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Supervisors back $3.3M and $500K grants to expand probation supervision and pilot reentry courts
Summary
The Budget & Finance Committee approved recommendations to accept two grant-funded ordinances: a $3.3 million Cal EMA domestic-violence-related probation grant and a $500,000 Second Chance Act grant to create two pilot reentry courts, with staff saying pilots will start by January and include evidence‑based supervision and coordinated case management.
The San Francisco Budget & Finance Committee on Oct. 19 recommended that the Board of Supervisors accept two grant-funded ordinances to expand probation services and launch reentry courts.
Supervisor John Avalos chaired the meeting where the clerk read two ordinances: one to accept and expend $3,300,000 from the California Emergency Management Agency for a probation specialization supervision program funded through the Violence Against Women Act and to amend ordinance 191-10 to add three grant-funded positions; the second to accept and expend $500,000 from the Office of Justice Programs under the Second Chance Act to create reentry courts and amend ordinance 191-10 to add four grant-funded positions.
Supervisor McRaevey framed the $500,000 award as the step that could allow San Francisco to pilot two reentry courts — one supervised by the Superior Court and one by the adult probation department — to reduce the city’s high local rates of repeat offenses. “These are pilots that have not been undertaken yet by the city and county,” McRaevey said, noting long-standing cross‑agency efforts with the public defender, district attorney and sheriff to coordinate reentry services.
The (unnamed) chief of probation described how the grants will be used: targeted intensive supervision in high‑need areas, coordination with parole courts, risk‑needs assessments, evidence‑based probation practices, motivational interviewing and Compass case management. Staff said activation meetings are complete and the court is targeted to kick off between mid‑December and Jan. 1.
Chair Avalos moved the items forward “without objection” to the full Board of Supervisors with a committee recommendation.
Next steps: The ordinances will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda for final action, and staff said the pilots will return for progress reports and evaluation after approximately 2½ years to decide whether to continue the programs or absorb them into general funding.
