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Residents and advocates press board to reschedule Hillcrest Juvenile Hall study session
Summary
Dozens of public commenters described poor conditions at Hillcrest Juvenile Hall, alleged delays to a promised study session, and urged immediate action on PREA reporting, food quality, lockers and reentry supports.
Public comment at the Aug. 11 San Mateo County Board of Supervisors meeting was dominated by concerns about Hillcrest Juvenile Hall. More than a dozen speakers — including former volunteers, commissioners, educators and youth-justice advocates — urged the board to reschedule a postponed study session and to act on documented problems at the facility.
"The juvenile hall in San Mateo County is subpar, and we all know this," said Beth Eggers, who identified herself as a Redwood City resident and former court-appointed special advocate. Multiple speakers told the board the study session had been postponed repeatedly and that recommendations from the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission (JJDPC) were waiting for action.
Speakers stressed two concrete fixes: adoption of an independent confidential PREA reporting system and immediate improvements to food service. Bill Newell and other advocates said youth currently lack an independent way to report abuse, and Melissa Wilson asked the board to exercise its authority to change food vendors citing examples where inedible reheated meals left youth hungry. Several commissioners and supervisors pledged to seek a prompt study session; President Corso and Supervisor Mueller said a juvenile justice study session will now be scheduled for the Aug. 25 board meeting.
