Be PREPared for Change!

This month, Community Programs Post-Release Education Program (PREP) introduced a new schedule and new services.

PREP is one of SFSD's longest-running Community Programs and a mainstay of the services available to clients out-of-custody and embracing a commitment to change.

For many years, PREP has offered support for formerly incarcerated men and women to succeed in their reentry process. In recent months, Community Programs employees have seen an increase in clients referred to 70 Oak Grove where the PREP program takes place. This reflects the greater numbers of people who are eligible to serve a portion of the time under community supervision. In response to this growing need, the PREP class schedule has been expanded and now offers classes from nine in the morning until eight in the evening Monday through Friday.

By having extended hours and a wider array of classes, PREP provides greater support for clients, especially those who may have jobs or family obligations during the day. The classes at PREP include Thinking for a Change, Parenting and Manalive. There are also specialty groups for transitional age youth, such as Voices on the Rise, a theater and expressive arts program for men between the ages of 18 - 25. Other recent additions to the schedule are a post-release component of the Cisco Academy and a variety of 12-step groups.

In the past few months, the hallways of 70 Oak Grove have been decorated with art made by the incarcerated and the formerly incarcerated. This changes the environment, and challenges every participant to find beauty inside of the struggle.

According to SFSD Program Coordinator, Rodney Choy, "many of the classes that appear on the new PREP schedule are also offered inside the jails." Having a complementary curriculum available in a post-release setting provides greater continuity. This allows more students to feel a sense of accomplishment by completing what they had started while incarcerated. It also establishes continuity as these individuals affirm their commitment to the community by making changes within themselves.

Going forward, the SFSD staff at PREP plan to expand art enrichment classes, 12-step groups and vocational education. 

The Bay Area Jail Managers

"Many hands make light work" John Heywood wrote five centuries ago, and it is the concept behind a group called the Bay Area Jail Managers (BAJM) of which the San Francisco Sheriff's Department has been a part for over two decades.   

The Bay Area Jail Managers are law enforcement professionals who get together quarterly to share information and ideas related to incarceration and reentry of people under the jurisdiction of local authorities. The group can best be described as a "working group think tank." There are no dues, no bylaws and participation is voluntary but limited to those who are decision makers in correctional facilities. The Board of State and Community Corrections, State Parole and 15 counties in California are members of BAJM and typically send two or three representatives each to the meetings. There are three sister groups representing Northern, Central and Southern California jails and they also meet quarterly.

Each meeting begins with a topic of interest presentation by the hosting agency. We hosted the Spring meeting in March, and I did a joint presentation with Joan Cairns, our Director of Jail Behavioral Health Services, and Dr. Angelica Almeida who also works for JBHS, on the topic of meeting the needs of inmates with psychiatric issues. The presentation focused on the innovative programs and diverse services offered by the San Francisco Sheriff's Department and JBHS as well as the importance of collaboration between sworn and civilian staff to maximize positive outcomes for our population. The presentation was well received, which was evidenced by the number and type of questions asked as well as the positive comments voiced after the presentation. 

The BAJM meetings are all about give and take. This time it was our turn to give. These meetings are a great way to keep current on the latest in legal decisions, technology and innovations in the field of corrections and rehabilitation.

The value of the Bay Area Jail Managers group is that it helps each agency find unique solutions to what are usually common issues.  

Eyes on Public Safety

There are over 2,300 parolees and post-release community supervision offenders assigned to the San Francisco Probation and Parole Offices. Of these offenders, approximately 180 have failed to comply with terms of their probation/parole; as a result, arrest warrants are issued for the offenders. In addition, there are more than 50 arrest warrants issued on a daily basis for individuals who have committed serious, violent crimes and/or have failed to appear in court for criminal violations.

In order to provide for public safety, the San Francisco Sheriff's Department seeks out and arrests persons with active arrest warrants. Although the Field Operations Division is in charge, it is truly a team effort. Staff members assigned to the warrant sweeps are detailed from every division in the department, as well as outside agencies. The outside agencies that have participated are the San Francisco Human Services Agency - Special Investigations Unit and the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation - Adult Parole.

The success of this operation is due not only to those participating directly in finding those with warrants, but those who work in booking, the Central Warrants Bureau, housing facilities, records and jail medical. Without all their hard work and dedication, the arrested individuals could not be expeditiously processed and safely housed.

The operation is only one example of our department's commitment to public safety and excellence. Stay Safe!