By VOICE & VIEWPOINT NEWSWIRE
On December 10th, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a proposal to expand the investigatory jurisdiction of the County’s Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB). The proposal follows years of advocacy from impacted families and community members.
Key components of CLERB’s expansion include:
- Expanded Jurisdiction: Allowing CLERB to investigate any employee or contractor working under the direction of the Sheriff or Probation, including contracted health care providers, in cases of in-custody death. As part of any investigation of a health care provider, CLERB must also consider whether the health care provider’s function in the detention facility was adequately staffed at the time the incident under investigation took place.
- Improving Investigatory Timeline: Requiring CLERB to complete investigations within one year of discovering misconduct allegations and prioritize investigations involving death over all other types of complaints.
- Enhanced Reporting Requirements: If CLERB fails to complete an investigation within one year, the Executive Officer would report to the Board of Supervisors within thirty days. CLERB also may not dismiss an investigation or complaint involving a death due to the inability to timely complete the investigation.
- Clarifying Investigatory Powers: Empowering CLERB to investigate all in-custody deaths, even those classified as “natural,” and reopen a closed case in narrow circumstances.
County Counsel will report back to the Board of Supervisors with an initial draft ordinance within 60 days, and CLERB members will consider drafting their rules and regulations in accordance with this proposal at the next CLERB meeting.
