Redwood City, CA – Jim Lawrence, Chair of Fixin’ San Mateo County, issued the following statement today in response to Supervisor Noelia Corzo’s announcement that a sexual assault had taken place in the jail and her request for a temporary Inspector General to be brought in to investigate:
“I am deeply disturbed at the allegation of a sexual assault in the San Mateo County Jail, and fully support Supervisor Corzo’s call to bring in an Inspector General to look into what went wrong.” He further adds, “Fixin’ San Mateo County has been advocating for a permanent Inspector General since 2021, and we continue to call on the Board of Supervisors to create the role.”
Fixin’ San Mateo County has long advocated for the appointment of a permanent Inspector General, and we urge the Board to take this vital step. A dedicated Inspector General would provide a steady, transparent avenue for addressing concerns, empowering deputies to report issues and fostering a culture of integrity and accountability.
We also call on the Board to task the County’s Independent Citizen Advisory Committee (ICAC) with reviewing the Inspector General’s findings and advising on essential steps forward. Their insights are critical to achieving meaningful reform.