SF SHERIFFS JAIL POPULATION DATA

Our actual jail count on the first day of every month during the period of 1/1/2010 2/1/2015 (graph)
S.F. Sheriff Jail Population
2066
2039
1920
1821

1797
1792 1794
1737
1733 1752
1691
1684
1680
1678
1674

1566

1600
1580

1640
1617
1577
1572
1564
1547 1529
1540
1521 1544 1499
1513
1510
1497 1498
1473 1470 1475

1537
1492 1495

1490
1446
1425
1424

1392
1338
1324
1315
1307
1306
1289
1279 1256
1277
1276
1267
1266
1255 1265
1251
1228

1/1/2010
2/1/2010
3/1/2010
4/1/2010
5/1/2010
6/1/2010
7/1/2010
8/1/2010
9/1/2010
10/1/2010
11/1/2010
12/1/2010
1/1/2011
2/1/2011
3/1/2011
4/1/2011
5/1/2011
6/1/2011
7/1/2011
8/1/2011
9/1/2011
10/1/2011
11/1/2011
12/1/2011
1/1/2012
2/1/2012
3/1/2012
4/1/2012
5/1/2012
6/1/2012
7/1/2012
8/1/2012
9/1/2012
10/1/2012
11/1/2012
12/1/2012
1/1/2013
2/1/2013
3/1/2013
4/1/2013
5/1/2013
6/1/2013
7/1/2013
8/1/2013
9/1/2013
10/1/2013
11/1/2013
12/1/2013
1/1/2014
2/1/2014
3/1/2014
4/1/2014
5/1/2014
6/1/2014
7/1/2014
8/1/2014
9/1/2014
10/1/2014
11/1/2014
12/1/2014
1/1/2015
2/1/2015

1156
1108

Jail Ct.

Our quarterly average jail count for the period of 2010-2014 (chart).

Both sets of empirical data show the expected trend of a decline in the general jail population in the
custody of the San Francisco Sheriffs Department.
The decline in the jail population is attributable to a number of factors, and the aggregate effect of
which aims at one goal ENHANCEMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY.
Multi-disciplinary approach to promote public safety: From alternative to incarceration measures to
alternative sentencing programs combined with focused effort on combatting recidivism.
o Lowering incarceration rate while maintaining accountability through supervised release to our
robust community-based or contracted programs, and alternative sentencing programs; &
o Reduction of recidivism through a continuum of educational opportunities, vocational training,
and social and health care services (in-custody and post-release).

POTENTIAL FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO JAIL POPULATION DECLINE

o Comprehensive approach:
1

Alternative to incarceration approach aims at lowering the rate of incarceration

while maintaining accountability in allowing release from jail (pre- and postsentencing) to the direct supervision of the Sheriff Departments communitybased or contracted programs.
Pre-sentencing: Release of lower risk offenders through the SF Sheriff
Departments contracted program called the Pretrial Diversion Project.
Direct supervision while out of custody allows the offenders to be
productive members of the community (e.g. return to work; family
reunification, etc.) while ensuring that the pre-trial release requirements of
the court are fulfilled.
Post-sentencing: Release of lower risk offenders to serve their county jail
sentences out of custody through programs, such as Electronic Monitoring
or SWAP. Supervision of lower risk offenders in the community would
allow them to be productive members of the community (e.g. return to
work; family reunification, etc.) while holding them accountable for their
behavior through the restrictive measures.

Reduction of recidivism: In-custody educational, vocational and treatment

services combined with the availability of health care and post-released services
through our re-entry centers correlate directly to the decline of recidivism,
allowing the SF Sheriffs Department to meet its primary goal of enhancing public
safety.1
Services: In-custody educational, vocational, and counseling services
through programs, such as San Francisco Sheriffs Department Five Keys
Charter High School, SISTERS, Roads to Recovery, RSVP and COVER.
Through educational opportunities and vocational training, inmates gain
marketable skills which will help them obtain living wage jobs after their
release from custody. Coupled the availability of health care enrollment
while in custody, SF Sheriffs Department offers a variety of services to
help inmates address their substance abuse or anger management or
mental health problems.
Health care enrollment: In-custody participation creates an incentive to
maintain care and services post-release.
Re-Entry Centers: Offenders receive continuing post-release care and
services through our Community Programs and Womens Resource
Center.

A SAMPLE STUDY

RECIDIVISM AS DEFINED BY OUR DEPARTMENT: WITHIN 12 MONTHS OF BEING RELEASED FROM CUSTODY, INMATE IS
ARRAIGNED IN SF ON A NEW OFFENSE, OR HELD IN SF CUSTODY FOR PROBATION OR PAROLE REVOCATION.
o RECIDIVISM RATES BASED ON A SAMPLE CONSISTING OF RELEASES BETWEEN 7/1/2012 6/30/2013 OF INMATES WHO
SPENT 30 OR MORE DAYS IN OUR PROGRAMS: ROADS TO RECOVERY 32%; RSVP 28%; AND, SISTERS 31%.

This is a snap shot in time specific to February 4, 2015:

There were 1,167 inmates in physical custody housed in the SF County Jail System
Approximately 65% of the in-custody population is pre-trial

There were 1,033 people in alternatives to incarceration. The alternatives to incarceration include the
following:

(Again on 02/04/15) THERE WERE 105 PEOPLE UTILIZING OUR ALTERNATIVE

SENTENCING PROGRAMS
INDIVIDUALS SERVING THEIR COUNTY JAIL SENTENCES OUT OF CUSTODY
THROUGH SWAP OR ELECTRONIC MONITORING (EM).
AS A COMPARISON, IN 2014 THERE WERE A TOTAL of 908 UNIQUE
PARTICIPANTS IN EM AND SWAP, WHILE IN 2013; EM REALIZED A 94% SUCCESS
RATE.

928 PEOPLE ARE IN SFSD COMMUNITY-BASED OR CONTRACTED PROGRAMS

PARTICIPANTS ARE INDIVIDUALS QUALIFIED FOR PRE-SENTENCE RELEASE OR

DIVERSION FROM PROSECUTION.