ProPublica and The Sacramento Bee have been reporting on the crisis in jails across California.
We’ve written about jail homicides, suicides and the outdated facilities that can make life inside more dangerous.
As we have reported on these serious systemic issues, more than 100 people who have been incarcerated, had a family member incarcerated or represented a client inside have reached out to us to share their stories.
While there is no statewide guide for how to navigate California’s jails, local authorities are required by law to design an inmate orientation program, which should be published and provided to inmates when they are placed in a living area. We know some county jails make handbooks with rules. But when we asked the respondents to our questionnaire, plus several others via Instagram direct message, if they’d ever received such a handbook, most said they hadn’t.
The California Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC), which is tasked with maintaining minimum jail standards and inspecting local facilities, told us jails will sometimes post these rules on the walls or show inmates orientation videos. Spokesperson Tracie Cone said in an email that if the BSCC found in an inspection that an agency wasn’t giving out orientation information in a way that meets the law, “we would notify the agency that they were out of compliance.”
But respondents to our questionnaire said that when they did see a handbook, the rules in them weren’t followed or the information wasn’t useful.
Our reporting team looked through jail rules and laws, many of which are long, complicated and vague, to pull out some specific answers. We asked lawyers, civil rights activists and dozens of former inmates and their family members for advice beyond what the jails provide. They passed along some links, street smarts and resources, which we’ve compiled here.
Note: The jails are complicated, and the way they work on the inside can be different, depending on your county. We tried to highlight points relevant to readers all over the state, but it’s entirely possible that we’ve missed a detail or that individual experiences might be different. Please let us know if you have questions by emailing [email protected]. What you tell us could help us make this resource better and more complete, and it could even help us report future stories.
What are the laws?
Local laws
Counties can run their jails a bit differently, so get to know your local jail’s rules first. Starting on Jan. 1, a new law says sheriff’s offices, which run almost all county jails, have to put standards, policies and procedures on their websites.
If you still can’t find your jail’s rules online, you or your family members can request a copy of the information inmates are supposed to receive by calling or emailing your county sheriff’s office. If the county tells you the handbook is not online, ask for an email address you could use to request it through the California Public Records Act (more information on that below).
State laws
People in California have specific rights promised by the state:
Federal laws
Inmates have rights protected by the Constitution and the Americans with Disabilities Act. New cases are decided every year that set examples of ways inmates can use these laws. To read more about federal laws, check out the resources we’ve linked to at the bottom of this guide.
If you need help understanding your rights.
You might find these rules confusing. Many of the laws are vague. Groups and lawyers around the state can help you figure out your rights. It will take some research to find people that do this work in your county. Here are some prominent groups:
To keep track, you can file grievances (read more about that process below), tell a loved one what’s happening over a phone call they record or take notes — even if that’s with pencils and paper from the commissary.
For inmates:
If your loved one on the inside needs help:
People told us being persistent helped get them wins on the inside and the outside.
For inmates:
If your loved one on the inside needs help:
The ethics of solitary are up for debate, but in the meantime, we know jails across the country use this punishment. So if you’re in this situation, former inmates say there are steps you can take to make the time less painful.
For inmates:
If your loved one on the inside needs help:
And to talk to our reporting team, please email [email protected].
To request information from your jail, send this in an email:
I would like to request the handbook or inmate orientation information for (fill in your county jail’s name).
I ask for these records pursuant to my rights under the California Public Records Act (Government Code Section 6250 et seq.). If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me of them. The California Public Records Act requires a response within 10 business days from receipt of the request.
