News / Articles

Interesting Day at Las Colinas Women's Facility

There were four of us who went on the tour; Simone Arias, Jeanne Brown, Eileen Coblens and Kim Knox. There is a limit of 5 at one time.

Las Coliñas was opened in 2014. It is situated on 45 acres in Santee, California. At present there are 522 prisoners; they have room for 1280 so it is about 1/2 full. This is a Women’s facility. They have different buildings for different types of prisoners: low-level, high level, protective custody, transgender (sometimes) etc. There is usually one deputy per low-level building but in other types there can be 2 or 3 depending on the need. This is part of a new philosophy called “Direct Supervision”. The most common offense seems to be drugs but there are women who are homeless who commit a crime to get a roof over their head.

The staff are trained at the beginning of their employment and every 2 years . The biggest addition to their training has been for de-escalation. That has really helped. They have not had that training for prisoners but they do have yoga, parenting, and alcohol and drug abuse classes. They also have classes in landscaping, sewing, housekeeping, and culinary arts where they can get certificates, such as a food-handlers’ card, to help them get a job on the outside. These are 3 - 6 months long classes.

We asked about recidivism but were told that it should be on their website. I was unable to find that. Jails are responsible for reporting their outcomes; it all has to be sent to the Attorney General’s Office in Sacramento.

There are incentives for good behavior such as longer time out in the day room, a pillow, better mattress, keeping their projects (such as sewing) in their room.

There is a welfare fund that can be set up for them to buy some extras. There are jobs they can do to earn $3.50 per week to use in the commissary.

Visiting privileges: For Low-level prisoners they can meet two times a week with their children or other family members of friends that have been checked out. There are hours for that on their website.

Tampons and pads are provided free of charge. If a woman is pregnant, she can see an OB/GYN by requesting it and she will be taken for appointments outside. The same goes for having an abortion, once it is approved by a doctor. If she gives birth while incarcerated, she will be taken to a hospital for the delivery but the baby will not go back with her. A family member, friend or adoption are all possible.

When a woman is brought in there are a number of steps that our tour guide walked us through, including body scans, medical check, finger-printing, photo, checking to see what she is charged with and whether she have a past history in the legal system. The whole process can take 6 to 8 hours, where she may be kept in various types of holding cells, like safety and sobering cells.There is Narcan available in each housing unit, by the holding cells and every deputy has some on their belt. This too, is part of a new philosophy called “Open Booking”. More explanation of these changes and other details can be found at https://www.sdsheriff.gov/Home/Components/FacilityDirectory/FacilityDirectory/105/