Commissary prices spur hunger strike at a Redwood City jail

REDWOOD CITY >> Fueled in part by high commissary prices, a hunger strike is underway at the Maguire Correctional Facility in Redwood City.

The strike started June 16, according to a change. org petition filed by Rodrigo Prieto. The petition alleges the commissary vendor, Keefe Supply Co., charges less for the same items at other Bay Area jails than at Maguire and calls on San Mateo County to renegotiate its contract.

“What we are asking for is within reason,” Prieto wrote. “With the COVID-19 pandemic it’s hard on our families to support us. … All we want is reasonable prices.”

At least 1,500 people have signed the petition.

The San Mateo County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday evening confirmed the claim.

“We discovered that our commissary vendor charges prices that are higher than those of other local jails,” said Lt. Stephanie Josephson in a news release. “We have worked with our vendor and have agreed to lower the prices to match those of the other jails.”

All revenue is used for inmate programs and commissary personnel, according to Josephson.

Josephson also addressed inmate protests over the lack of free phone calls during the pandemic. The sheriff’s office contracts for inmate phone services, and the rate is 4.5 cents per minute.

“A half-hour phone call will cost the inmate or their family $1.35,” she said.

Inmates are also protesting the facility’s new remote video visitation system, which Josephson acknowledged has been hampered by technical issues.

“We are committed to finding solutions to remote video visits and are hopeful they will enhance the inmate-family unification process,” said Josephson, adding that every inmate is receiving two 30-minute video visitation sessions per week free of charge.

Josephson did not immediately return a message seeking additional comment on the hunger strike. Contact Jason Green at 408-920-5006.