Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: Michael P. Callagy, County Executive
Subject: Response to 2024-25 Civil Grand Jury Report “Vacant, Valuable, and Vulnerable: Reimagining San Mateo County’s Youth Services Facilities”
RECOMMENDATION:
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Approve the Board of Supervisors’ response to the 2024-25 Civil Grand Jury Report “Vacant, Valuable, and Vulnerable: Reimagining San Mateo County’s Youth Services Facilities.”
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BACKGROUND:
On July 16, 2025, the 2024-25 San Mateo County Civil Grand Jury issued a report titled “Vacant, Valuable, and Vulnerable: Reimagining San Mateo County’s Youth Services Facilities” (Report) in which it requested that the County respond to two findings and two recommendations set forth in the Report.
Pursuant to Penal Code Section 933, the Board of Supervisors must respond to the findings and recommendations in the Report over which it has decision-making authority within 90 days. Thus, the Board’s response is due to the Honorable Donald J. Ayoob, Judge of the Superior Court of California, County of San Mateo, no later than October 17, 2025.
DISCUSSION:
Staff recommends that the Board submit the following responses to the two findings and two recommendations in the Report:
FINDINGS
Finding No. 1:
San Mateo County's youth services facilities are underutilized despite significant investment. Public funds are supporting largely empty facilities, although viable innovative reuse proposals already exist.
Response: The County disagrees partially with this Finding. The County agrees that due to the reduced population at the County’s Youth Services Facilities and Camp Kemp, those facilities are underutilized. However, Camp Glenwood has been leased to the State of California for use as the Glenwood Fire Center; therefore, it is being used in a way that benefits San Mateo County in an extremely impactful manner. Currently, San Mateo County Health and Probation are collaborating to create the Youth Crisis Healing Campus at Camp Kemp. This project will address the special needs of the County’s most vulnerable populations, including adequately meeting the needs of those impacted by emotional and substance use-related crises that must currently share such services with adult populations that can further traumatize youth.
Finding No. 2:
Youth ages 18 to 25 who commit a crime after their 18th birthday are incarcerated in an adult jail, creating a disparity of rehabilitative services for young adults.
Response: The County disagrees partially with this Finding. The County agrees that youth ages 18-25 who commit a crime after their 18th birthday are incarcerated in an adult jail. However, while rehabilitative services for incarcerated persons aged 18-25 are not identical at the Youth Services Center and the Jail, they are comparable in the populations they serve, the criminogenic factors (those factors that led to criminal behavior at the onset) they address, their individualized approaches to program development, and their focus on life after release from custody (reentry), and the life skills needed to have long term success.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Recommendation No. 1:
The Board of Supervisors should commission a comprehensive Master Plan for Youth Facility Utilization by January 1, 2026, with final publication by January 1, 2027.
Response: This Recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted. Camp Glenwood has been converted to a new use and use of Camp Kemp as a Youth Crisis Healing Campus is currently being explored. However, the County is of the opinion that a “targeted” study should be conducted to determine whether there are viable alternative uses for unused space within the detention areas of the Youth Services Center.
Recommendation No. 2:
The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office should explore the feasibility of expanding rehabilitative services for young adults aged 18 to 25 in custody, comparable to those offered at the Youth Services Center. A written feasibility report outlining service options, resource needs, and potential timelines should be submitted to the Board of Supervisors and Civil Grand Jury by December 15, 2025.
Response: This Recommendation requires further analysis. By January 15, 2026, the Sheriff’s Office can be prepared to discuss how it will generate a feasibility study to provide more services for incarcerated transitional age youth.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact associated with the acceptance of this Report.
Attachments:
Attachment A: Vacant, Valuable, and Vulnerable: Reimagining San Mateo County’s Youth Services Facilities, July 16, 2025