Residents urge San Mateo sheriff to allow personal mail, call for independent complaint process after jail deaths

Residents and community advocates used the commission’s public‑comment period to press San Mateo County’s newly seated Independent Civilian Advisory Commission (ICAC) to press the sheriff’s office to restore personal mail for incarcerated people and to create an independent complaints process after several in‑custody deaths.

Those speaking at the Aug. 7 meeting said allowing letters and drawings from loved ones would improve inmates’ mental well‑being and that the county’s current mail policy and vendor contracts are harmful. “That simple act of reading and physically touching a letter could lift up their downtrodden spirits immensely,” said Deacon Lauren McCombs, a member of Faith in Action Bay Area and Coalition for Safer San Mateo County.

The calls came during general public comment at the start of the meeting, when several people also urged the ICAC to pursue independent investigations into deaths and misconduct in county custody. Nancy Goodman, of Fix in San Mateo County, told commissioners the county is defending litigation over its mail policy and said the county had paid more than $13.4 million in sheriff‑office misconduct payouts in the past two years. “We need a confidential complaints process that is independent of the sheriff’s office,” she said.

Why it matters: Public commenters framed the issues as immediate matters of safety, accountability and cost to taxpayers. Deborah Leshin of Belmont Neighbors Against Racism noted five in‑custody deaths at Maguire Correctional Facility since 2023 — including suicides and overdoses — and urged stronger prevention and alternatives to jailing people who need behavioral health care.

Supporters cited local examples where counties run mailrooms using unarmed, non‑sworn staff who screen mail and forward suspicious items to sworn deputies for further review. McCombs said Santa Clara County uses non‑sworn mailroom staff and avoids automated scanners that produce low‑quality images; she asked Sheriff Christina Corpus to consult peers rather than rely on current vendor restrictions.

Speakers repeatedly called for independent investigations of in‑custody deaths. David Ballard, a former member of the county grand jury, urged the commission to insist on investigations that do not report only to agency leadership and that prioritize independence from departments under review.

The commission did not take action during the public‑comment segment. Commissioners and staff acknowledged the concerns and directed staff to note the public’s requests; later agenda items covered the commission’s advisory role and limits on investigative authority.

Ending: Community members asked the ICAC to prioritize reviewing the sheriff’s mail policy, the county’s approach to deaths in custody and the creation of an independent complaint mechanism. Commissioners signaled they would address procedure and jurisdiction during their onboarding work, but no formal direction or vote was taken at this meeting.