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Supervisors Hear Wide-Ranging Debate Over Jail Rebuild, Mental- health Beds and Alternatives to Incarceration
Summary
At a Dec. 3 Government and Oversight Committee hearing, prosecutors, defenders, public-health officials and city planners clashed over whether San Francisco should accept state funds to rebuild the jail or instead invest in mental-health beds, diversion programs and community treatment.
District Attorney George Gascogne told the committee the city should prioritize mental-health treatment and alternatives rather than expand jail capacity. "We do not need additional jail space," Gascogne said in his opening remarks, urging investment in mental-health beds and diversion so that people can receive treatment rather than cycling through custody.
Supervisor Kim framed the hearing as a search for alternatives to the single capital option before the Board. She said the city has "an opportunity to really reimagine the system" and asked departments to present concrete facility and program options that could reduce jail demand.
Representatives of the Public Defender's Office said attorneys already travel regularly to the San Bruno facility and urged the committee to pursue classification and programming changes that better use existing beds. The…
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