Job Description

** About the Office** : The San Francisco District Attorney's Office (SFDA) is one of the premier law enforcement organizations in the United States. Our mission is to collaborate with the City’s diverse communities and law enforcement agencies to make San Francisco one of the safest cities in America. Our office engages in public education and crime prevention efforts while maintaining the traditional role of investigating, charging, and prosecuting all criminal violations occurring within the City and County of San Francisco. The unparalleled opportunities for challenging, meaningful, and sophisticated work have consistently drawn top candidates to our office over the years.

The mission of the SFDA is to promote public safety. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins believes responsible reform does not have to come at the expense of public safety and public safety does not have to come at the expense of reform. The SFDA’s Office is committed to balancing both in the promotion of justice and safety for all.

** About the program : **AB109 California Public Safety Realignment - The Alternative Sentencing Planning Program was created in 2011 in response to the passage of AB109 (California Public Safety Realignment). AB109 allowed for sentences to be served locally, instead of in state facilities. We found that when people are being released from custody, they were connected with little to no services to address the very issues that had initially brought them into custody. The program seeks to improve public safety outcomes by developing sentences that are uniquely tailored to the defendant and the case, with the goal of reducing recidivism rates while securing justice for victims of crime.

** About the position:** The SFDA seeks to hire an Alternative Sentencing Planner (ASP) collaborating with prosecutors to address risk factors, taking public safety into account, and developing proposed alternative sentencing plans that reduce recidivism. This position has a key role in applying evidence-based programs to address criminogenic needs and knowledge of programs and services available in San Francisco to support the connection of justice-involved individuals to community-based services. Responsibilities include reviewing and evaluating historical records and reports, conducting in-depth interviews with the defendant and their attorney to determine if the alternatives to incarceration are appropriate for the defendant, and providing a written report with detailed recommendations including length and type of supervision/incarceration, education, vocational training, and/or rehabilitation and behavioral adjustment programs. The prosecutors decide whether to incorporate the ASP recommendations into their final disposition. Addressing underlying factors/issues that can contribute to justice involvement (i.e., education, vocational, trauma, etc.) can provide hope for successfully reintegrating individuals back into the community.

Under direction the Alternative Sentencing Planner will have essential duties that include but are not limited to:

• Developing and recommending potential release and sentencing options to prosecutors, including:
  1. Meeting with case-carrying prosecutor to discuss cases and potential outcomes for defendants;
  2. Reviewing Adult Probation Department’s COMPAS information and social histories made available through the defense bar to determine offenders’ eligibility for various alternative sentences;
  3. Conducting defendant interviews where appropriate; and
  4. Working with the SFDA Victim Services Division to incorporate victim input in sentencing plan recommendations.
  5. Using a web-based assessment program to analyze static and dynamic risk and resiliency factors for defendants.
• Serving as a liaison with and building relationships with community-based programs and understand their expertise and effectiveness.
• Maintaining resource bank on local programs for prosecutors.
• Maintaining up-to-date knowledge of best practices in recidivism reduction, and supporting the implementation of evidence-based practices in the SFDA.
• Conducting office training on best practices in recidivism reduction and effective San Francisco programs and services.
• Serving as a liaison with the Adult Probation Department and other criminal justice, City, and community agencies to support the expanded use of effective alternatives.
• Maintaining ASP cases/records and inputting data related to cases reviewed and sentencing recommendations to support program evaluation, while coordinating with stakeholders to inform and track success metrics.

Qualifications

** Minimum Qualifications:** __ Requires a minimum of 4 years of training, education, and/or experience in psychology, social work, public policy, public health, criminal justice or a closely related field, and/or experience working with incarcerated individuals.

Desirable Qualifications: The stated desirable qualifications may be used to identify candidates advancing to the interview process and/or to identify job finalist(s) at the end of the selection process when referred for hiring.

• Master’s degree in Social Work, Public Policy, Public Health, Criminal Justice, or closely related field
• Experience or in-depth knowledge of best practices in recidivism reduction, justice reinvestment, alternatives to incarceration, and public safety
• Deep understanding of the criminal justice system including criminal court procedures and the role of prosecution
• Knowledge and experience to plan, develop, measure, and implement program improvements
• Familiarity with San Francisco’s diverse communities and neighborhoods and community-based programs
• Experience collaborating across government agencies and facilitating multi-agency processes
• Experience in motivational interviewing
• Ability to read and understand criminal case files
• Excellent oral and written communication skills
• Strong attention to detail

**Verification of Education and Experience: **Every application is reviewed to ensure that you meet the minimum qualifications as listed in the job ad. Review SF Careers Employment Applications for considerations taken when reviewing applications.

Applicants may be required to submit verification of qualifying education and experience at any point during the recruitment and selection process. If education or experience verification is required, information on how to verify education and experience requirements, including verifying foreign education credits or degree equivalency, can be found at https://careers.sf.gov/knowledge/experience-education/.

Selection Procedure : Applications will be screened for relevant qualifying experience. Additional screening mechanisms may be implemented in order to determine candidates’ qualifications. Only those applicants who most closely meet the needs of the Office will be invited to participate in the selection process. Applicants meeting the minimum qualifications are not guaranteed advancement in the process. Additional supplemental materials may be requested during the recruitment process.

** Condition of Employment** : Security Clearance: Candidates for employment with the District Attorney’s Office are required to undergo a background investigation to determine suitability for employment in the classification and Office. Failure to maintain security clearance may be the basis for termination from employment with the District Attorney’s Office.

Additional Information

Additional Information Regarding Employment with the City and County of San Francisco:

• Information About The Hiring Process
• Conviction History
• Employee Benefits Overview
• Disaster Service Worker
• ADA Accommodation
• Veterans Preference
• Right to Work

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.

The City and County of San Francisco encourages women, minorities and persons with disabilities to apply. Applicants will be considered regardless of their sex, race, age, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition (associated with cancer, a history of cancer, or genetic characteristics), HIV/AIDS status, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, gender expression, military and veteran status, or other protected category under the law.