Despite opposition from law enforcement, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a new law last month that protects voting rights for felons in county jails.

A reform commission created after the fatal beating of a mentally ill inmate wants to wrest control of the jails from Sheriff Laurie Smith.

It wasn’t until December, under mounting public pressure, that the Sheriff's Office disclosed its jail use-of-force and cell extraction policies.

An oversight board tasked with examining Santa Clara County jails decided against disbanding, despite concerns that a parallel probe would undermine its work.