Investigations Division

The San Francisco Adult Probation Department adheres to all Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision and 1203.9 PC guidelines. Interstate courtesy supervision requests are investigated and accepted pursuant to the Interstate Compact Agreement, as appropriate. Court jurisdictional transfers between counties within California for persons who live in San Francisco County are investigated, accepted, and classified according to local procedure (Pursuant to PC 1203.9).

In each of our courts, we work with the District Attorney’s Office, the Public Defender’s Office, the Sheriff’s Office, and other community partners to provide treatment services to people who need and want help. Our teams that include case managers also help people to get temporary housing, employment, job training, and further their education. We report their progress to the Court monthly. If participants complete treatment, their charges can be dismissed, and/or they can get off probation.

Our unit has court officers assigned to the following 7 Court rooms:

• Department 22
• Drug Court
• Community Justice Center (CJC)
• Veterans Justice Court (VJC)
• Behavior Health Court (BHC)
• Intensive Supervision Court (ISC)
• Arraignments 

In this Department, our clients that are already on probation attend court if they are arrested for a new crime. The Judge may order probation to write a report to see if the person should stay on probation, go to jail, or go to prison.

In this court, we work with the Department of Public Health and focus on people who live in the Tenderloin Community.

We work with the Veterans Administration, Department of Public Health, and the Human Services Agency to help clients that have served in the military.

Probation works with a clinical team to help create a plan for someone that has mental health needs. These clients can be placed into an inpatient or outpatient program that focuses on their mental health and in some cases, focuses on mental health and substance abuse treatment. Participants can also get help to get medication if they need it for their mental health and drug use.

This Court focuses on participants that are high-needs and high-risk, and gives them a “last chance” to stay in the community instead of going to prison.

Everyone who is arrested goes to court to hear what they are being charged with. In this court, when someone is on probation and gets a new arrest, a probation court officer provides the Judge with information about their criminal history and how someone has been doing on probation. Our reports help the Court decide if someone should be released from custody.

Our division prepares presentence reports to assist our justice partners to reach appropriate court dispositions. 

The courts depend on our department to provide accurate, thorough, and timely information on reports and to make a suitable decision about a client on a criminal case including:

• Detailed information about the circumstances of the offense
• Background of the defendant's family, social and behavior history 
• Statements from victims and involved parties
• Analysis of aggravating/mitigating factors in felony cases,
• Discussion and recommendation to aid the Courts in making sentencing decisions

The presentence reports also assist the Courts in deciding the eligibility, suitability and appropriateness of clients for specific programs.

Our division conducts about 200 investigations per month.