francisco, which professes to try to establish such a great innovation, but we do not always deliver in a way that we would like. i dare say that during the election for a share if there had not been an open election for sheriff in over 30 years -- the election for sheriff, there had not been an open election for sheriff in 30 years. we garnered the kind of attention that was central to the issues that needed to be expressed and that we needed to project to be educate people as to what the sheriff's office does. here today, i was even afraid, like during the election itself, that we would garner little media attention. but i think we took care of that. [laughter] the sheriff's department that i

walked into is vastly different than the one that might entered over 30 years ago. to begin -- mike entered over 30 years ago. to begin with, it is vastly superior. it's recognition in what it means to unite criminal justice, public safety, and the power of redemption, it has taught us in san francisco, and every other county in california -- who had initially scoffed, often, at the programs initiated by the sheriff mike -- by sheriff mike hennessey, and many other counties, conservative counties, have come full circle to believe that there is merit in replication to legitimize the course we are on. it also demonstrates the need that there is no deviating from the course in which i had campaigned on, which is why i

vowed to make sure that we build and build effectively in preparation for the new era of criminal justice in the state of california period. i believe that it is more than just slogans or bumper stickers that speak about how we must tackle recidivism, repeat offender rates. i believe in the power of redemption in a believe that that infrastructure has been well established, but not well established or supported and not in the city and county of san francisco. i know you would agree that this profound change is necessary and that we should successfully answer the vexing problem of i feel strongly that this is something we should not let up

on. it was in that unassuming way, mike hennessey is one of the most understated officials i have ever met. i think many of my colleagues and peers would agree. he was able to forward the kinds of programs that have gained national and international attention. there were ground-breaking efforts that birth and a florist -- flourished. he has been able to demonstrate that with that taylor approached, this is exactly the way the bill must go into that new era of how we orchestrate our response to public safety and criminal justice. i guarantee you, we will not let up wherever yield from that particular issue.

i had not planned until today or tomorrow to begin my administration. i want to thank the civilian managers and sworn personnel and command staff at the sheriff's department for welcoming me in immediately after the election, where i had held over three dozen meetings -- all quite long. yet what was stimulated was the kind of discussion that, at least, i think painted exactly where we wanted to go in tennessee administration. there is the utmost professionalism in helping us

chart but will be as moving forward. i did not create a transition team, like many do, when they get elected in preparation for taking office. a bit too flashy for my taste at this time. what i did was prepared internally, by talking to people whom i had known of and got to know, who i think are effective in talented, skilled in helping us to deliver the kinds of results that will make you and the people of san francisco crowd and make the people of san francisco take notice. i bring to the table a particular agenda and a menu of change that i want to share with you in this synopsis of where i believe we need to go. where i come from is my experience, not just as a supervisor of a district that

has had its own challenges over many years, but someone who dearly loves san francisco, who i believe is probably -- which i believe is one of the most amazing cities on planet earth. the first is that i will move forward in working groups. there is no end game except until we believe the job is done. the work that we have done internally amongst key staff in preparation to getting a baseline knowledge should be shared with people outside the sheriff's department. for example, for example, it is daunting to know the fact that 12% of the population of the united states is african- american, get 50% of the population in the u.s. prison

system is african-american. the stark reminder is underscored in san francisco. the african-american population is less than 6% in the african- american population in our county jail is less than 6%. what this suggests is that while there has been great focus, and i know as a member of the border supervisors and as a representative from a district that has been the epicenter of the black community, we have a great deal of work that we must do. while there is a great lament over the lack of access to capital an opportunity itself, it is time that we recognize that it is through the prism of the criminal justice system that society is going to need to pull together, led by the kind of institutional support that certainly deals with the sobering reality that it is not just about the out-migration of

blacks from san francisco going to cities that are last costly -- less costly to the very fact that many in the black community of san francisco, especially adult males, are going into the criminal justice system. one out of every 15 black adult males are in a san francisco county jail. this statistic drives home the very need to recognize that while the jim crow laws of yesteryear were certainly abolished, i also believe that they have been redesigned in repackage within the criminal justice system. [applause] and so, with this trend that i feel that we have no grass bond,

a san francisco is an opportune time to pull together with the community and city hall. it is important to realize that while we have grappled with hit and run strategies, hoping that something would stick, especially to the eyes of job creation and job training, as well as job placement, we see that one of the main leaders, such as the utility of the redevelopment agency, which is next to becoming a thing of the past, it was one of the original lever's for job training and placement for people of minority communities, eliminating that particular agency and the debate that is certainly being well heard in sacramento and throughout the state of california. suggesting that absent of that asset, it puts the position that

