San Joaquin County Jail houses hundreds of individuals who deserve safe and effective medical care, mental health support, and humane treatment. Investigations, including by Disability Rights California, show serious gaps in care and compliance with the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). 

Inmates have been at risk due to medications being administered incorrectly, including drugs given outside prescribed regimens, inconsistent mental health support, and the presence of unauthorized street drugs within the facility.

Current and Serious Reports on San Joaquin County Jail:

Civil Grand Jury Report (2022–2023): Found the jail and juvenile facility failed to adequately protect inmates from sexual abuse and harassment, and fell short of federal PREA compliance (sjcourts.org)

Disability Rights California Investigation: Highlighted prolonged segregation of inmates with serious mental illness, leading to worsening mental health due to isolation and inadequate treatment (disabilityrightsca.org)

Unauthorized Drugs in the Facility: In 2021, a package containing drugs and tobacco was thrown over the fence onto jail grounds, showing inmates’ access to contraband (cbsnews.com)

Inmate Overdoses: Overdoses, including from fentanyl, have occurred inside the jail. These incidents are documented in Sheriff’s Office in-custody reports and by the Medical Examiner, demonstrating serious risks to inmate safety (sjsheriff.org)

We call on the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors and Sheriff’s Department to:

1. Ensure safe, reliable, and monitored medical and mental health care for all inmates, including proper adherence to prescribed medications.
2. Conduct an independent PREA audit and implement corrective measures.
3. Strengthen security and monitoring to prevent the introduction of street drugs into the facility.
4. Provide confidential reporting channels and protect inmate rights.
5. Increase oversight and transparency to guarantee accountability.
6. Protect inmates with disabilities from abuse and neglect.

Everyone in custody deserves dignity, safety, and fairness. 

By signing, you are demanding real reform, improved medical safety, and accountability at San Joaquin County Jail.