San Francisco court increases electronic monitoring amid rising pretrial risk assessments

In the heart of San Francisco's bustling city hall, officials gathered to discuss a significant shift in the judicial landscape, particularly regarding electronic monitoring (EM) as a condition for pretrial release. The meeting highlighted a notable increase in court assignments to EM, a trend that has surged since a pivotal appellate court ruling in fiscal year 2017-2018. This ruling mandated that courts consider alternatives to traditional detention when determining release conditions, leading to a dramatic rise in EM participation.

Before the ruling, the average number of pre-sentence participants in EM hovered around 40 per month. However, by fiscal year 2021-2022, this figure skyrocketed to nearly 500 participants monthly. This surge reflects a broader movement towards reducing unnecessary pretrial detention, as courts increasingly utilize EM alongside a public safety assessment (PSA) tool developed by the Arnold Foundation. The PSA evaluates the risk of defendants reoffending or failing to appear in court, guiding judges in their release decisions.

As the number of EM participants has grown, so too have the challenges associated with ensuring successful outcomes. The data presented revealed that those assigned to EM are often assessed with higher risk scores, indicating a shift in the profile of participants. The meeting noted that assertive case management (ACM), the highest level of supervision for pretrial releases, has seen a significant increase, with concurrent assignments rising from 58% in 2019 to 77% at the start of this year.

Despite these challenges, the impact of EM on San Francisco's jail population has been notably positive. While the total justice-involved population surged by 20% from September 2016 to September 2022, the number of individuals in custody decreased by an impressive 40%. This decline underscores the effectiveness of San Francisco's commitment to exploring alternatives to incarceration, including the expanded use of electronic monitoring.

As the meeting concluded, it was clear that while the landscape of electronic monitoring is evolving, the city remains focused on balancing public safety with innovative approaches to justice reform. The discussions set the stage for future presentations, promising further insights into the complexities and successes of these initiatives.