Report:
The Ongoing Inhumane Conditions in San Francisco Jails
San Francisco’s county jail system, home to thousands of incarcerated people, is failing in ways that are both predictable and shocking. Facilities meant to protect and house human beings are instead producing unsafe, unsanitary, and mentally damaging conditions, leaving vulnerable populations at constant risk. This report draws on firsthand testimony from an incarcerated comrade, referred to here as M, and corroborating reporting on the state of San Francisco’s jails.
San Francisco operates eight jails under the Sheriff’s Department Custody Division. Two are located in the Hall of Justice on Bryant Street, including the main intake facility and a maximum-security unit. Two others are at the San Bruno complex south of the city. County Jail No. 2, in SoMa, houses women and people with medical needs, while County Jail No. 4 historically contained maximum-security housing. Older facilities in the Hall of Justice are outdated and plagued by plumbing and sanitation problems, while newer facilities still face maintenance and capacity strains. In recent years, jail populations have climbed to levels that stretch available resources and infrastructure to the limit.
I first learned about the situation when I was contacted by an organizer from the IWW Incarcerated Workers Organizing Committee. I had been looking to reconnect with the IWW to explore collaboration between my organization, the DSA, and the IWW. During that conversation, the organizer was contacted by a comrade named M, an incarcerated individual in San Francisco. We conducted a conference call, and M asked me to share her story.
M’s account is alarming. Toilets overflow frequently, floors peel up exposing plywood and porous rubber material underneath, causing fecal matter to build up in cell floors. Hygiene is nearly impossible, made worse by the fact that most of her facility has no janitors or regular cleaning staff, creating direct health risks. Showers remain cold for over a year despite regulations requiring water to reach approximately 100°F. M recounted an incident where corrections officers reportedly forced an elderly woman into a cold shower, after which she became sick and required hospitalization. M has spent seven months in a cell with no meaningful sunlight, and certain units have no windows at all.
Reports from other sources confirm that these conditions are widespread. People in County Jail No. 2 have reported limited access to hot water, pervasive cold showers, and filth that discourages basic hygiene. Lawsuits and news coverage from County Jail No. 4 describe raw sewage flooding, backed-up toilets, and feces on floors where people eat and sleep, exposing inmates to biohazardous conditions. Operating near or over capacity, jails struggle to manage infrastructure and staff, exacerbating already dangerous conditions.
These failures have serious consequences. Unsanitary conditions, cold showers, and lack of sunlight contribute to infection, skin and gastrointestinal illness, psychological distress, and worsening chronic conditions. Elderly inmates and those with medical needs are particularly vulnerable. The conditions violate basic detention standards requiring adequate water temperature and outdoor access.
The gap between policy and reality is stark. The Sheriff’s Department, oversight bodies, and elected officials are responsible for ensuring humane custody, yet systemic failures persist. Enforcement of legal rights and oversight is weak, leaving incarcerated people without recourse.
The conditions documented by M and confirmed by reporting are systemic and persistent. San Francisco must act to protect the dignity and rights of incarcerated people as well as of all tenants. It is my hope that this testimony from inside the system well serve to help guide reform and oversight efforts.
Sources
https://missionlocal.org/2026/02/sf-jail-filth-cold-showers/
https://courthousenews.com/sewage-floods-in-san-francisco-jail-spur-lawsuit/
https://sfchronicle.com/crime/article/SF-agrees-to-settle-lawsuit-with-jail-inmates-who-14942413.php
https://sfstandard.com/2025/03/14/sf-jails-packed-for-the-first-time-in-decadesu? /
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/San_Francisco_County_Jails/