An opinion piece by The Rev. Lauren P. McCombs The United States was founded on the principle of religious freedom for everyone. Alarmingly, the San Mateo County jail system has made it difficult for incarcerated individuals to practice their faith… Over the past several years, religious access — once a lifeline of hope and healing…
FxSMC in the News
Corpus removal hearing begins
On the first day of the hearing, attorneys for each side made opening statements laying out their arguments. The prosecution said they will call witnesses to prove that the sheriff retaliated against subordinates, neglected her duties, had conflicts of interest and violated the police officer bill of rights, a state code protecting law enforcement personnel.
Sheriff Corpus removal hearings begin Monday in San Mateo County
Long-awaited hearings on whether to remove San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus from office will begin Monday and run until Aug. 29, marking the first time corruption and misconduct allegations against the county’s first Latina sheriff will be tested in a public forum.
Inspector general recommended for the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office
As the county navigates the ongoing scandal surrounding the Sheriff’s Office, an advisory committee formally recommended supervisors hire an independent inspector general to establish ongoing oversight of the law enforcement agency. The Independent Civilian Advisory Commission on the Sheriff’s Office — established in 2023 — made the case to the Board of Supervisors for a permanent…
Sheriff Corpus removal hearing scheduled for August; public access still in question
San Mateo County Sheriff Christina Corpus will face a formal removal hearing Aug. 18-29 after the Board of Supervisors voted to remove her from office last month, county officials confirmed on Friday. Corpus requested the hearing be closed, according to county spokesperson Effie Milionis Verducci. However, the “county is evaluating the request; it has not been determined…
State opens jail death review office; County cases under scrutiny
A new state office has been tasked to review local jail deaths throughout California and make recommendations for potential changes in practices or policies involving inmate custody. During a community presentation via Zoom Tuesday night, May 6, Ganter talked about the division, its responsibilities, and what it expects from local jurisdictions statewide. The session comes…
Procedures for Sheriff Corpus removal approved with some amendments
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday unanimously advanced a set of procedures that could lead to the removal of embattled Sheriff Christina Corpus, moving the process forward with some amendments.
Fixin’ San Mateo County receives grant from Grove Action Fund
Fixin’ San Mateo County says that the grant funding will help it with both its operating costs and community outreach efforts. “We are grateful for the Grove Action Fund’s commitment to independent oversight of the Sheriff’s Office,” said FxSMC Board Chair Jim Lawrence.
California counties team up to push for sheriff’s oversight
The newly formed “California Coalition for Sheriff’s Oversight” brings together counties actively working on or already have oversight systems, including Alameda, Marin, Monterey, San Mateo and Santa Cruz. A notable voice in this movement is Fixin’ San Mateo County (FxSMC), a local entity advocating for civilian oversight to introduce a balanced approach to county law…
Fixin’ SMC endorsed by ACLU-Norcal
The effort to launch an independent oversight group of the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office has received a new supporter. The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California has endorsed the effort by Fixin’ San Mateo County to establish such a group.