San Francisco Advances Controversial RESET Sobering Center

Despite warnings of unlawful detention, city moves forward with $14.5 million contract for new facility operated by out-of-state provider

Published on Mar. 1, 2026

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San Francisco is moving ahead with plans to open a new sobering center called RESET, despite concerns that the facility could be considered an unlicensed detention center. The $14.5 million contract with Arizona-based Connections Health Solutions to operate the center has faced pushback from some city supervisors and community groups who argue it will gut vital public health services.

Why it matters

The RESET center is being positioned as an alternative to jail and hospitalization for those arrested for public intoxication, but critics argue it amounts to a "dressed up drunk tank" that prioritizes policing over public health. The city's own legal memo warned the facility carries "very high legal risk" due to non-compliance with standards for detention facilities.

The details

The RESET center is slated to open in April in San Francisco's SoMa neighborhood, with 25 reclining chairs where people arrested for public intoxication can be held for up to 24 hours. After that, they'll be given the option to transfer to a stabilization center for up to 90 days of mental health and substance use services. However, the sheriff's office has warned that those who leave early and remain intoxicated could be arrested again. The city will pay Connections Health Solutions financial incentives based on metrics like how many people are deemed sober and how many stay the full 24 hours.

  • The RESET center is scheduled to open in April 2026.
  • The initial contract with Connections Health Solutions is for 26 months, with a one-year extension option.

The players

Daniel Lurie

The Democratic mayor of San Francisco who signed legislation authorizing the $14.5 million RESET contract.

Paul Miyamoto

The San Francisco sheriff who has described the RESET center as "like a big drunk tank that's not a jail."

Connections Health Solutions

The Arizona-based company that was awarded the $14.5 million contract to operate the RESET sobering center.

Connie Chan

A San Francisco supervisor who voted against the RESET contract, saying "People will be detained in this space and it's not voluntary."

Jackie Fielder

A San Francisco supervisor who voted against the RESET contract, noting it came at the expense of $17 million in cuts to vital Department of Public Health programs.

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What they’re saying

“The RESET Center allows our officers to arrest those using drugs in public at a speed and volume we have never seen before. And with this new resource, we will also give those suffering from addiction a real chance to choose recovery.”

— Daniel Lurie, Mayor of San Francisco (filtermag.org)

“This is what used to be called a drunk tank.”

— Paul Miyamoto, San Francisco Sheriff (Twitter)

“People will be detained in this space and it's not voluntary ... With additional information [from the leaked memo] it makes me deeply question the operation model and its legitimacy.”

— Connie Chan, San Francisco Supervisor (filtermag.org)

What’s next

The judge overseeing the case will decide on Tuesday whether to allow the RESET center to open as planned.

The takeaway

The RESET center has sparked concerns about civil liberties and the prioritization of policing over public health, with critics arguing it amounts to an unlawful "drunk tank" that will disproportionately impact marginalized communities while draining resources from vital social services.