Mays v. County of Sacramento TEST

Case Summary

On July 31, 2018, the Prison Law Office and Disability Rights California filed a federal class action lawsuit on behalf of incarcerated people in Sacramento County’s jails, claiming that conditions at the jail do not meet minimum standards under the U.S. Constitution as well as federal and state disability law. The lawsuit alleges that the County fails to provide basic mental health and medical care, imposes harsh and extreme solitary confinement conditions, and discriminates against people with disabilities. The lawsuit seeks significant reforms to improve jail conditions and to end the violation of the rights of people in the Sacramento County Jail, including those with mental health needs and other disabilities.

Timeline

October 2015 DRC issues report on conditions in Sacramento County Jails.
July 2018 Plaintiffs file class action complaint against Sacramento County.
December 2018 Plaintiffs win class certification.
February 2019 Plaintiffs file Motion for Summary Judgment/Preliminary Injunction regarding use of solitary confinement for people with serious mental illness.
January 2020 Court approves Mays consent decree.
May 2020 Plaintiffs issue Notice of Dispute regarding face coverings for staff as precaution against transmission of COVID-19.
October 2021 Plaintiffs issue Notice of Dispute regarding mental health care and suicide prevention measures.
May 2022 County consultant issues report on recommended jail population reduction measures.
June 2022 Parties enter into Memorandum of Agreement regarding mental health care and suicide prevention.
December 2022 Board of Supervisors approves measures to reduce jail population.
August 2023 Plaintiffs call on Sheriff Jones to screen custody staff for contraband.
May 2024 Plaintiffs issue Notice of Dispute regarding lack of privacy in intake process.
February 2025 Plaintiffs issue Notice of Dispute regarding inadequate mental health care.

Documents & Resources

News

Sacramento deputy captured on video shoving woman outside jail (KQED, February 28, 2025)

‘He’s just old and homeless’: California jail death leads to accusations of neglect (New York Times, February 7, 2025)

How Sacramento County Sheriff’s Office evacuated inmates ‘on-the-fly’ from jail near Elk Grove (Sacramento Bee, October 22, 2024)

Attorneys sound alarm after 5 deaths in Sacramento County jails (ABC10, August 27, 2024)

California debates solitary confinement in local jails — and whether it’s really possible to end it (Los Angeles Times, August 31, 2023)

Six Sacramento jail inmates have died this year. They won’t be independently investigated. (Sacramento Bee, August 29, 2023)

A Sacramento jail inmate died in May. The Sheriff’s Office never told the public. (Sacramento Bee, August 29, 2023)

Sacramento County inmates will receive winter-appropriate clothing (KCRA, March 2, 2023)

Sacramento sheriff reverses stance, agrees to provide warm clothing to jail inmates (Sacramento Bee, March 1, 2023)

As cold weather sweeps Sacramento, inmates complain about ‘frigid conditions’ in jail (Sacramento Bee, February 27, 2023)

Epic all-day meeting as Sacramento County debates expanding its jail (Davis Vanguard, December 8, 2022)

Sacramento jail failing in health care for inmates, with report citing ‘filthy’ areas (Sacramento Bee, October 26, 2022)

Latest jail outbreak prompts emergency releases (The Observer, January 25, 2022)

Sacramento County must stop torturing mentally ill jail inmates with solitary confinement (Sacramento Bee, April 29, 2021)

Sacramento County to vaccinate inmates ahead of schedule (FOX40, February 24, 2021)

‘No way of stopping it.’ How COVID-19 invaded Sacramento jail, triggering major outbreak (Sacramento Bee, February 11, 2021)

COVID at ‘crisis levels’ in Sacramento jails. Lawyers want more inmates vaccinated (Sacramento Bee, January 30, 2021)

Sacramento supervisors delay vote on expanding troubled Main Jail downtown (Sacramento Bee, January 27, 2021)

Sacramento County Jails stipulate to requiring masks for guards (Davis Vangaurd, June 25, 2020)

Coronavirus in jails and prisons (The Appeal, June 10, 2020)

California jail population plummets during pandemic. Could this lead to long-term change? (Sacramento Bee, May 27, 2020)

Photos

RCCC medical dorm isolation housing

RCCC medical dorm isolation housing

Empty Holding Cell [Intake]

Empty Holding Cell [Intake]

RCCC Women’s Disciplinary Unit

RCCC Women’s Disciplinary Unit

Main Jail Cell

Main Jail Cell

Main Jell Medical Cell

Main Jell Medical Cell

Main Jail Dayroom

Main Jail Dayroom