Ray Kelly

Leonard Brown, an inmate at Santa Rita Jail, died March 15 at a Pleasanton hospital — one week after attempting suicide in his cell.

U.S. Magistrate Nathanael Cousins approved a consent decree that went into effect Monday, placing Santa Rita Jail under external oversight, ending a 2018 lawsuit that alleged mental health abuse in the jail.

Inmates of the Santa Rita Jail shared testimonies of abuse at a hearing for the final approval of a settlement to the Babu v. County of Alameda lawsuit.

Community organizations representing incarcerated people in Babu v. County of Alameda held a press conference Wednesday to discuss objections to a proposed settlement.

The Alameda County Sheriff’s Office has not transferred any people to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody in 2021, according to a spokesperson from the office, but the sheriff is continuing to collaborate with the immigration agency in certain cases.

COVID-19 cases surged at Santa Rita Jail, according to Sgt. Ray Kelly, a spokesperson for the Alameda County Sheriff’s Office.

Following an investigation into Alameda County’s mental care system, the U.S. Department of Justice, or DOJ, issued a report April 22 detailing potential constitutional violations.

Several months after COVID-19 reached Santa Rita Jail, National Lawyers Guild San Francisco released a letter Oct. 2 that called for Alameda County officials to protect inmates against the disease and ensure safer living conditions.

As Santa Rita Jail is taking precautions in light of the COVID-19, colloquially known as the coronavirus, pandemic, organizations and activists are pushing for more drastic measures.

A class action lawsuit was filed against Santa Rita Jail for alleged violations of prisoners' constitutional rights and infringements of labor laws.