Law enforcement
Corrections: jail administrators
Counties may create a board-confirmed jail administrator to run county jails while sheriffs retain direct oversight.
The law gives counties an optional jail-management structure that separates daily jail administration from the sheriff’s exclusive control. It preserves the sheriff’s authority to supervise, discipline, and remove the administrator.
What the law does
- Allows a county board of supervisors to establish a jail administrator position by resolution.
- Requires the sheriff to nominate candidates and the board to publicly consider and vote on confirmation within set deadlines.
- Makes the confirmed administrator the executive officer of county jails, with supervisory authority over jail staff and incarcerated people, for a three-year term.
- Requires the sheriff to appoint an acting administrator after a vacancy and nominate a permanent candidate.
- Exempts counties with an appointed jail administrator from the rule giving the sheriff sole and exclusive authority over the county jail.
- Treats an appointed jail administrator as a sheriff for statutory jail-keeping duties.
Who it affects
- County boards of supervisors.
- County sheriffs and jail administrators.
- County jail staff and incarcerated people.
Context
Counties may choose, but are not required, to create this position.