June 21, 2023 - San Diego County Sheriff’s Department officials report that a settlement agreement was reached on Tuesday regarding the motions for preliminary injunction in the case of Dunsmore v. County of San Diego. This case focused on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) which protects people with disabilities from discrimination. Disability rights are civil rights and the Sheriff holds the rights of all individuals in county jails as paramount.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Department has taken significant steps to increase access for persons with disabilities, while still complying with all other state laws and constitutionally protected rights for incarcerated individuals.

Sheriff Kelly A. Martinez is grateful for the work that went into this mutually agreed upon settlement. She is appreciative that the Court recognized the amount of work that has already been done by the Sheriff's Department to gain ADA compliance in our jail system.

While this court order is not a consent decree, Sheriff Martinez and her team are committed to compliance with all the terms.  

Some of the changes that will be made to our detention facilities include:

• Modifications to jail showers, toilets, and beds to comply with the ADA
• Provide more information during the booking process about jail accommodations for individuals with mobility disabilities
• Provide sign language interpretation, either in person or remote, for individuals in our custody who use sign language as their primary means of communication
• Evaluating every person booked into jail to determine if they have a hearing or speaking disability to determine appropriate method of communication
• Update policies and procedures regarding individuals with disabilities in our custody

Anyone in our custody with mobility or hearing disabilities will be provided safe and accessible housing, as well as services that will accommodate their needs.

The Sheriff's Department operates a system of seven detention facilities throughout San Diego County with a combined average daily population of approximately 4,000 incarcerated persons.

Virtually every aspect of jail operations is subject to careful oversight. The California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) sets the standards for the operation of local detention facilities. Regular BSCC inspections are conducted to ensure compliance with those standards.

Additional oversight is provided by the San Diego County Grand Jury, state and local fire marshals, County Environmental Health, medical authorities, the San Diego County Citizen’s Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB), as well as the Sheriff’s own administrative staff including the Division of Inspectional Services (DIS).

Together, they ensure the community can enjoy a high degree of confidence that local detention facilities are being operated safely and responsibly.

We have plans in place and are committed to making much needed improvements to county jails that will incorporate renovations to aging facilities and anticipated changes that will improve healthcare and reduce returns to custody.

To read more about the many improvements that have been made in our jails, click here and here.

Source: San Diego County Sheriff’s Department