Jail officers union suing Santa Clara County after numerous changes

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- The Santa Clara County Correctional Peace Officers Association is suing the county over changes made by Sheriff Laurie Smith and her administration.

Th changes, according to the complaint, make working in the jails more dangerous.

The CPOA blasts the administration for 12 changes made without the union's input, among them:

• Allowing a larger number of inmates to exercise together. The complaint says the policy limited the numbers in the past, because gangs would often exercise together as a show of force.
• Changing clothing exchange, bar check and pill call to when inmates are out of their cells. The complaint argues jail staff had more control when performing those functions with inmates locked in their cells.
• Moving a larger number of staff from the main jail to Elmwood.

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