Public Safety and Justice Reform

Safety and Justice in Action

Ensuring that our communities, the people who live in them, and anyone who becomes involved in our justice system, are safe is a top priority.

That means a timely response during regional emergencies, fire protection in the unincorporated area, improving detention facilities and helping those in the justice system get the help they need to succeed.

Emergency Services typically deals with wildfires, but in January 2024, torrential downpours caused widespread flooding, mudslides and erosion.

Emergency Services took the lead as the County opened a Local Assistance Center for impacted residents, assessed damage, collected debris and worked with state and federal agencies to help residents recover. County leaders created the Emergency Temporary Lodging Program to provide safe housing, food and mental health services to more than 2,200 people impacted by the flood.

During the emergency, AlertSanDiego.org provided up-to-date recovery information. And in the aftermath, we used new technology to improve the website and the  SD Emergency app. Now users can see more precise locations for emergency evacuations.

"They have services that can help me, food, clothing. I lost birth certificates. They are helping with that. This is a blessing for all the people who have lost stuff.”

- Jeanette J.,
Flood Survivor

In October 2023, County Fire implemented a new ambulance transportation service to meet needs in rural communities and celebrated the opening of the new East Otay Mesa Fire Station. County Fire also recently identified 540 miles of key evacuation corridors and cleared 20 feet of vegetation along those routes.

County Fire and Probation are also developing a Fuels Crew Program for in-custody youth that will act as job training for the future.

The County finished construction on the second phase of the Youth Transition Campus in July 2024 capping a years-long effort to incorporate justice reform into detention facilities for young people. The new campus is fully operational. It replaces the outdated correctional facility and provides the youth a therapeutic, rehabilitative campus.

Major renovations are underway at other detention facilities and include new technology to improve health and safety.

The County also moved forward in its Alternatives to Incarceration initiative. Plans are underway for a new resource hub that will help adults leaving jail overcome barriers to reentering the community.

The Sheriff’s Office took delivery of two new state-of-the-art helicopters. One specifically fights fires, and the second will primarily act as a patrol helicopter.

99%

of Youth in the Alternatives to Detention Program Successfully Completed the Program Without any New Sustained Law Violations

The County’s new gun violence reduction work plan went into effect and it works to reduce gun violence in the region—including suicide, domestic or intimate partner violence and community violence.

And trauma survivors found much-needed services at One Safe Place, the North County Family Justice Center. A second location in the South Bay will open in 2025.

January, February Floods

233,000 Sandbags and 1,825 Tons of Sand Provided to Residents

35.96 Tons of Flood-damaged Debris Collected and Disposed from Affected Homes in the Unincorporated Area

24,961 lbs. of Household Hazardous Waste Collected and Disposed after Floods