San Bernardino Jail
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Inside San Bernardino’s Controversial Jail
The San Bernardino Jail has been at the center of controversy for years due to overcrowding, violence, and allegations of abuse. This high-security detention center houses over 2,500 inmates awaiting trial or serving short county sentences.
A Brief History
The current jail facility opened in 1991 and was intended to replace the overcrowded original jail built in the 1960s. However, within a few years, overcrowding again became an issue. Temporary beds were added in corridors and communal areas not designed for housing inmates.
In the early 2000s, San Bernardino officials proposed building a new high-rise jail. But after years of delays, the plans were scrapped in 2010 due to budget woes after the 2008 recession. With no room to expand, the sheriff declared an official jail crisis in 2017 as the facility remained at over 130% capacity.
Violence and Abuse Allegations
With severe overcrowding came increased tensions and violence. In just the first half of 2022, sheriffs reported 358 assaults, putting it on track to be the most violent year in over a decade. There have been multiple riots due to tensions between gangs forced to share close quarters.
Inmates have accused deputies of excessive force used to control the volatile environment. Disturbing videos leaked in 2015 showed deputies kicking and punching inmates. It launched an FBI civil rights investigation which continues today.
Many civil rights groups have called for federal oversight of the facility. They argue that only independent monitoring can reform the toxic culture which allows abuse to persist. However, the sheriff has resisted such intervention and maintains that internal accountability is sufficient.
Mental Health Crisis
An estimated 25-30% of inmates suffer from mental illness – nearly triple the rate of a decade ago. Yet mental health care remains woefully lacking. At last count, the jail had only 8 psychiatric beds for the nearly 1,000 inmates needing treatment. As a result, many mentally ill prisoners fail to receive medications and languish in isolation due to lack of appropriate housing options.
The shortage of care led to a shocking 2013 lawsuit after deputies fatally shot an inmate in the middle of a psychotic breakdown. Surveillance footage showed officers killing him after he refused to drop a dinner tray. The county eventually paid almost $2 million to settle the case.
Advocates have demanded better mental health training for deputies and increased psychiatric staffing. They also call for diversion programs to route the mentally ill towards treatment instead of jail. But again, funding such initiatives has stalled.
COVID-19 Outbreaks
The global pandemic further spotlighted poor conditions inside the San Bernardino jail. Inmates alleged that cramped quarters and shared ventilation made social distancing impossible. Limited sanitation supplies and delayed testing exposed prisoners to high risk of infection.
Sure enough, the virus soon swept through the jail’s crowded housing units. By December 2020, over 700 inmates – almost one third of the population – had contracted COVID-19. Yet even as cases mounted, inmates reported that requests for basic protective gear like masks were often ignored.
Public health officials warned that outbreaks inside the jail could accelerate community spread. But robust prevention measures proved difficult due to chronic overcrowding. Critics argued the pandemic provided further proof that mass incarceration itself threatened public safety.
Reform Efforts
Despite the array of crises, the San Bernardino sheriff has implemented some reform efforts in recent years. Key changes include:
- Installation of body-worn cameras: All deputies working in custody must now wear cameras at all times to increase accountability and transparency.
- Revamped use-of-force policies: New rules govern the use batons, pepper spray, physical restraints, and other force tactics in response to excessive force allegations.
- Suicide prevention training: Custody staff now undergo enhanced training to better identify suicidal inmates and connect them with mental health resources.
- Visitation pilot program: Select inmates can now conduct remote video visits with family. This aims to improve morale and maintain community ties amidst the pandemic.
While these measures mark progress, systemic change remains slow. With federal investigations ongoing and the ACLU threatening litigation, pressure continues to implement robust reforms addressing overcrowding, violence, lack of care, and racial disparities. Achieving lasting change likely requires not only shifting jail culture but rethinking incarceration itself in San Bernardino County.