much more in a distressed place. says that non-profits and agencies, like good will and services in the haight ashbury, and everything else, will have to absorb the brunt of helping your community, which is certainly weakened. i feel strongly that part of the working group, in addition to our populations, is the population that we certainly have to help provide the answer -- how will we get them jobs? how will we get them access to housing? i wanted to test our limits. i wanted to certainly gauge just where that political world -- just if that political will is there. yes, i may have exceeded one may

consider to be slightly legislatively orthodox. people that are acts offenders, said they would get jobs. i appreciated the obvious fact that this, in terms of acts offenders, those formerly incarcerated, it is a very unpopular population and it is not easy for the population to grab hold in answering this larger question. the dilemma is that i see no other solutions on the block. i do not hear of the kind of strategy, nor of the kind of tactic represents the change that i am hoping will answer the larger question of job placement and job creation.

i fear that unless there is that collective support marshaled towards our ability to ameliorate by think will continue to be an escalating situation of the hemorrhaging populations, not just the black population, but others, were certainly growing in their incarceration rates throughout the state of california. that it is incumbent upon us to be able to pull together the partners of the criminal justice system with society demanding more of us being able to this -- respond to city hall. bringing us to the next working group that we will be able to tackle, the question of mental health. [applause] this statistic has been very clear. whether you're looking through the prism of conservative or liberal think tanks, that they

present population in the united states of near the 2.5 million, one in 100 american adults are in prison in the united states. nearly one out of five of those in prison suffer from a severe mental disorder. schizophrenia, bipolar, or a combination thereof. yet, medicaid funding does not provide for the long form treatment needed to address this growing reality. with the state of california grappling with a cash strapped economy, hoping to pin this cycle on our ability to deliver at the ballot box progressive taxation, which of course i support, we cannot put all of our eggs in one basket. i think it is important to us

that even as citizens and residents and business owners, and legislators, district supervisors that want to answer that from a question about why someone is homeless who looks like they need more than just housing and a job and a bath, why is it that they are constantly on our street? we must answer the larger question of what it means to get the kind of meaningful help that is necessary for this particular population. [applause] to do this, to do this i will, as i have already met with members of the psychiatric unit, i will work to expand psychiatric units in the city and county of san francisco, recognizing that state hospitals and mental health hospitals have certainly shattered their doors and are

refusing prisoners who are requiring that level of specialization, shifting in transferring a disproportionate responsibility to the people of san francisco. they expect the police department or law enforcement to be able to satisfy the answer and the distress to everyone not in control of their means in faculties. it is important that the sheriff's department and all the other partners in the local criminal justice system answer this question, starting with the suitable table in the criminal justice system being included for mental health and psychiatric needs. that takes us to the next part of us addressing the core of the uneven bridge in the pre-

custody and pro-custody programs. by so many others who have tried to recognize the need if you go into jail, it certainly makes a great deal more sense, especially to address the concerns of public safety that by the time semele's jail it is as per struck -- constructive and productive as possible. i believe that it is self- evident. the test has been well demonstrated that we are not winning the battle against recidivism and reducing recidivism if we simply think that we can turn a key and walk away. it does not work. it has been well demonstrated by the current sheriff, mike

hennessy -- well, pass sheriff, and others, who are now getting this from around the country. so, i look forward to working with adult and juvenile probation. the district attorney, the public defender, the department of human services agency. the mayor's office, complete the nonprofit cbo's who are struggling to stay afloat in being able to manage a growing population with less resources. certainly in the time that we have used over the last six weeks in preparing for this particular place, i have met with the secretary in the department of rehabilitation. i have said that i am proud that the san francisco jail system is one of the only counties in california that is under- crowded. we discussed the possibility of what you do with unused space.

we are on the edge of our seats for prisoner realignment and we must be prepared for the influx of prisoners coming in the. but based on the smart choices of risk assessment in a partnership way and others, i believe that we will still remain with the unused space in the sheriff's department. i want to posit this notion that if we want to significantly address the uneven bridge of pre-custody and post-custody, someone in the system, when they are prepared to enter into society, after they have been released from incarceration, they do not have the job, the housing, or the proper tools for integration. statistics show that within six months, they will offend again. because of the recidivism rate being a 65% right now, and 78%

in the state, we need to better be able to answer this core question ourselves. it would be nice that if in the unused space, we would use of the land to st. -- delancy street model. it would remain with vertical attention accountability so that those getting the attention are not treated to an hmo-like suggestion by the time that they get out and the people who are being treated inmates are not really clear who is they are dealing with. those are possibilities here. those possibilities are made because inside the system, something beautiful was started. the first charter high school in the united states was created

