In-Person Visits Stopped At Bay Area Jail Due To Elevator Outage

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — The sheriff's office and the County of San Mateo are working to resolve an elevator outage at the Maguire Correctional Facility that has halted all in-person visits since June, police announced on Friday.

Some of the only ways those incarcerated and their loved ones can communicate right now is through video visitation and telephone services, the San Mateo County Sheriff's Office said.

There has been a mechanical issue with the jail's only visitation elevator since June.

Despite multiple repair efforts, the elevator has remained out of service. The County of San Mateo is responsible for all maintenance and repairs.

"The Sheriff’s Office has been informed that additional parts have been ordered, and repairs will proceed as soon as those parts are received. At this time, the Sheriff’s Office has not been provided with a date when the elevator will be back in service," police said.

When the Maguire Correctional Facility was built in 1988, it was constructed with only a single elevator to accommodate in-person visitation and since 1988 it has not been replaced and has undergone many issues.

The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved a project to replace all of the jail's elevators. The first one is supposed to be completed by March 2026.

"The Sheriff’s Office recognizes the importance of in-person visits and hopes the issue will be resolved soon. Staff are exploring additional video visitation options, and if alternatives become available, the Sheriff’s Office will share this information with incarcerated persons and their loved ones," police said.