Two San Francisco jails remained on lockdown April 15 as inmate violence and assaults against law enforcement continued to escalate, prompting deputies to call for the deployment of the California National Guard.
The San Francisco Deputy Sheriff’s Association, a union that represents more than 720 deputies, pleaded with the sheriff for help, saying staffing at the jails was insufficient.
The San Francisco County Sheriff’s Department announced the closure of the facilities—known as Jail No. 2 on 7th Street downtown and Jail No. 3 in San Bruno, about 15 miles from the city’s center—Saturday in response to an increase in assaults on deputies and jail staff by inmates, the department reported.
Inmates have injured seven staff members since March 29, according to the department.
The union additionally reported what it says is a “troubling trend” of incidents last year at the two facilities.
In 2023, 240 prisoner fights were reported, representing a nearly 60 percent increase from the previous year, according to the union.
The number of attacks on prisoners by other prisoners has also jumped by nearly 80 percent over the same period, the union reported.
The jails will remain on lockdown “until further notice,” sheriff’s spokeswoman Tara Moriarty told The Epoch Times.
Officials locked the jails down to protect those who work, visit, or live in the facilities, the sheriff’s department said.
Normal operations at the two jails were expected to resume this week, the department said.
Jail No. 2 houses up to nearly 400 inmates, and is the only county jail that houses women. Jail No. 3 houses up to about 770 inmates.
The county operates eight jails overseeing an average of about 1,220 inmates each day.
