Dear County Supervisor,

I write to express my strong support for changes to reduce the jail size and increase community-based alternatives so our jail holds only those who need to be there to protect the public.  

1.  Delay approval of final design and construction funds for any design contract services until the County obtains and has results from an expert jail population projection analysis. Urge our Supervisors to wait until the jail population analysis is available before voting to commit millions of taxpayer dollars. 

2.  Assure public input and transparency: establish specific opportunities for all stakeholders, including the public, to consider together options for the best use of the south county jail property.

3. Treat all jail residents humanely. Redesign the jail to allow for direct supervision. Provide  opportunities for officers trained as mentors to work directly with residents, rather than remote. Research shows that this improves health and job retention for correction officers as well as helping residents. All units in the campus need access to an outdoor yard and a day room for socialization, reducing costly staff overtime escorting residents from cells to exercise spaces, classrooms, etc. Plans should also include pre-release transition housing with work-related day passes for those who will soon be reentering the community.  

4. To help narrow the jail population to just those needed to secure public safety, provide improved jail intake assessment teams. At jail intake, the assessment team consists of  the Sheriff’s Intake Staff, Probation Risk Assessment, and Public Defender Holistic Advocacy. CLUE Criminal Justice Workgroup’s  research found the assessment team needs leadership and a coordinated effort rather than a disjointed silo approach. Focusing on Holistic Defense rather than on the criminal act prior to arraignment, will reduce the jail population by only incarcerating those who need to be there.

5.  Create a live coordinated data system that displays available community alternative beds and services. CLUE Criminal Justice Workgroup’s research shows that assessment teams, officers, deputies, and other stakeholders do not currently have an online, accessible system showing available community-based alternatives to jail. A live coordinated data resource that identifies alternative available placements for non-violent offenders will better serve assessment teams, clients and our community.

I ask you to commit to a more humane structure, replacing cells with more open living spaces and in-person supervision where mentoring by corrections staff can occur.