![\"San](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Photo7-925x640.jpeg\")
Probation staff demonstrate the van\u2019s setup with a table and chairs for meeting with people. Photo by Alice Finno.<\/p>\n
The program was announced Thursday at noon. Richard Beal, director of recovery services at the Tenderloin Housing Clinic, stood in front of a small crowd at the Adult Probation Department\u00a0and described how, back in 1995, an outreach van run by the Mobile Assistance Patrol<\/a> picked him up and took him to St. Anthony\u2019s treatment program.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThe whole trajectory of my life changed because of that van ride,\u201d he said. Beal had four felony warrants at the time, he said, but when he got into treatment and completed it, his charges were reduced to misdemeanors. They were eventually dismissed, and he only had to complete his probation.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cOne connection can interrupt years of pain,\u201d Beal said.<\/p>\n The van is equipped with outlets to charge devices, including ankle monitors, which can create problems for people on probation when they run out of battery. There will also be a laptop available for use on-site and phones people can borrow. The initiative was funded through a $507,470 grant from California\u2019s Board of State and Community Corrections<\/a>, part of $2<\/a>0<\/a> million <\/a>in disbursements to 25 county probation departments.\u00a0<\/p>\n Although the van services are primarily aimed at people who have been impacted by the criminal justice system, Tullock said that if other individuals \u2014 like homeless people who are not on probation \u2014 come to the van, staff can provide hygiene kits and refer them to other partners, like the Human Services Agency and the Department of Public Health.<\/p>\n Aman Lail, chief administrative officer for the Department of Public Health, said on Thursday that the van will serve as another tool to connect people with treatment services. By simply \u201cremoving the barrier of requiring someone to travel across town to access care,\u201d she said, the mobile unit may keep people from \u201cfalling out of care.\u201d<\/p>\n Mayor Daniel Lurie at the Thursday presser said curbing public safety, a major focus of his administration, means ensuring people released from jail and prison have the tools to succeed.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cWhen people on probation have that support, it limits the possibility of repeat offenses, which makes our city safer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Jonathan Simon, professor of law and criminal justice at U.C. Berkeley, told Mission Local he thought reducing the burden for those on probation to get themselves to appointments or services might be positive: Transportation can be a barrier for those without a car or means to pay for public transit, he said, as well as for people with disabilities, chronic illnesses or mental health issues.<\/p>\n But he said he will continue to be skeptical until there is evidence that the program reduces incarceration and addresses the challenges faced by people on probation.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cTo the extent that it sort of prevents the potential for an additional violation to go on their record or to be arrested, that\u2019s probably a good thing; the devil will be in how they use this in practice,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Criminal justice experts said the city\u2019s problems run deeper than outreach. Signing people up for services is helpful, they said, but only marginally so if the services aren\u2019t there.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are in full support of connecting justice-involved people to opportunities that enhance their lives,\u201d said David Mauroff, CEO at the San Francisco Pretrial Diversion Project, which helps people navigate court processes and avoid future arrests.<\/p>\n But, he said, \u201cthe high demand for limited treatment beds, housing, clinicians and related resources far outweighs the need to make referrals to services that don\u2019t exist.\u201d Those services are being eliminated due to budget cuts, he said, in turn impacting public safety.\u00a0<\/p>\n The Department of Public Health, for instance, recently announced<\/a> $17 million planned cuts in contracts with community-based organizations and is expected to identify an additional $40 million to cut<\/a> from contracted and staffed programs.<\/p>\n Brian Cox, who leads police accountability work at the San Francisco Public Defender\u2019s Office, questioned relying on law enforcement for outreach.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cPeople need to know about the resources, but the question is whether funding police to share that information is the right approach,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n Cox said having more officers on the streets will increase surveillance and inevitably lead to more arrests. \u201cWe\u2019re not funding the systems that keep people out.\u201d<\/p>\n Mobile probation units have already been implemented in several counties, including Los Angeles County<\/a> and Alameda County<\/a>, but data on their effectiveness is not readily available. Jana Sanford-Miller, communications director at the Board of State and Community Corrections, said that is partly due to delays in purchasing and launching the vehicles in several counties.<\/p>\n Alea Brown-Hoffmeister, director of policy and legislation at the San Francisco probation department, said the van will be evaluated based on how effectively it reaches those who are unable to access traditional offices or virtual appointments, linking them to services while ensuring they remain engaged in supervision.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Photo5-810x640.jpeg\")
A hygiene kit and water bottle that probation staff will give people who go to the mobile unit. Photo by Alice Finno.<\/p>\n