From: Maureen Earls | CLUE/LWV Criminal Justice Workgroup
Subject: Our Progress on Jail Reduction Recommendations
Timeline: Sept 24 – Oct 2 – Nov 18
Santa Barbara County is at a critical decision point. After months of data review, the Community Corrections Partnership (CCP) Jail Data Analysis Subcommittee Report confirms what many of us already know: Too many people remain in jail who do not belong there. CLUE/LWV actively participated in this subcommittee work.
This data-driven report was approved on Oct 2 by the CCP and is scheduled to go to the Board of Supervisors on November 18.
Pictured: Jail Data Subcommittee Report approved at Oct 2nd CCP Meeting
At the Sept 24 CCP meeting, I delivered public comment on behalf of the CLUE/LWV Criminal Justice Workgroup, thanking county leadership for a collaborative process and highlighting key findings:
• ⅓ of jail residents ( 258/744 people) on July 2025 had no risk assessment — many are in jail without any evaluation of their risk to public safety.
• 1 in 3 releases (3569 in 2024) were for low-level misdemeanors —potentially eligible for field release, but jailed instead (CCP Committee Jail Data Analysis Report). Recommendations include increased use of sobering centers and Credo 47 Stabilization Center (jail alternative resource for individuals with substance abuse needs)
• From the report snapshot, 44 people on September 17, 2025 were held awaiting court ordered treatment or housing beds — jailed not because they are dangerous, but because no community program was available. 11% or approximately 75 people carry a Serious Mental Illness (SMI) designation in the jail population at any point in time.
We also submitted written comments addressing court delays, emphasizing the role of judges, DAs, PDs, and Behavioral Wellness in prolonging jail stays — and urged transparency and data tracking to reduce those delays.
We also recognized the success of the early legal representation for qualified people in the Public Defender READY Program, which has already reduced the jail population by 14 people per day — and could reach up to 24 fewer people per day if funded and expanded into the South County and North County Jails.
The Board of Supervisors will review and vote on the report’s recommendations CLUE is preparing a Call to Action urging the Board to:
• Adopt the full recommendations
• Fund, as needed, effective alternatives: Crisis Residential Treatment beds, READY expansion, Cite & Release field options, addressing court delays
• Establish community review structure reporting progress on recommendations
This report gives us a rare opportunity to align data with justice. Our county can stop building toward incarceration — and instead invest in solutions that reduce harm and serve our community better.
Board of Supervisors Meeting Tuesday, November 18, 2025
County Administration Building
105 E Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara
Make public comment or simply stand with us in support
Together, we can turn data into justice!
CLUE Santa Barbara
