San Mateo County
status
Discussed at Board of Supervisors · 2022-11-01
In November 2022 the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to support sheriff's office oversight and directed staff and an ad hoc committee to return with a proposal involving an inspector general and a civilian board. The Board subsequently created an advisory commission without subpoena power or an inspector general, falling short of a full AB 1185 ordinance. Advocacy group Fixin' San Mateo County has submitted a draft ordinance, and the matter remains open.
Source: San Mateo joins California counties teaming up to push for sheriff's oversight
What is AB 1185?
AB 1185 (2020) added California Government Code § 25303.7. It lets a California county establish civilian oversight of its sheriff — a sheriff oversight board, an Office of Inspector General, or both — either by action of the Board of Supervisors or by a vote of county residents.
The law is permissive, not a mandate: each county decides whether to create one. Where a county does, the Board of Supervisors may grant the body subpoena power.
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| Sworn officers | 243 | (24%) |
|---|---|---|
| Custody officers | 696 | (70%) |
| Civilian staff | 61 | (6%) |
| Total | 1,000 |
| Facility | Beds |
|---|---|
| Maguire Correctional Facility | 704 |
| Maple Steet Correctional Facility | 704 |
| SM Transitional Facility | 88 |
Civil Grand Jury investigations (9)
The San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury is required by Penal Code §919(b) to inquire annually into the condition of county jails, which the sheriff operates. Reports below investigate the sheriff's office, jails, deaths in custody, deputy conduct, or related matters. Sourced from civilgrandjury.org/san-mateo.
- Juvenile Services Division's Youth Detention Facilities: Underutilized and Overpriced?
- San Mateo County Detention Facilities: An Overview
- Strapped Cities That Hired the Sheriff...Is It Working?
- San Mateo County Jails and Alternatives to Incarceration
- San Mateo County Detention and Rehabilitation Facilities
- San Mateo County Detention and Rehabilitation Facilities Report
- San Mateo County Detention Facilities
- San Mateo County Jails
- Jail Telephone Cost to Inmates
Statewide oversight reports on the sheriff or jails (9)
Reports from California state-level oversight bodies — auditors, inspectors, boards, and commissions — that mention San Mateo County in the context of the sheriff's office, jails, custody, deputies, or use-of-force.
- BSCC 4910+ San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Targeted Insp Rpt 23-24 II IV
- BSCC 4910+ San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Comprehensive Inspection Rpt 23-24 CH CHJ II IV
- FPPC In the Matter of Mark D. Melville for San Mateo County Sheriff 2018, Mark Melville, Sari Ditlevsen, and Rosie McNeilly; Fppc Case No. 19/1725-Stipulation.pdf
- FPPC Warning Letter re Fppc No. 2019-01725; Mark D. Melville for San Mateo County Sheriff 2018; Mark Melville; Sari Ditlevsen; and Rosie McNeilly
- BSCC San Mateo County_Detention Facilities Inspection Report 20-22 Adult
- BSCC San Mateo County_Detention Facilities Inspection Report 16-18 Adult
- BSCC San Mateo County_Detention Facilities Inspection Report 16-18 Cap-1
- BSCC San Mateo County_Detention Facilities Inspection Report 16-18 Cap-2
- FPPC No Action Closure Letter re Fppc No. 2018-00616; Mark D Melville for San Mateo County Sheriff and Mark D. Melville