Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office showing progress on jail reforms, latest audit finds

The Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office has implemented about a quarter of the more than 600 reforms identified in a 2016 plan to improve its jail system, according to a report received by the county Board of Supervisors from an independent oversight body.

The board at its Oct. 17 meeting heard about reforms to the jail system from Julie Ruhlin, a representative with the county’s Office of Correction and Law Enforcement Monitoring, known as OCLEM, as well as staff from the county executive’s office and the Sheriff’s Office. Some of the reforms involve reducing suicide risks, improving access to health care, and ensuring inmates have reliable ways to file complaints.