SAN JOSE SPOTLIGHT: UPDATE: Santa Clara County supervisors delay jail decision

Santa Clara County lawmakers have deferred a decision on management of the jail system following calls to delay from one supervisor.

Supervisor Susan Ellenberg requested the deferral Monday afternoon. She said a report on the jail does not include specific information the board requested about alternatives to incarceration for people with mental illness and uses an incomplete survey of inmates. She also expressed concern at the inclusion of a proposed 500-inmate maximum-security facility, which she said no supervisor requested.

“It appears we’re being asked to make decisions on solutions or prescriptions before we’re fully able to consider answers to all of our questions,” Ellenberg told San José Spotlight.

The board will discuss next steps on possible improvements to the county jail on Jan. 11, 2022.