SAN JOSE, Calif. — The state Department of Justice is opening a civil-rights investigation into the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office and its management of South Bay jails, as well as other allegations of neglect and misconduct, California Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Wednesday.
The investigation comes after the Board of Supervisors, led by board members Joe Simitian and Otto Lee, spearheaded a referral last fall calling for multiple outside authorities to launch independent investigations into Sheriff Laurie Smith’s management of the county jails and corruption allegations related to her practices in issuing concealed-gun permits.
“We are here today because there is a deficit of trust in Santa Clara County,” Bonta said. “There are deeply concerning allegations around potentially pervasive misconduct within the sheriff’s office.”
