Assemblymember Gregg Hart Introduces Bill to Restore Accountability in California County Jails

New legislation would give counties the option to maintain sheriff-run jails or appoint an official other than the sheriff to operate the county jail system.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Assemblymember Gregg Hart has introduced AB 2257 to strengthen accountability and restore checks and balances in the governance of California's county jails. The bill would give counties the flexibility to maintain sheriff-run jails or appoint an official other than the sheriff to operate the county jail system, if warranted by the need for improved jail operations and administration.

Why it matters

This legislation aims to address ongoing issues in California's county jails, including high rates of inmate deaths, inadequate mental health care, staffing shortages, and financial mismanagement. The current governance model, where elected sheriffs have sole authority over jails while county boards of supervisors are obligated to fund them without oversight, has created a structural imbalance with limited checks and balances.

The details

AB 2257 would restore local choice in jail governance, a flexibility counties had prior to 1993. The bill would allow counties to determine the model that best ensures public safety, fiscal responsibility, and humane conditions in their jails. Supporters argue this would encourage collaboration and accountability between sheriffs and county boards of supervisors.

  • AB 2257 was introduced by Assemblymember Gregg Hart on February 19, 2026.

The players

Assemblymember Gregg Hart

The California state assemblymember who introduced AB 2257 to restore accountability in the state's county jails.

Santa Barbara County

An example county cited in the legislation, where numerous preventable deaths have occurred in the county jail and recurring budget overruns by the sheriff have forced the county to divert funding from other essential public services.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“California's county jails are in crisis. Jail deaths are at record highs. People with mental illness languish without adequate care. Staffing shortages persist, while financial mismanagement threatens essential public services. Counties deserve the authority to ensure their jail systems are safe, constitutional, and fiscally responsible.”

— Assemblymember Gregg Hart (independent.com)

“Good governance requires real accountability. When human lives and millions of public dollars are at stake, counties must have the tools to ensure their jail systems are safe, effective, and responsibly managed.”

— Assemblymember Gregg Hart (independent.com)

What’s next

The bill will now proceed through the California state legislative process, where it will be considered by committees and voted on by the state assembly and senate.

The takeaway

This legislation aims to address longstanding issues in California's county jails by restoring local control and accountability. If passed, it would give counties more flexibility to determine the best governance model for their jail systems, potentially leading to improved public safety, fiscal responsibility, and humane conditions for inmates.