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Committee backs sheriff's commissary contract to lower family fees; advocates press for elimination of charges
Summary
The Government Audit and Oversight Committee voted to forward a three-year contract to operate the jail commissary and inmate trust accounting system, a contract officials said will lower commissary and phone fees for families while guaranteeing a minimum $590,000 annual payment to the city. Public commenters called the fees predatory and urged deeper cuts or elimination.
The Government Audit and Oversight Committee on Monday recommended that the Board of Supervisors consider a three-year contract for commissary and inmate trust accounting services that the sheriff's office said would lower fees charged to incarcerated people and their families while preserving revenue for the department.
The proposal, described by the clerk as a resolution to contract with Keefe/Keith Commissary Network for a three-year term with a guaranteed annual minimum income of $590,000, was presented by the sheriff, who said the contract is the second step in a series of reforms to curb the 'exorbitant' costs families pay when a loved one is jailed. The sheriff told the committee his office has already reduced phone rates and expects commissary price points to decline by roughly 40% under the new vendor while overall department commissions and revenue could modestly increase and be reinvested into the inmate welfare fund.
The sheriff also outlined modernization plans under the contract, including web and phone ordering and kiosks to reduce cash handling at booking, and said the department expects the contract to be largely revenue-neutral to the general fund while lowering out-of-pocket costs for families.
Public commenters across nearly two hours of testimony urged more aggressive action. Sarah Carson of Community Works described a grandmother's struggle to pay bus fare, diapers and commissary costs to visit jailed family members; Alexandra Berliner of All of Us or None called the fees a 'hardship and urged eventual elimination; John Murphy, who works with defendants representing themselves, welcomed a planned transition to account-based or online systems that prevent re-selling of phone cards; and other speakers described the fees as predatory and disproportionally burdensome to low-income families.
Committee members pressed the sheriff on contract details, including a clause that requires at least 5% of food offerings to meet a healthy-nutrition standard. Supervisor Tang asked whether the healthy-food minimum could be increased; the sheriff said the vendor's price points limit the immediate availability of healthier options but that there is room to negotiate improvements during the contract term.
After public comment Supervisor (transcript speaker 18) moved to forward the item to the full board as a committee report with a positive recommendation; the chair announced the item would move forward 'without objection.
The committee did not adopt any ordinance or finalize pricing in the hearing; it forwarded the contract recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for final approval and for any additional conditions the board may impose.
Next steps: the item will appear on the Board of Supervisors agenda as a committee report for consideration and final action.
