Overview

• Supervisors approved the ordinance on a 4–1 vote, with Jim Desmond dissenting, expanding CLERB’s authority beyond sworn staff to include medical and mental-health providers, county employees and contractors.
• The measure requires CLERB to complete investigations within one year of discovering allegations, end automatic case dismissals after a year, publicly report delays, and prioritize in-custody death cases with limited reopenings.
• County leaders have funded CLERB to add staff and contract outside medical experts, including two new full-time medical consultant positions to review care quality in detention.
• Sheriff Kelly Martinez opposed extending oversight to healthcare providers, warning contractors such as NaphCare and Correctional Healthcare Partners could alter or exit agreements, and suggested an independent assessment instead.
• Since 2006, 250 people have died in county jails, with eight deaths reported this year and the most recent identified as Steven Curren on Aug. 30, underscoring the push for broader accountability.