Area VIII: Roundtables

Chair

• Wendy Still, San Francisco Adult Probation Department