San Francisco Sheriff's Department
Encyclopedia
The San Francisco Sheriff's Department (SFSD) is the sheriff's department for the City and County of San Francisco
. The department has 850 deputized personnel, and support staff.
The primary function of the SFSD is to operate the system of county jails where there is an average population of 2,200 inmates, and a number of individuals on supervised release programs.
The SFSD also provides security and law enforcement in the following locations in San Francisco:
The current Sheriff is Michael Hennessey
. First elected in 1979, he is the longest-serving of all sitting California sheriffs. He is one of the nation's pioneers in establishing "new generation/direct supervision" jails that are safer and more cost effective than traditional, linear cell blocks.
The SFSD should not be confused with the San Francisco Police Department
, the other law enforcement agency in San Francisco. The SFSD deputies and the SFPD officers have all attended a POST-mandated police academy, and are duly sworn California Peace Officers.
The Department has four divisions:
Administration and Programs Division:
Performs functions related to personnel, training, backgrounds, in-jail programs, Charter School, Community Programs and Prisoner Legal Services.
Custody Division:
Performs custody operations, hospital ward security, classification and I.D. processing.
Field Support and Services Division:
Performs civil processes, court security, central warrants, institutional patrol, investigations unit, building security, transportation, K-9, and emergency response and special events.
Management Division:
Performs centralized line functions related to the overall management of the department to include fiscal operations, information technology services, facilities maintenance, and peer support.
. Two jails are located at the San Bruno Complex, located ten miles south of San Francisco.
The newest San Francisco jail complex is not located in San Francisco, but in an unincorporated part of San Mateo County
between Pacifica
and San Bruno
. The new jail opened in 2006 and is named County Jail #5. This jail replaced the former County Jail #3, which at the time of closing was the oldest operating county jail west of the Mississippi. The building stands vacant, and will be demolished. Just to the west of CJ#5 is the older CJ#6, which opened in 1989.
Prior to the new facility opening, the most modern San Francisco Jail was the one located near the Hall of Justice on Seventh Street. Opened in 1994, the complex is actually two jails. This main complex jail is a "direct supervision facility [that] has become a national model for program-oriented prisoner rehabilitation." The second, which acts as the main intake and release facility for the city, was praised by Pulitzer Prize
-winning architecture critic Allan Temko
as "a stunning victory for architectural freedom over bureaucratic stupidity." While in custody, prisoners are afforded the opportunity to attend various classes that can earn credit towards a high school diploma.
San Francisco, California
San Francisco , officially the City and County of San Francisco, is the financial, cultural, and transportation center of the San Francisco Bay Area, a region of 7.15 million people which includes San Jose and Oakland...
. The department has 850 deputized personnel, and support staff.
The primary function of the SFSD is to operate the system of county jails where there is an average population of 2,200 inmates, and a number of individuals on supervised release programs.
The SFSD also provides security and law enforcement in the following locations in San Francisco:
- the civil and criminal courts
- the City Hall
- the Emergency Communications & Dispatch center
- the General Hospital, Laguna Honda Hospital, and several public health clinics
The current Sheriff is Michael Hennessey
Michael Hennessey
Michael Hennessey is the longest serving Sheriff in the history of San Francisco and is currently the longest tenured Sheriff in the State of California. Hennessey was elected in a run-off election in December of 1979 and has been reelected in seven subsequent elections...
. First elected in 1979, he is the longest-serving of all sitting California sheriffs. He is one of the nation's pioneers in establishing "new generation/direct supervision" jails that are safer and more cost effective than traditional, linear cell blocks.
The SFSD should not be confused with the San Francisco Police Department
San Francisco Police Department
The San Francisco Police Department, also known as the SFPD and San Francisco Department Of Police, is the police department of the City and County of San Francisco, California...
, the other law enforcement agency in San Francisco. The SFSD deputies and the SFPD officers have all attended a POST-mandated police academy, and are duly sworn California Peace Officers.
Divisions
Administration and Programs Division:
Performs functions related to personnel, training, backgrounds, in-jail programs, Charter School, Community Programs and Prisoner Legal Services.
Custody Division:
Performs custody operations, hospital ward security, classification and I.D. processing.
