Cristel Tullock

Ms. Cristel Tullock is the Chief Adult Probation Officer for the City and County of San Francisco. Chief Tullock is a first-generation African-Latina with 22 years of experience in the field of community supervision and the first African American Chief for the department.

Chief Tullock began her career as a Deputy Probation Officer and is the first employee in the department’s 110+ year history to promote through the ranks to become the Chief Adult Probation Officer. She has experience with the implementation of major legislative reforms, including the 2011 Public Safety Realignment Act; has effectively represented the department at the local, state, and national level; and has led numerous and wide-ranging initiatives and programs designed to help justice involved individuals make positive, sustainable life changes.

Throughout her career, Chief Tullock has developed a proven ability to collaborate with elected and appointed officials, justice system partners, and community leaders. She is committed to meeting the complex needs of clients and ensuring that San Francisco’s LGBTQ, TAY, and BIPOC communities are provided with equitable care and services in the community. At a time when the community is calling for criminal justice reform, Chief Tullock is committed to demonstrating why the services and supports provided by the probation department are the answer; because, “we are the balance between social justice, social work, and law enforcement.”

Chief Tullock has a Master’s degree in Social Work and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. She trained as a social work intern with the Kaiser Permanente Psychiatry Department and previously contracted with California’s Mental Health Department to develop reentry strategies for those convicted of sexually violent offenses. Chief Tullock has served on the Executive Board for the California Association of Probation Services Administrators and is a member of the National Association of Probation Executives and the American Probation and Parole Association (APPA). She received the San Francisco District Attorney’s Victim Services Award from Kamala Harris in 2007 and was a 2016 graduate of the APPA Leadership Institute.

Chief Tullock is also a mother of two children who attend public schools, a lesbian, and a former high school dropout. Her diverse life experiences sit at the center of her drive to help people. These experiences, combined with her 22 years of knowledge and experience, help her lead continued innovations in the field of community supervision to ensure that clients are fully supported.