The San Francisco Sheriff's Department performs an ever-expanding range of functions and services, and enjoys a long and distinguished history. The ethnically diverse and talented staff includes approximately 850 sworn and 100 civilian members.

The Sheriff's Department administers San Francisco's six county jails and does a lot more to make San Francisco safe. Our own Warrant Service Unit seeks out and arrests hundreds of individuals each year who have violated the orders of local judges. We travel to other Bay Area jurisdictions every day to bring back to San Francisco fugitives who have fled local prosecution. We provide security to the civil and criminal courts, and to San Francisco's landmark City Hall. We work in tandem with the San Francisco Police Department and the State Department of Corrections to arrest state parolees who have violated conditions of their parole. We also work side by side with the Police Department to patrol areas of the City during natural disasters and civic emergencies.

In addition to these traditional law enforcement duties, the Sheriff's Department has created some of the country's most successful crime prevention programs, including in-custody substance abuse treatment, anti-violence counseling, and post-release job development. We also consult with victims of crime in creating the curriculum for our courses and in providing direct services when needed. These programs have been developed in recognition that every jail and prison releases convicted criminals into the community every day and has the opportunity to address some of the underlying causes of criminal conduct.

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