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Sheriff's Prisoner Legal Services reports 10,000 requests last year, urges more staffing and tablet tools
Summary
Prisoner Legal Services Director Melinda Benson told the Sheriff's Department Oversight Board that PLS processed more than 10,000 requests last year, highlighted a voter-access program and internships, and urged additional staff to expand on-site legal services and restore law-library access.
Melinda Benson, director of Prisoner Legal Services (PLS), told the Sheriff's Department Oversight Board that her small office processed more than 10,000 requests from people in San Francisco jails last year and is operating with limited staff.
Benson described PLS' dual mission: advising the sheriff's legal team on compliance and policy and providing direct services to people in custody, including access-to-court support, help with release-date issues and warrants, notary services, and assistance arranging care for seized pets. "We provided over 6,000 access-to-court services last year,"…
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