Who can fix California’s troubled jails? This board is gaining new power to review deaths

Law enforcement leaders hold a majority of seats on California’s jail oversight board.|
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California’s county-run jails have a crisis on their hands with overdoses and suicides claiming dozens of lives every year.

This year, for the first time, a state agency that oversees conditions in the locally run lockups is gaining authority through a new state law to demand information from sheriffs and review those deaths.

California created the Board of State and Community Corrections in 2011 when it reduced its severely overcrowded state prison population in part by directing more inmates to the locally run jails. The board was supposed to collect data, recommend policies and distribute grants.

Now, advocates for jail inmates want the board to take a more active role in addressing conditions inside the lockups.

The board is composed primarily of people with backgrounds in law enforcement. In July, the board will gain two additional members with expertise in health care and mental health.

Here’s a look at who is on the board today.

Law enforcement and corrections representatives

Shannon Dicus, San Bernardino County sheriff
Jeffrey Macomber, secretary of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation 
Andrew Mills, Palm Springs police chief
Eric Taylor, San Benito County sheriff

Probation and parole representatives

Linda Penner, former chief probation officer for Fresno County and a longtime state leader on county jail conditions
Kirk Haynes, chief probation officer for Fresno County
Jason Johnson, director of adult parole operations for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Brian Richart, chief probation officer for El Dorado County

Judicial Council appointee

Janet Gaard, retired Yolo County judge

County administrative appointee

Cindy Chavez, Santa Clara County supervisor

Provider of rehabilitation services

Scott Budnick, founder of the Anti-Recidivism Coalition and a film producer

Public member

Norma Cumpian, a formerly incarcerated person who manages services for women and non-binary people at the Anti-Recidivism Coalition

Community advocate

Angeles D. Zaragoza, attorney for the Los Angeles Alternate Public Defender’s Office

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