CA Attorney General To Probe Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — California Attorney General Rob Bonta launched a civil rights investigation into the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday.

The investigation will look into whether embattled Sheriff Laurie Smith and her office engaged in “a pattern or practice of unconstitutional conduct amidst deeply concerning allegations relating to conditions of confinement in its jail facilities, resistance to lawful oversight, and other misconduct.”

Smith did not enter a plea during a hearing for a civil grand jury accusation of corrupt misconduct last week.

Smith faced calls to resign last year amid backlash over multiple scandals, and she also received a no confidence vote from the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors.

In their resolution, the supervisors pointed to what they called the sheriff's mismanagement of county jails, a lack of transparency and bribery and corruption scandals.

Since 2015, three inmates suffering from mental illness have either died or been seriously injured in county jails, which are overseen by the sheriff's office.

“Public safety is built on trust,” Bonta said in a statement. “When communities feel they are treated fairly and equitably by law enforcement, it increases trust and that in turn contributes to increased public safety.”

Bonta added that “it is clear there is a lack of trust in Santa Clara County as a result of deeply concerning allegations around county jail facilities and other misconduct.”

Related:

• Santa Clara County Sheriff Faces Grand Jury Accusation, No Plea Yet
• 'No Confidence' In Sheriff: Santa Clara County Supervisors
• Santa Clara Co. Sheriff Defies Calls To Resign, Defends Actions