Peers Leading Change
 
In March, our Custody Operations and Administration and Programs Divisions began a collaborative project with inmate peer education and, in doing so, joined an exciting national trend. Encouraging trained inmates to co-teach under facility instructors, particularly in the health education and behavior modification fields, is an approach that's being experimented with in prisons across the country.

To this end, the Sheriff's Command Staff authorized inmate "R.M." from County Jail #5 (CJ #5)'s violence-intervention pod to co-teach our Manalive curriculum. The curriculum supports our Resolve to Stop the Violence Program (RSVP) which addresses anger management, emotional regulation, and behavioral modification by focusing on respecting others. Under the tutelage of expert facilitators Eric Camberos and Leo Bruenn of Community Works Inc., R.M. has become proficient in explaining and modeling our anti-violence curriculum. Because he has demonstrated a strong willingness and ability to change his behavior, and because his fellow inmates can relate to his experiences and struggles, allowing R.M. to collaboratively provide instruction is expected to positively influence his peers.

Captain Marty Ideta, Facility Commander, and Mel Jarrett, CJ #5 Rehabilitation Services Coordinator, participated in the first interactive class. They found the student inmates to be very receptive to co-instructor R.M., who not only enjoys his new role but seems humble and appreciative of the opportunity to contribute.  In his own words, "We... hold each other accountable for any violence that each one of us has committed to our victims.  In the process, we learn to build empathy for our victims and cease to commit harm to others."
   
We hope that future innovations and collaborations between our Custody Operations and Administration and Programs Divisions will be equally positive, further enhancing inmate rehabilitation, security, and successful community re-entry.  

Sheriff's Patrol Unit Is a Citywide Operation

The Sheriff's Patrol Unit (SPU) is a city-wide operation, responding to emergency calls from other city law enforcement agencies, calls for service (and crime investigation) at the Department of Public Health (DPH) and other sites across the city, and calls from the general public. In addition, SPU also assists other sheriff's department units and responds to crimes in-progress that are reported by our own SPU's.

Our Sheriff's Patrol Unit was first to arrive on the scene of a fallen tree that had seriously injured a citizen on Potrero Avenue.  SPU deputy sheriffs provided first aid and established an incident command, facilitating the rapid closure of Potrero Avenue and reducing the chance of further injury to the public. Other notable incidents include the arrest of a domestic violence suspect in the Tenderloin, a theft at SF General Hospital, multiple vehicle collision investigations, and mental health holds throughout the city. 

In addition, our patrol unit proudly participates in numerous Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) campaigns, such as this month's Distracted Driving Awareness Campaign, December's DUI Crackdown, and the highly successful "Click it or Ticket" campaign. These important programs both improve public safety and result in enhanced awareness of SPU law enforcement efforts. They have been well received by the community as a whole. Our outreach efforts extend to our successful community policing principles, including our highly sought-after crime prevention and active shooter survival technique classes, which are provided free of charge to DPH employees. 

The Best Reward
 
Every two seconds, someone in the United States needs blood. That's why sheriff's department staff rolled up their sleeves earlier this month to participate in a blood drive at County Jail #5. Altogether, fifteen units of blood were collected during the effort, as one of the fourteen donors bravely gave two units of blood!
 
Participants were treated to a Hawaiian BBQ lunch provided by the Deputy Sheriffs' Association (an event co-sponsor). The best reward for the donors, however, is the satisfaction of knowing that the valuable resource of their blood will go to a local hospital to help to sustain or save a life.