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Board updates reentry council membership, powers and adds supervisory oversight
Summary
The Board passed an ordinance amending the administrative code to expand the Reentry Council's membership, authorities and sunset date; supervisors said the council is a first step toward stronger coordination on recidivism and reentry services.
San Francisco ' The Board of Supervisors passed an ordinance to amend the administrative code that revises the membership, powers and sunset date of the city's Reentry Council, a cross-agency and community body focused on services for people returning from incarceration.
Sponsor Supervisor Ross Mirkarimi said the Reentry Council, created three years earlier to bring together the District Attorney, Public Defender, Sheriff's Office, Mayor's Office and community-based organizations, had filled a gap in formal city-level coordination on reentry issues. "We created the reentry council several years ago ... and much to the surprise of the city family and even the general public, there had never been a formal body that brought together the offices of the district attorney, the public defender, the sheriff's office, the mayor's office and the network of citizen-based organizations," Mirkarimi said.
Supporters said the council's membership changes increase oversight and add a supervisor seat to the body. Supervisor Malia Cohen and others praised the council's documented data and its role in reducing recidivism. Critics raised concerns about reducing the number of formerly incarcerated members on the council, but sponsors said appointments would continue to include former-incarcerated representatives and that the changes aim to improve the council's reach and effectiveness.
Supervisor Mirkarimi noted the council might be a first step toward further structural options such as a department, commission, or expanded entity to coordinate reentry services across city departments. Supervisor Eric Mar commended staff and community members including Jessica Flintoff for guidance through internal issues and said the changes should strengthen oversight.
The ordinance was approved on first reading by roll call (11 ayes). It expands reach and authority of the Reentry Council and adds membership and administrative clarifications; the ordinance also extends the council's sunset date.
Supporters pointed to high recidivism figures discussed in the hearing (Mirkarimi cited recidivism rates "over 75 percent in San Francisco" for state parole returns and over 60 percent for county jail releases) as evidence of the council's importance. The board directed the city family to continue prioritizing funding and program coordination for reentry and to monitor council operations.