Field Support and Services Division:
Performs civil processes, court security, central warrants, institutional patrol, investigations unit, building security, transportation, K-9, and emergency response and special events.
Management Division:
Performs centralized line functions related to the overall management of the department to include fiscal operations, information technology services, facilities maintenance, and peer support.
County Jails
San Francisco County operates eight jails, with approximately 55,000 people booked annually. Two of these jails are located in the Hall of Justice on Bryant Street. One of the jails is located in ward 7D/7L in San Francisco General HospitalSan Francisco General Hospital
San Francisco General Hospital is the main public hospital in San Francisco, California, and the only Level I Trauma Center serving San Francisco and northern San Mateo County...
. Two jails are located at the San Bruno Complex, located ten miles south of San Francisco.
The newest San Francisco jail complex is not located in San Francisco, but in an unincorporated part of San Mateo County
San Mateo County, California
San Mateo County is a county located in the San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California. It covers most of the San Francisco Peninsula just south of San Francisco, and north of Santa Clara County. San Francisco International Airport is located at the northern end of the county, and...
between Pacifica
Pacifica, California
Pacifica is a city in San Mateo County, California, on the coast of the Pacific Ocean between San Francisco and Half Moon Bay.-Overview:The City of Pacifica is spread along a six mile stretch of the north central California coastal beach and hills, nestled in several small valleys spanning between...
and San Bruno
San Bruno, California
San Bruno is a city in San Mateo County, California, United States. The population was 41,114 at the 2010 census.The city is adjacent to San Francisco International Airport and Golden Gate National Cemetery.-Geography:San Bruno is located at...
. The new jail opened in 2006 and is named County Jail #5. This jail replaced the former County Jail #3, which at the time of closing was the oldest operating county jail west of the Mississippi. The building stands vacant, and will be demolished. Just to the west of CJ#5 is the older CJ#6, which opened in 1989.
Prior to the new facility opening, the most modern San Francisco Jail was the one located near the Hall of Justice on Seventh Street. Opened in 1994, the complex is actually two jails. This main complex jail is a "direct supervision facility [that] has become a national model for program-oriented prisoner rehabilitation." The second, which acts as the main intake and release facility for the city, was praised by Pulitzer Prize
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
-winning architecture critic Allan Temko
Allan Temko
Allan Bernard Temko was a Pulitzer Prize-winning architectural critic and writer based in San Francisco.Born in New York City and raised in Weehawken, New Jersey, Temko served as a U.S...
as "a stunning victory for architectural freedom over bureaucratic stupidity." While in custody, prisoners are afforded the opportunity to attend various classes that can earn credit towards a high school diploma.
Housing
- County Jail #2 (425 7th Street, San Francisco)
- County Jail #3 (Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant Street, 6th Floor, San Francisco)
- County Jail #4 (Hall of Justice, 850 Bryant Street, 7th Floor, San Francisco)
- County Jail #5 (1 Moreland Drive, San Bruno) (New state-of-the-art facility opened in 2006)
- County Jail #6 (1 Moreland Drive, San Bruno)
- County Jail #7 (Ward 7D/7L of San Francisco General Hospital)
Field Services
Institutional Patrol Unit
The San Francisco Sheriff's Department provides patrol and law enforcement services to San Francisco General Hospital and Laguna Honda Hospital in an agreement with the Dept. of Public Health. In 2004 the San Francisco Sheriff's Department absorbed the personnel and police functions of the Institutional Police Department (IPD). The Department fields a 60 member patrol force for the two hospitals, and several public health clinics throughout the City and County. This is a full service patrol unit that answers all calls for service within the Sheriff's Department's jurisdiction. The Department is also the primary provider of security to the Emergency Communications Dispatch Center. As of 2010 there are only 18 Institutional Police Officers.Courts Division
The department provides security to the criminal and civil courts in the city and county. These deputies transport defendants to court, act as bailiffs, provide building security, and respond to emergency calls from the courts.City Hall Security
Deputies in this unit provide security to San Francisco City Hall. City Hall houses San Francisco's governing body, including the Mayor, the Board of Supervisors, and the Office of the Sheriff. Deputies are responsible for securing all entrances to the building, and providing emergency response to any incidents.Hall of Justice Security
