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Board refers jail-capacity, 'frequent flyers' discussion to public-safety committee after public plea and sheriff report
Summary
Following public comment calling for more jail beds and accountability, Kern County supervisors heard details from Sheriff Hamblett about jail population pressures, state transfer delays and a mental health unit. Supervisors voted unanimously to refer the matter to the county's public-safety committee for regular intergovernmental discussion.
Members of the public and county law-enforcement officials used the Kern County Board of Supervisors' Sept. 9 meeting to press the board on jail capacity and recurring arrests of the same individuals. The board unanimously approved a referral to its public-safety committee to create a forum for periodic discussion among city managers, police chiefs and county officials.
Bob Smith, who identified himself as having served 13 years on the city council, told the board that local law enforcement is arresting repeat offenders who are released quickly. “We have become a catch and release law enforcement county,” Smith said. He urged the board to find available jail beds in other counties or facilities so local deputies can hold people accountable.
Sheriff Hamblett followed public comment with a detailed update on jail operations and county constraints. He said the county currently holds about 1,750 inmates and that approximately 113 inmates are destined for state prison but remain in county custody because the state has not yet transferred them. “They take a certain number from each county. That number has not fluctuated a lot, stays right around 113,” Hamblett said.
Hamblett described effects from state realignment and said the county now has roughly 60 inmates serving more than one year in county jail; he added there are examples of much longer stays in individual cases. He also outlined staffing challenges: the county has hired roughly 400 people in recent years but remains short of the ranks needed to operate all facilities and planned units. The sheriff said the department has opened a mental-health unit and is working with Disability Rights California (DRC) on compliance matters; he said he expects progress by early next year that could avoid a stipulated agreement and monetary damages to the county.
The sheriff also said deputies and investigators have made large narcotics seizures, including one he described as 672 pounds of finished methamphetamine recovered in North Edwards, and he credited reinstated gang and narcotics units for recent enforcement results.
Supervisor David Couch proposed referring the issue to the county's public-safety committee so city officials, police chiefs and county staff can meet periodically to coordinate on “frequent flyers” and related concerns. Couch said the forum need not be weekly but should occur regularly — every three or six months — to improve communication.
Board members discussed logistics and membership of the committee and agreed to return with details on scheduling and participants. The board then voted to approve the referral; the clerk announced the motion carried, “All ayes.”
The referral does not itself change custody policy or create new capacity; it directs the committee to convene stakeholders and report back with options and coordinated approaches to address jail capacity, transfers to state custody and frequent repeat offenders.
