Sheriff Settles DOJ Case on County Jail

Written by Neil Farrell

Neil has been a journalist covering the Estero Bay Area for over 27 years. He’s won numerous journalism awards in several different categories over his career.

January 31, 2025

A federal investigation into conditions at the San Luis Obispo County Jail has been settled, and the Sheriff won’t have to become a guest in his own hoosegow.

The FBI and SLO County settled a case that investigated the County Jail for possible civil rights violations, stemming from a series of tragic inmate deaths including that of Atascadero resident, Andrew Holland, in January 2017.

Holland was a mentally ill inmate who died a tortuous death after being strapped naked into a restraint chair and left for two days. He collapsed and later died shortly after being let out of the chair. 

His parents sued the County and a $5 million settlement was reached in the case.

That case was a major campaign issue in 2018, after the video of Holland’s ordeal was released to the media. Both Sheriff Ian Parkinson and District Attorney Dan Dow faced stiff challenges in their re-election bids. Both won their races but the Holland Case and others were wake-up calls. In 2018, the FBI opened its investigation into conditions at the County Jails.

In a statement, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said, “The Justice Department announced today that the department has reached an agreement with San Luis Obispo County,” the release said, “resolving the department’s findings that the conditions of confinement at the San Luis Obispo County Jail violate the Eighth and 14th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution and the Americans with Disabilities Act.”

The agreement isn’t a full-out condemnation of the jail. “The agreement recognizes and outlines the significant strides the county has made in some areas since the findings were issued.”

Indeed, the County Sheriff has done numerous things to improve the level of medical care and mental health care available at the lockup. “We are encouraged by the improvements the San Luis Obispo County Jail has made since we announced our investigation,” Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division said, “but there is still more that must be done to achieve Constitutional compliance. 

“This agreement includes strong remedial provisions that, if fully implemented, should improve suicide prevention, reduce excessive force and reduce the use of unnecessary isolation.” 

Martin Estrada, the U.S. Attorney for the Central District of California, said, “Safeguarding civil rights is core to American values. We are pleased that — with the cooperation of San Luis Obispo County — we have achieved a comprehensive agreement that will protect the safety and civil rights of people incarcerated at the county’s jail. Under this agreement, the county must implement reforms in suicide prevention, restrictive housing, use of force and quality assurance. My office is committed to protecting the civil rights of everyone in our district.” DOJ issued its findings in August 2021

Under the agreement, SLO County Jail must take several steps, some of which they’ve already done. They are:

• Take steps to protect incarcerated people at risk of suicide;

• Stop housing people with serious mental illness in isolation absent specific and significant protections;

• Require any use of force by staff comply with constitutional standards; and,

• Implement a quality assurance program to identify and correct systemic deficiencies.

The County must also hire a “lead expert,” “to assess the County’s compliance with the agreement and provide technical assistance and recommendations to facilitate compliance. The lead expert will issue public reports every six months on the County’s compliance with the agreement,” DOJ said.

In its response, the Sheriff’s Department pointed out that the DOJ’s 2021 findings “focused primarily on jail conditions prior to February of 2019. 

“The Sheriff’s Office has worked cooperatively with the U.S. Department of Justice from the outset of their investigation to address any alleged deficiencies. The jail has since been recognized as a leader in jail services statewide and nationally.”

As to the lack of medical services at the jail, Spokesman Tony Cipolla pointed out that in 2019, “the Sheriff entered into a comprehensive contract with a private entity to provide physical, mental, and dental health care in the jail. The department added a full-time Sheriff’s Chief Medical Officer to oversee the contract.”

They also turned the former women’s jail into an infirmary. Cipolla said the changes paid off quickly and the jail has since been recognized as an innovator.

“Later in 2019,” Cipolla said, “the jail and San Luis Obispo County were recognized as an Innovator County in mental health services through the National Stepping Up Initiative focused on reducing the number of people with mental illness in jails.

“In 2020, the California State Association of Counties recognized the San Luis Obispo County Jail with the Award for Excellence for its Behavioral Health and Incentive Program, which improves behavior and social integration among the mental health population.”

Cipolla added that in 2022, the jail “attained healthcare accreditation by the National Commission on Correctional Health Care.”

With the FBI investigation now behind them for the most part, the Sheriff’s Department is satisfied with the outcome. “We are pleased with the Settlement Agreement, as it not only highlights the significant advancements we’ve achieved over the years but also underscores the progress we are committed to maintaining,” Cipolla said.

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