Statement on Urban Institute Report 

December 22, 2024 – San Diego County Sheriff's Office issues a statement on the Urban Institute report.

The San Diego County Sheriff's Office recognizes the importance of providing comprehensive reproductive healthcare within our detention facilities and remains steadfast in addressing any perceived gaps in service.

The recent Urban Institute report on the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility women's reproductive care, published on December 19, 2024, presents findings that are not complete or reflective of our standards and practices in providing this care to women in our custody. The implementation of Assembly Bill 732, which passed in 2020, also informs our service delivery in this area.

The Urban Institute was provided access to women at the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility (pictured in above photo) in Santee who were interested in participating through interviews. The interview-based report provides feedback from 34 incarcerated women. This sample size, in our opinion, is too narrow to represent the broader incarcerated female population.

In 2023 when the study was conducted, nearly 12,000 women were booked into our custody. The 34 women referenced in the study account for approximately 0.3% of the total incarcerated female population that year. The findings rely exclusively on subjective accounts that were not corroborated by medical records, staff testimony or independent verification. The Sheriff’s Office did ask the report's authors for corroborating information to support the report findings prior to this release. The authors declined to further investigate the statements made by the participants.

The reported claims of systemic delays in care are inconsistent with established procedures that prioritize urgent and emergent healthcare needs. Pregnant patients are scheduled for the next available OB/GYN clinic appointment and receive timely follow-ups both within the facility and at external healthcare organizations. Reported delays noted in the report are often linked to external provider availability rather than internal inefficiencies.

Additionally, the report speaks of limited awareness by the incarcerated women of available reproductive care services. We actively engage the incarcerated population through written materials, orientation sessions and communication with healthcare staff. While concerns regarding the quality of menstrual supplies were noted, all women receive sufficient products free of charge, with additional items readily available upon request.

The report raised concerns about access to contraceptive and abortion services. The Sheriff's Office adheres to California law, which ensures the provision of multiple contraceptive options and the facilitation of abortion services when requested. For pregnancy and postpartum care, women receive accommodations such as prenatal vitamins, dietary supplements and tailored clothing.

In March 2024, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office hosted a two-day event, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Justice National Institute of Corrections' Large Jail Networks, focused on gender responsive care and how it can improve outcomes for incarcerated women. The Sheriff's Office was selected as the host agency given the forward-thinking programming at Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility and its reputation for the "level of care programming model" that translates into specialized curriculum, health care systems and commitment in advancing gender responsive practices in a correctional setting.

Nevertheless, we take this report seriously and are reviewing our practices to ensure consistent service delivery. The Sheriff's Office incorporates reproductive healthcare into reentry planning by providing women in our programs access to community health resources and ensuring medical record transfers for continuity of care.

While the report highlights valuable perspectives, its reliance on a small group lacks the corroboration which is needed for a more robust, data-driven evaluation to accurately assess healthcare services in our county jails.

Source & photos: San Diego County Sheriff's Office