Counties throughout California say their jails are feeling the squeeze of realignment-  and most are dealing with the problem of too many inmates and not enough beds.

But that's not the case in San Francisco, whose jails are boasting record-low populations.  At current, they're operating at just 51 percent capacity.

Those numbers are so low, according to the sheriff, that the San Francisco County Jail has one of the lowest inmate populations of anywhere in the country.

On decline since 2009

It all started a few years back when the county started placing more weight on diversion programs and supervised release.  More than 1,450 people are serving their sentences outside of the county detention facilities, they said, and many feel the sheriff is a true pioneer when it comes to the criminal justice system.

Sheriff Ross Mirkarimi said it all breaks down to the failed war on drugs.  At the time it was launched, many jails boosted their bed space in order to hold more offenders.

San Francisco, however, is placing a stronger emphasis on funneling narcotics offenders through the drug court.  If substance abuse is the true underlying problem, they feel getting these people treated is a far better solution than locking them up.

The proof is in the numbers

A key focus is reducing recidivism and providing offenders the tools they'll need to stay on the straight and narrow.

Reform groups reportedly say that while the current results are good- there is still room for improvement.  If there was greater access to mental healthcare, affordable housing and residential treatment programs, many of these offenders wouldn't find themselves in trouble to begin with.

Despite the drop in numbers, Mirkarmi said the county is still evaluating the benefit of building a new jail.   This, he said, has less to do about creating bed space and is more about updating the aging city jail which isn't up to current seismic code.