Union City Jail Inspected By County Grand Jury

UNION CITY, CA — The Alameda County Grand Jury inspected the Union City Police Department Jail on Oct. 27 and just issued its final report.

The bottom line: the grand jury found no deficiencies.

The jail is used to temporarily hold people following arrest until they can be transported to the Santa Rita jail in Dublin, or to the Alameda County Juvenile Justice Center in San Leandro.

The grand jury reviewed COVID-19 policies and procedures for the facility, making certain that both detainees and staff were protected.

Detainees needing medical attention are transferred to Washington Hospital in Fremont. Staff are also trained in first aid and automated external defibrillator use.

Upon request, food is purchased for detainees at local fast-food restaurants or from vending machines at the police department at no cost to the detainee.

One specially trained Public Services Officer is permanently assigned to the jail. When the PSO is off-duty, other officers provide coverage. When female detainees are held, a female officer is assigned.

In a 2013 grand jury inspection report it was noted that there was ammunition in uncovered trays in plain view in the sally port (the former prisoner-intake area). The sally port is no longer a part of the detainee intake area, and ammunition is now stored in a locked closet outside the jail.

Jail capacity is nine adults and three juveniles. The juveniles are separated from adults.