Two San Francisco County jails were placed on lockdown on Sunday afternoon following a surge in attacks against jail deputies. The San Francisco Deputy Sheriff's Association (SFDSA) issued a statement highlighting the alarming increase in violent incidents within the jails, including prisoner fights, attacks on inmates by other prisoners, and injuries to both civilian employees and deputy sheriffs.
Since March 29, at least seven staff members have been injured by inmates, with two sustaining serious injuries. The SFDSA president, Ken Lomba, has called for urgent intervention, requesting the deployment of the California National Guard to address staffing shortages and enhance safety and security within the jails.
The SFDSA emphasized that the crisis has been escalating since 2020 and urged city leaders to take immediate action to address the pressing issue. They reported a 58% increase in reported incidents of prisoner fights in 2023 compared to 2022, along with a 79% rise in attacks on inmates by other inmates during the same period.
Lomba raised concerns about the prioritization of hiring more deputy sheriffs and deploying National Guard support to mitigate the escalating violence. The safety and well-being of deputies, inmates, and the community are at stake, underscoring the need for swift and decisive action to ensure a safer environment for all.
As a result of the lockdowns, visitations, programs, and services at the jails have been canceled. The San Francisco County Sheriff's Office emphasized that attacks on deputies directly impact the safety of everyone in the jail, including staff, community members, and inmates. Normal operations are expected to resume next week.
