Report Shows Pattern of Sexual Assaults in Santa Clara County Jail
by Michael Dean Thompson
A report published this year by the Office of Correction and Law Enforcement Monitoring (OCLEM) showed how an unnamed Santa Clara County jail worker traded drugs with incarcerated women in exchange for sexual favors. OCLEM is a county watchdog office that monitors the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and county jails.
An anonymous grievance submitted by a prisoner spoke of an unsworn male employee who was bringing in the drugs. The grievance spawned a Jail Crimes Unit (JCU) investigation, which initiated surveillance of the employee. His exploitation of the women was quickly corroborated. The local sheriff’s office subsequently placed the employee on administrative leave and searched his locker, which along with further investigation, determined the behavior had been “part of a prolonged pattern.”
After Internal Affairs completed the investigation, OCLEM received an anonymous complaint that specific sheriff’s office employees in leadership positions had been aware of the behavior for more than a year. OCLEM reported the complaint and another Internal Affairs investigation began. The second complaint was later listed as “unsubstantiated,” and no further action was taken.
The employee was fired after the first investigation confirmed his behavior. He has also been charged for his sexual activity with prisoners and for bringing drugs into a correctional facility. Neither the OCLEM report nor the San Jose Spotlight identifies the former employee or the current status of the criminal charges. The report also fails to identify the kinds of drugs found or the quantities.
“The fact (the worker) was allowed to engage in this behavior for so long was concerning, as well as the fact that he was able to gain influence and was able to bring illicit drugs into the facility,” Michael Gennaco, founder and head of OIR Group, a law enforcement reform group under contract by the county, told the San Jose Spotlight.
While the incident resulted in a criminal prosecution, the fact that the employee was able to get away with exploiting women for sex for so long, potentially over a year, indicates more needs to be done to protect those incarcerated in Santa Clara County from drugs and exploitation by county jail employees.
The Sister Warrior’s Freedom Coalition works to end sexual exploitation and violence across California. Andria Zamora, managing director of the organization, told the San Jose Spotlight, “Any system that allows someone to exchange substances for sexual favors with people who are confined is a failure at every level.” Zamora added, “Consent can’t truly exist in these facilities. People are acting out of desperation. Incarcerated people already have histories of trauma and addiction and poverty and violence.”
The report goes on to point out that OCLEM attended Internal Affairs Review Board meetings covering 87 cases. Of those, nearly 65% resulted in some sustained findings of misconduct. All but nine of the cases involved jail guards.
Additional source: San Jose Spotlight
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