In the end, it took longer to put former county Supervisor George Shirakawa Jr. in jail than the time he actually served. But that might not be the case for long.
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Jail Violence on the Rise
Santa Clara County jails have seen a sharp uptick in assaults over the past few years, partly because of state prison reforms that pushed more dangerous inmates to local correctional facilities.
Shirakawa Sentenced to One Year in County Jail
Disgraced former county Supervisor George Shirakawa Jr. will spend the next year in jail for his pilfering of campaign funds. Judge Daniel T. Nishigaya on Friday sentenced Shirakawa, who pleaded guilty this spring to five felonies and seven misdemeanors, to a year behind bars, minus one day served. Following the ruling, he was immediately escorted out of court and taken into custody. A source within the county Sheriff’s Office tells San Jose Inside that Shirakawa will spend his time behind bars in Alameda County. He will receive probation for three years following his release.
County Sheriff’s Office Scraps Proposal to Limit Jail Mail to Postcards
Santa Clara County inmates will continue receiving mail after jail officials abandoned a contentious plan to limit correspondence to just postcards. Jail chief John Hirokawa originally brought up the idea earlier this summer in hopes of limiting the amount of drugs smuggled in through envelopes or postage stamps. But the community put up a fight, saying the mail restriction could dry up prisoners’ ties with friends, family and life outside their cell. The county jail and Elmwood Correctional Facility receive about 200,000 pieces of mail a year. If the postcard-only policy passed, the county would have become the first in Northern California to enact such a ban and one of a few-dozen in the nation.
Community Activists Cite Civil Rights Concerns with Jail Mail Policy Changes
The sheriff’s office recently proposed limiting all mail sent to inmates to postcards instead of the envelope-enclosed letters currently allowed. Sorting through the 200,000 letters a year is tedious, jail officials say. Some of the letters are soaked, spliced or stamped with drugs: PCP, acid, meth and other contraband. Some contain needles. Some hide gang communications. The idea of switching to simply postcards—outside of inmates’ communications with their attorneys—would save money and time. But families and friends of inmates, as well as community activists, argue that the change would constitute a civil rights violation and endanger the rehabilitation of those incarcerated.
County Makes Correct Call on Jail Letters
Most people do not consider jail inmates to be an empathic interest group. But many in custody are innocent, as they have not yet been proven guilty, and as a matter of law and right they must be treated justly. That’s why the Santa Clara County Department of Corrections (DOC) was right in halting a new proposal to limit mail in county jails.
Kalra Pleads Guilty to DUI, Avoids Jail
Councilmember Ash Kalra won’t serve any jail time after pleading guilty today to misdemeanor DUI, but he will take part in a jail work-detail program for five days, pay $2,000 in fines, receive alcohol counseling for 90 days and be put on probation for three years.
Jails Go to Sheriff
One of the shockers to come out of the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors’ budget hearings last week was the decision to return control of the county jails to the Sheriff’s Department. The two were separated like bad children back in 1987, after then-Sheriff Robert E. Winter was brought to court by inmates and accused of overcrowding in the jails while the jails hemorrhaged money. In a deal orchestrated by the then-Supes’ chairwoman, now-Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, the county wrested control from the sheriff and created the Department of Corrections.
Los Gatos Party Mom Gets 35 years, 10 months Maximum Sentence for Teen Abuse
Shannon O’Connor, 52, was convicted in March on dozens of felony and misdemeanor charges: for bringing vodka and Fireball whiskey, providing condoms and discouraging teens from telling their parents or police about the parties.
San Jose Police Arrest Suspect in Double Homicide
Gustavo Rodriguez, 46, was arrested on a warrant that identified him as the primary suspect in the March 12 fatal double homicide in the 700 block of E. Santa Clara Street.
San Jose Police Arrest Suspect for Four Assaults in Less than Two Months
The 32-year-old suspect was arrested Sunday without incident after barricading himself in a home, where he had threatened the resident with a machete.
Seahawks Fan in Custody in Washington, Charged with Shooting Six People in San Jose on Super Bowl Sunday
San Jose Gang Investigations Unit detectives used an automated license plate reader to identify the suspect vehicle used to flee the area after the shooting of six people in downtown San Jose after the Feb. 8 Super Bowl in Santa Clara.
ICE Doubles Down on Planned ‘Enforcement Actions’ at the Super Bowl at Levi’s Stadium
The Department of Homeland Security said ICE and Border Patrol have no plans to steer clear of the Super Bowl, despite the tension and unrest after the two fatal shootings in Minnesota.
Sheriff Bob Jonsen Opens Re-election Campaign with a Book and a Song
The announcement by Santa Clara County Sheriff Bob Jonsen appeared only on his LinkedIn page and was paired with an AI recording of a song he wrote. A week earlier he announced an upcoming memoir with its own accompanying full soundtrack of songs with lyrics written by the sheriff.
Damage to 1918 Stained Glass at Five Wounds Portuguese National Church in San Jose Considered Irreplaceable
A hooded stranger smashed the vestibule door of San Jose's historic Portuguese church in a shocking attack during Christmas Eve services. A suspect was identified as the attacker at the church after he was arrested for a Dec. 27 attack that nearly killed a homeless man.
Newsom Claims Success in Battling Growth of Organized Retail Thefts
In 2025, state officials recovered more than 270,000 stolen goods worth nearly $17 million, according to new report from the Gov. Gavin Newsom.
