Golden State Today

California Attorney General Rob Bonta has announced the release of a final report on the San Francisco Police Department's (SFPD) reform efforts. The report reveals that SFPD has implemented 263 out of 272 reforms recommended by the U.S. Department of Justice, achieving a compliance rate of 96.7%. The remaining nine reforms are still in progress and expected to be completed over time.

The report highlights SFPD's commitment to reform and its efforts to meet or exceed policing best practices. It marks the conclusion of oversight by the California Department of Justice (CADOJ), which began in 2018 after federal oversight was discontinued under the Trump Administration.

"This report marks an important milestone in SFPD’s yearslong effort to increase public trust by improving its policing practices, transparency, and accountability," said Attorney General Bonta. "I credit SFPD for its commitment to significant structural and cultural reform, and for its initiative in seeking continued oversight from our office."

In 2018, CADOJ entered into a memorandum of understanding with the City and County of San Francisco and SFPD to provide technical assistance and independent evaluation of reform efforts. The process involved three phases, with reports issued by CADOJ and expert consultant Jensen Hughes assessing progress.

Key findings include a decline in overall use of force between 2017 and 2023, a nearly 50% reduction in shootings since 2018 compared to previous years, and a significant decrease in force used against Black individuals relative to other racial groups.

Attorney General Bonta emphasized his commitment to building trust between law enforcement agencies and communities as part of broader public safety efforts across California. He highlighted various initiatives undertaken by his office, including settlements with police departments in Vallejo and investigations into allegations at other sheriff's departments.

A copy of the letter accompanying the report is available for review.