San Luis Obispo County, Jail Conditions Violation, California 2023

LOS ANGELES — Safeguarding civil rights is core to American values, and the U.S. Attorney’s office is committed to protecting the civil rights of everyone in our district, said United States Attorney Martin Estrada.

The Justice Department announced today that it has reached an agreement with San Luis Obispo County, resolving the department’s findings that the conditions of confinement at the San Luis Obispo County Jail violate the Eighth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

The agreement recognizes and outlines the significant strides the county has made in some areas since the findings were issued. The jail will take steps to protect incarcerated people at risk of suicide, stop housing people with serious mental illness in isolation absent specific and significant protections, require any use of force by staff to comply with constitutional standards, and implement a quality assurance program to identify and correct systemic deficiencies.

Under the agreement, the Jail will also appoint a lead expert to assess the county’s compliance with the agreement and provide technical assistance and recommendations to facilitate compliance. The lead expert will issue public reports every six months on the county’s compliance with the agreement.

The Justice Department initiated its investigation of the San Luis Obispo Jail in October 2018 under the Civil Rights of Institutionalized Persons Act (CRIPA) and the ADA. The department provided San Luis Obispo County written notice in August 2021 of its findings, along with the supporting facts for its findings, and the minimum remedial measures necessary to address the violations found.

The Civil Rights Division continues to prioritize unconstitutional conditions and violations of federal law in correctional and juvenile justice facilities. The division opened new investigations into prisons and jails in Tennessee, California, South Carolina, and juvenile justice facilities across Kentucky.

Related Federal Cases