The No New SF Jail Coalition (NNSFJC) is seeking alternatives to the construction of a new jail in San Francisco.
In an effort to reduce the city’s jail population, the board of supervisors created the Work Group to Re-envision the Jail Replacement Project.
“64% of California’s jail population is awaiting trial or sentencing as of December 2016.” Most remain in pretrial custody because they cannot afford bail. Jail Profile Survey, http://www.bscc.ca.gov/
The work group includes supervisors London Breed and Jane Kim, Sheriff Vicki Hennessy, Public Defender Jeff Adachi, District Attorney George Gascon, and Director of Public Works Mohammed Nuru, who are joined by mental health and justice system workers.
The group’s monthly meeting was attended by the NNSFJC as advocates for the homeless and mentally ill.
NNSFJC believes these people should be sent to residential and treatment facilities instead of jail.
During the public comment portion of the meeting, NNSFJC members said that reducing the jail population must include providing affordable public housing.
Where the money will come from to accomplish this is undetermined, although it was suggested that the $80 million slated for the jail construction could be redirected.
Phoebe Vader Horst, who is a work group member and a member of All of Us or None, said, “We’re not trying to take the $80 million and use it. We want to give that money back.”