by sheriff mike hennessy with the support of our teachers in united educators and others, who took a chance on the idea that no other county or jurisdiction in the state of california took a chance on. in the notion that using that time in a way that is constructive, building that confidence in skilled value so that by the time that you leave you are able to reintegrate into something better. i will, through the transition team of working groups, work together in expanding the charter so that we realize the value of turning the vocation into the inside of the jail system so that those, believe it or not, where we would like to see more vocational programs and up affinities, that while those opportunities may not be present, we will work for them

as a way to help expand on their custody, being exactly what we will do. on immigration itself, the fact is that i could not be more proud of the sheriff for demonstrating the sensible response to what i thought was a very reckless program by secure communities in an effort to deport without questions asked. his administration, speaking to what became a harbinger for many others like him in the united states, to question, quite legitimately, where the federal government is going. san francisco is a sensitive and caring place for its immigrant population. we believe in due process. we believe that there are values that need to be held within the criminal justice system backup

be deviated. sometimes the local, state, or federal government does not line up in their thinking, which is why we must continue to proffers our point of view in the most pragmatic way possible. so that people understand that we want to be sensitive and good caretakers for the people here in san francisco that cross over into the criminal justice system. [applause] there is no question that over the last several years, with the implosion of the national economy and the gasps of all of us in these high incidence of eviction for foreclosure, that there seems to be a real wrestling of what it is that we in san francisco can do. unfortunately, we are somewhat incapacitated by the empowering

of addressing those that need help. by court order, the sheriff is responsible for facilitating evictions, even if it seems wrong in the heart and mind. when i saw that there were sheriffs in the united states that resisted and denied evictions, i called them up. i spoke to their offices and other sheriff's and tried to understand -- are these ceramics coming from a place that i believe can be sustained? you know what? 100% of them told me that while that was the right instincts, it was not a sustainable action because of the absence of law that does not support the share of stability in order to protect those that they would also like to protect. it is not any different in san francisco. it is incumbent upon us to bring together those that know best in

how we can speak our minds and demonstrate, with the level of 42 that we can realistically do. i am not into hollow relicts. i have been told by people that it may be a good idea of for us to just clearly evict. yet, when i remember the sheriff, who is a friend of mine -- sheriff [unintelligible] , telling me about the days that he had resisted, having to follow orders several days later. painting the picture of what we were up against. the law had not reform since then. it is important that we continue to recognize the value of the sworn staff in the

sheriff's department. we have a great deal to be proud of. i know that the police department is the primary responder in public safety. approximately 850 men and women who have served with distinction their sworn personnel. many i had meant in my days at the police academy. many had believed had certainly served with great honor on behalf of the city and county of san francisco, been eager and willing to help the police department in any way possible to augment medes and assist with needs in a primary public safety way. in something that is very basic and has not been continued, i would like to see -- and i have met with the mayor and the chief about this very idea, the return of station transfer units. this means that the 10 different

district transfer stations where the police department apprehends and arrests someone, they are the ones responsible for the detention and booking of those party the other prisoners. this is an immensely time consuming effort. let us do it. we could be the one that saves the people lot of money and time, helping to alleviate the police department from having to perform this function. sheriff's do not get paid the exact same as the police department. i know that that is another issue and we will do what we can to support the need for fair and just compensation. at the same time, recognizing that the city must -- that there is an under-utilized asset in the department, transporting prisoners, or perhaps when there

is a deficit in responding to control functions where people need help. especially as we grow out the island. let it be known that these discussions should not be off of the table, but on the table, so that we can discuss what it means to enhance our response to the objections in public safety. i am pleased to see that there were members in education, and so many educators here today. i want you to know that it is daunting that 55,000 people entered the san francisco county jail system every year. a number that almost merits the exact number of students in the san francisco public school. it sends the exact signal of what we must do through the educated community, working together to make sure that young

people -- we are beginning to see a growing class of young people that would keep their offender rates in a way that we should take notice. take notice. this is hard when you see headline news that crime is down. bowels people, i think, into a false sense of security. -- that lulls people, i think come into a false sense of security. keeping the issue of high recidivism rates, keeping the issue of causes that continue to fuel but predicted the reality is not something we will ever let off the radar, and something we will continue to make sure is on the minds of elected officials and the people of san francisco. the job of sharing it is not to lock up people and throw away the key. mike hennessy and his an administration demonstrated that quite soundly.

the effects not helping people return to the community from which they come from shall continue to prove that finding a job in community is adding a sense that time our reserves. san franciscans are proud people. it has been a bellwether for some and a watershed causes and reforms. i have grown up with many songs that proudly remind me of walt -- why i love san francisco. flowers in your hair, and certainly i love that song -- i played all the time for my son. of course turning back to the movie and musical of san francisco, clark gable film of the 1930's and the song san francisco reminds me