San Francisco's Hall of Justice houses many of the City and County's main offices, including the Chief of Police and the District Attorney. In addition, the Hall of Justice is home to a district police station, the criminal courts, Central Warrants Bureau, the SFPD Inspectors Bureau, and two county jails. The deputies in this unit are responsible for the security of the building, the main public entrance, and responding to emergency calls in the building.Transportation Unit
The deputies in this unit transport prisoners to and from court. They also transport prisoners between the various jails run by the department when prisoner housing is changed and they need to be transferred.Investigations Unit
The San Francisco Sheriff's Department has deputy sheriff's assigned to investigate violent, narcotics and property crimes at county facilities. The investigation unit provides a complete investigation on any crime committed within the county jurisdiction. The investigative unit also handles internal investigations of misconduct.Warrant Service Unit
These deputies are specially trained to detect and arrest people with outstanding warrants who are wanted by the City and County of San Francisco and other jurisdictions. They work in plain clothes and drive in unmarked vehicles and work in conjunction with San Francisco Police Department Fugitive Recovery Enforcement Teams, San Francisco Probation Officers, California State Parole Officers and other peace officers outside their jurisdiction.Central Warrants Bureau
In 1998, the Sheriff's Department took control of the Central Warrants Bureau (CWB) from the Police Department. This unit maintains all San Francisco County felony, misdemeanor, and traffic warrants. The deputies arrest suspects with outstanding warrants, write citations, and verify warrants for arresting agencies. The unit also arrests and transports from other counties those persons with outstanding San Francisco warrants.K-9 Unit
The Department has four canine units to perform a variety of search duties for the areas under the Sheriff's control. Currently SFSD has 2 narcotics detecting dogs and 2 explosive/bomb detecting dogs. The K-9 Unit has had impressive results and is a leading example of professional pro-active productivity.Civil Unit
The Department's Civil Unit carries out judgements of the San Francisco Civil Courts. The Unit serves court orders, including restraining orders, property seizures, evictions, and civil bench warrants. The Unit assists elderly, handicapped and indigent civil evictees by coordinating services with dozens of community assistance agencies throughout San Francisco. Since the program was initiated in 1980, more than 20,000 evictees and landlords have been assisted.Emergency Services Unit
The San Francisco Sheriff's Department maintains a highly trained Emergency Services Unit (ESU). An ESU assignment is a concurrent assignment for deputy sheriffs that have qualified by passing a series of higher standard tests. (physical agility, firearms tests and an interview process) There are currently over 100 members of the ESU. The ESU performs a wide range of functions and is the San Francisco Sheriff's Department's main response unit for large special events such as protests, large city sponsored events, high risk prisoner transport, large jail disturbances, or terrorist activity.Special Response Team
The Department also has a Special Response Team (SRT), who have been trained in Special Weapons And Tactics. These deputies are selected from the ranks of the Emergency Services Unit after rigorous physical testing as well as showing a proficiency in firearms and problem solving while under stress. The SRT includes forward observers and snipers who have additional training in their specialty. This elite group trains for significant emergencies and events occurring in areas under the Sheriff's control which are beyond the capacity of the Emergency Service Unit. Some of these duties include responding to active shooter situations, dealing with barricaded subjects, executing high risk warrants, completing high risk transports and providing dignitary security.See also
- List of law enforcement agencies in California
- Jails of San Francisco, CaliforniaJails of San Francisco, CaliforniaSan Francisco County Jails are operated by the Sheriff's Department Custody Division of the City and County of San Francisco. The system comprises eight jails, with approximately 55,000 annual bookings administered by 800 deputy sheriffs.-Facilities:...
- Sheriffs in the United StatesSheriffs in the United StatesIn the United States, a sheriff is a county official and is typically the top law enforcement officer of a county. Historically, the sheriff was also commander of the militia in that county. Distinctive to law enforcement in the United States, sheriffs are usually elected. The political election of...
- San Francisco Police DepartmentSan Francisco Police DepartmentThe San Francisco Police Department, also known as the SFPD and San Francisco Department Of Police, is the police department of the City and County of San Francisco, California...