Our job is to keep people safe
On Duty with Sheriff Miyamoto: Preventing COVID-19
San Francisco issued a public health order on March 16 requiring all individuals anywhere in San Francisco to shelter in place -- that is, stay at home -- except for certain essential activities and work to protect against exposure to COVID-19. How does this impact the Sheriff’s Office?
Law enforcement are essential personnel. We are on duty 24/7. As first responders, the Sheriff’s Office is always prepared and ready to serve where we are needed.
That being said, things are changing rapidly. The Sheriff's Office is currently operating under our COVID-19 emergency response and action plan to protect the public and prevent the spread of the virus. Our plan builds on years of emergency health planning and outlines responses that address every level of the outbreak.
On Friday, March 13, 2020, four days before the City issued the shelter-in-place order, the Sheriff's Office suspended county jail visits and programs, to protect incarcerated persons, staff and visitors against exposure to COVID-19.
While there are no known cases of coronavirus among our incarcerated population to date, this decision which we made in consultation with our Jail Health Services, mirrored community public health measures that ensure the safety of everyone who lives in, works at and visits the county jail.
With one of the lowest incarceration rates in the nation, we've also implemented social distancing protocols for in-custody housing and community sites.
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Sheriff Paul M. Miyamoto
Join our Team! Former college hoops players (l to r) Jourdan Santos, Jasmine Lowe and Patrick Dungo bring their "A" game to the San Francisco Sheriff's Office serving our community as Deputy Sheriffs. Click "Join our team" to learn about SFSO careers.
Our employees reflect our diverse communities
The San Francisco Sheriff's Office employs more than 1,000 people. Our gender distribution is 22 percent female and 78 percent male. Here's our staff distribution by race/ethnicity:
American Indian .5 percent
Asian 23 percent
Black 16 percent
Filipino 14 percent
Hispanic 21 percent
White 25.5 percent
We are 100 percent committed to your public safety!
Please visit our About page for more information.
We believe in dignity and fairness
Every human being deserves respect. We believe in repairing harm, rebuilding relationships, and focusing on the future. Education, job training, behavioral health support. We connect people with services on the outside so they don’t return to the inside.
Our Mission
The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office works with the public, the criminal justice system, and community stakeholders to safeguard the lives, rights, and property of all people we serve.
We strive to complete our mission in a manner that maintains the trust and confidence of the people of San Francisco.
We make San Francisco safer
The Sheriff’s Office keeps people safe — inside and outside the county jails, in the buildings we help protect, and in the communities we serve.
We help domestic violence victims rebuild their lives. We provide mutual aid to our law enforcement partners in emergencies and natural disasters. We offer education and job training to support those leaving the justice system, which builds stronger, safer communities.
Coronavirus health emergency
The San Francisco Sheriff’s Office is on the front lines of the coronavirus public health emergency, working to prevent exposure and spread of COVID-19, also known as coronavirus, while protecting public safety.
San Francisco Sheriff's Office coronavirus updates
Helpful Links
Centers for Disease and Control and Prevention
SF Sheriff's Employees practice social distancing while protecting public safety
If you believe a person housed in San Francisco county jail requires immediate attention for a medical condition or mental health crisis, please call:
Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.: (415) 554-7225
All other times, including weekends and holidays: (415) 553-1444
