The proposed project will strengthen the jail reentry process in SAN francisco, CA by supporting individuals who are released pretrial to remain safely in the community while addressing criminogenic…

This $744,000 Project Grant award from the U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Assistance under the Second Chance Act Reentry Initiative (CFDA 16.812) will support the San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project (SF Pretrial) in strengthening the jail reentry process in San Francisco, CA. The project will provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed case management and supervision for high-need, moderate- to high-risk individuals released pretrial to SF Pretrial's intensive supervision caseloads. SF Pretrial will use validated risk/needs assessment tools to create comprehensive treatment plans and connect clients to in-house services as well as community resources for mental health, substance use, housing, employment, and other needs. Key outcomes include increased housing stability, improved behavioral health, successful court appearances, and avoidance of new criminal charges while on pretrial release, with a focus on equitable access and outcomes for historically underserved communities.

The proposed project will strengthen the jail reentry process in SAN francisco, CA by supporting individuals who are released pretrial to remain safely in the community while addressing criminogenic needs and adhering to court requirements. The SAN francisco pretrial diversion project (SF pretrial), as part of a collaborative pretrial system involving the SAN francisco sheriff's office, courts, and district's attorney's office, will provide culturally responsive and trauma-informed case management and supervision for pretrial clients released to SF pretrial's intensive supervision caseloads for high-need, moderate- to high-risk individuals. In response to a prolonged surge in these caseloads largely brought about by changes in prosecutorial practices and SAN francisco's addiction crisis the project will expand SF pretrial's capacity to provide direct services, link clients to community resources, and collaborate with justice system partners. SF pretrial will do this by increasing staffing to 1) serve clients according to recommended client-to-case manager ratios and 2) identify and link clients to appropriate community resources. SF pretrial staff will use validated tools including the public safety assessment and brief jail mental health screening, plus the adult needs and strengths assessment to identify criminogenic risk and needs and create comprehensive treatment plans informed by best practice standards and court-mandated requirements. Case managers will connect clients to in-house services including group facilitation using evidence-based practices and curricula such as thinking for a change, motivational interviewing, and cognitive behavioral therapy-based anger management; individual therapy and connections to mental health treatment; coordinated entry to the city's housing resources; and access to stabilization housing and behavioral health treatment services. In addition, case managers, with support from care navigators with lived experience, will link clients with community resources to address client needs pertaining to mental health, substance use, housing, public benefits, employment assistance, and medical services. Expected client outcomes include increased housing stability, improved behavioral health indicators, successful court appearances, and avoidance of new criminal charges while on pretrial release. The project will prioritize access to culturally responsive services and equitable outcomes for clients from communities that have been historically underserved, marginalized, and adversely affected by inequality, including black, latinx, and pacific islander communities.