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," Benson said, adding that the office handled the bulk of inquiries via a newly implemented tablet request form.

Benson traced the program's history to its founding by public-interest lawyer Michael Hennessy and said it remains a model for some jurisdictions. She highlighted an incarcerated-voter program that began in 2003 and served 656 eligible voters in the most recent election, calling it a national model: "We are absolutely a leader for other jurisdictions," she said.

Board members pressed Benson on access and barriers. Benson said PLS supports attorneys' access to clients, maintains records and data to promote transparency and accountability, and uses a mix of tablet research engines and a paging system for materials that once were available in operating law libraries. "We don't have the staffing," Benson said; "there's 3 of us" serving a jail population she estimated around 1,300. She said her top priorities are adding staff (another attorney and paralegal), restoring law-library services, and producing training and navigation videos for tablets.

Members and public commenters praised PLS for its internship program and client supports. A public commenter who identified themself as a supervisor of the unit described PLS staff as performing a difficult balancing act inside the sheriff's office and urged public recognition of the team.

The board received Benson's supplemental materials, including the new legal-request tablet form, and members asked PLS to return with further data and suggestions for improving outreach and coordination with other providers.

The board did not take formal action on staffing or budget at the meeting; Benson said the office will pursue staffing and operational improvements and that she would follow up with the board on possible proposals.