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Alameda County highlights women'focused programming at Santa Rita Jail
Summary
Sergeant Priscilla Silva told the Public Protection Committee that new short-form vocational, therapeutic and educational programs and a dedicated women''s programming pod at Santa Rita Jail aim to increase access for women who average 72-hour stays; community partners and participants praised the work but urged more diversion and sustainable funding.
Sergeant Priscilla Silva, programs director for reentry and supportive services with the Alameda County Sheriff's Office, briefed the Public Protection Committee on March 26 about new women'focused programming at Santa Rita Jail designed to reach a population whose average custodial stay is just 72 hours.
Silva said a January 2025 survey of women at Santa Rita shaped course offerings: "44% said that they wanted something to do with entrepreneurship...35% said culinary arts and hospitality...30% said cosmetology and music production...and 29%...some type of first aid CPR certification," she told supervisors. To accommodate the short stays, Silva said the office shortened program lengths and introduced mixed-classification courses so more women could participate.
The sheriff's office has contracted five education providers and named Chabot College and Las Positas College among partners; Silva said participants can complete noncredit certificates and receive college ID cards that also function as regional bus passes. "The fact that our women can actually enroll in college, complete courses, and walk out of the jail with a college ID...is something that has been unheard of," Silva said.
Silva described additional partnerships: a culinary "into-work" certificate with Aramark, doula-training through Roots, and arts programming that brought Juilliard instructors to the facility. She said 22 women currently live in the dedicated programming pod, with more eligible for enrollment.
Joanna Hernandez, founder of Freedom Breighters, described culturally responsive braiding instruction coupled with cognitive-behavioral journal prompts and life-skills teaching. "Freedom Breighters is not just about braiding," Hernandez said. "It's about teaching life skills...so that we can break cycles to economically driven crimes." A program participant, Kennedy, described the work as "a space where women could reconnect with their identity, share their stories, and uplift one another." Kennedy noted she has since competed in local braiding contests and earned employment.
Public commenters and committee members praised the programs but urged the county to expand diversion and community-based services outside jail settings. Norma Orozco of the Ella Baker Center noted long-running safety concerns at Santa Rita and cited recent deaths there, saying community-based treatment and diversion should be prioritized in addition to in-jail programming.
Funding and sustainability were recurring concerns. Presenters said the initiative has received grant support (the presentation cited $328,000 secured in 2022 and currently on a no-cost extension) but warned that the extension ends this summer and longer-term funding is uncertain. Silva said additional cohorts, including one for men, are planned if funding continues.
Committee members asked for more demographic baseline data and post-release tracking. Silva said in-custody tracking is underway through partner institutions but post-release employment and recidivism tracking is difficult without continued partner reporting; the colleges'student ID numbers provide some tracking of class completion.
The committee did not take formal action; members requested a future timeline and metrics to document program evolution and outcomes.
