EL DORADO COUNTY, Calif. – Security is a top priority at El Dorado County jails and detention centers. The Sheriff’s Office and Probation Department take that responsibility seriously, according to the 2025-2026 El Dorado County Civil Grand Jury (Grand Jury) report of El Dorado County jails at South Lake Tahoe, Placerville, and the South Lake Tahoe Juvenile Treatment Center.
The report, “El Dorado County Detention Centers,” was published recently at https://www.eldoradocounty.ca.gov/files/assets/county/v/3/documents/public-safety-amp-justice/grand-jury/2025-2026/detention-center-report.pdf by the Superior Court, which annually appoints 19 county residents as grand jurors to serve as citizen watchdogs over local government.
The Grand Jury investigation included site visits, interviews, and a review of previous state and local reports. Conditions at all facilities are acceptable, but the Grand Jury raised concerns over staffing levels and vacancies.
According to the report, “the Sheriff’s Office has made progress in recruitment by streamlining the application and testing process. The staffing concern requires additional action to ensure appropriate staffing levels at both the South Lake Tahoe and Placerville locations.”
The Grand Jury cited the expansion project at the Placerville Jail scheduled for completion in 2026 that will add 22,000 square feet to the facility. The expansion will add a new medical services area, female housing, and other ancillary services. The report notes that the expansion will not add to inmate capacity. The Grand Jury has concerns that this expansion amplifies the need to fill vacant positions for correctional officers and jail staff, especially at the Placerville jail.
The Grand Jury gave two recommendations:
1. The El Dorado County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Board of Supervisors
direct the Director of Human Resources to conduct a compensation study for
Correctional Officers. The study should consider comparing with neighboring counties in State of Nevada to be completed no later than December 9, 2026.
2. The El Dorado County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff, in cooperation with the Director of Human Resources, develop a plan for recruitment opportunities to specifically address the application process, testing, training, and incentives for open positions located in South Lake Tahoe by December 9, 2026.
All findings and recommendations can be found in the full report on the County website. Under California law, the El Dorado County Sheriff and Board of Supervisors must respond to the Grand Jury report within 60 to 90 days, respectively.
The Superior Court lists qualifications for Grand Jury service and encourages applications at https://www.eldoradocounty.ca.gov/Public-Safety-Justice/Safety-Justice/Grand-Jury/Apply-To-Join.