Crime & Safety
San Mateo Prison In-Person Visits Halted Due To Elevator Failure
The facility's sole elevator has been out of service since late June, authorities said.
REDWOOD CITY, CA — In-person visitation at the Maguire Correctional Facility in San Mateo County remains temporarily suspended due to a mechanical failure in the facility's sole visitation elevator, officials said.
The elevator, located in the non-secure portion of the jail, has been out of service since late June, according to a press release issued on Friday.
Despite multiple repair efforts, it remains non-operational. The county has ordered additional parts, but a timeline for repairs is still unknown, officials said.
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As a result, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office has paused in-person visits and is working with the County's Department of Public Works and its contractor to resolve the issue, officials announced.
"Permitting public access to secure portions of the facility where other elevators and stairs are located poses safety, operational, and ADA concerns," the Sheriff's Office said in a statement.
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In the meantime, video visitation, electronic messaging, and telephone services remain available. Each incarcerated person receives two free video visits per week through Smart Communications tablets.
More information is available at https://www.smartinmate.com/index.cfm.
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