San
Francisco County Jails #3 and #7 are located on property owned by San
Francisco within San Bruno city limits in San Mateo County. These jails
house in excess of 800 inmates, including prisoners awaiting outcome of
trials for murder and other serious felonies, as well as those sentenced
to a year or less. More serious criminals could be incarcerated there
for four years or more depending on the length and complication of the
trial process. According to the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office, it
is the pre-trial felons, rather than those already sentenced, who are
the most dangerous and pose the greatest risk of escape.
San Mateo County law
enforcement agencies have no input to the security management for these
facilities. The San Francisco County Sheriff, however, calls upon the
San Mateo County Sheriff and local police departments to assist in the
event of a riot or escape.
San Francisco County
has begun an expansion program at these facilities in order to house more
inmates. San Francisco did not consult with the San Bruno Police Department
or the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office regarding their expansion plans.
While the new expanded facility is considered state-of-the-art and highly
secure, it will be located even closer to the residential area of San
Bruno. San Bruno residents have expressed concerns in local City Council
meetings regarding the expansion.
The Grand Jury interviewed
key members of the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and the San Bruno
Police Department. The status of security at the San Francisco County
jails in San Bruno was discussed in depth, along with the statewide mutual
aid plan. Both the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office and the San Bruno
Police Department described their roles and responsibilities along with
other county law enforcement agencies in responding to calls for assistance
at those facilities. Each agency provided their own procedures and protocol
for responding to an escape or riot occurrence at the San Francisco County
jail facilities in San Bruno. All of these procedures and protocols were
reviewed by the Grand Jury.
Discussions were also
held with representatives from the offices of the San Mateo County Manager
and the County Counsel to determine if there are any existing written
agreements that cover responsibilities and costs that should be shared
between the counties. The Grand Jury reviewed an agreement between the
City of San Bruno, the City and County of San Francisco, and the San Francisco
County Sheriff's Department that provides for the payment of costs at
a fixed annual rate to the City of San Bruno for emergency medical, rescue,
and fire protection at the jails. There is no agreement that addresses
costs incurred by San Mateo County in response to a riot or escape at
these San Francisco County jails. |