Today, Sheriff Kelly Martinez addressed the San Diego County Board of Supervisors regarding the proposed ordinance to expand the authority of the Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB) to include oversight of healthcare service providers in San Diego County jails.
With an average daily population of 4,400 individuals across seven detention facilities, the San Diego County Sheriff’s Office operates one of the largest and most complex county correctional systems in California. The incarcerated population faces disproportionately high rates of chronic illness, mental health conditions, and substance use disorders, creating an urgent need for a structured, evidence-based evaluation of healthcare delivery.
Sheriff Kelly Martinez reaffirmed the Sheriff’s Office’s commitment to advancing healthcare in the jail system. Over the last three years, the Sheriff’s Office, in collaboration with contracted partners, has made significant improvements in medical, mental health, and substance use treatment—serving nearly 50,000 individuals annually. These efforts reflect national standards, including benchmarks from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).
“I was elected Sheriff with a commitment to improving the level of care in our jails, and I stand by that commitment,” said Sheriff Martinez. “Our correctional nurses, mental health clinicians, contracted physicians, and over 50 community service partners work every day with ethics, integrity, and compassion in some of the most challenging environments. I will continue to protect their work and the progress we’ve made.”
While she understands and agrees that community trust and transparency of jail operations is critical, Sheriff Martinez raised concerns about the unprecedented nature of the ordinance, noting the lack of a risk model for medical providers and insurers in any county across the nation. Instead, the Sheriff urged the Board to support an independent, interdisciplinary assessment of jail healthcare that would evaluate clinical quality, operations, governance, and accountability.
“While I am disappointed the majority of the Board of Supervisors did not approve my recommendation for an independent, comprehensive evaluation of our jail healthcare system, my commitment to the individuals in our custody remains unchanged, and I will move forward on advancing improvements,” added Sheriff Martinez. “I have always supported the important work of the CLERB and will continue to do so, at the same time fighting for meaningful improvements.”
