Santa Cruz Co. corrections officer arrested for alleged inappropriate relationship with inmate

SANTA CRUZ COUNTY, Calif. (KION) The Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office announced they have arrested a 31-year-old correctional officer for having an inappropriate relationship with an inmate.

On Sep. 4, 2020, Jessica Smith was arrested and booked into the main jail on the following charges: 289.6PC (sexual activity with an inmate), 149PC (assault by a public officer) and 502(a)PC (unauthorized computer access).

Detectives started looking into allegations that Smith was having an inappropriate relationship with an incarcerated person in July. The inmate was serving their sentence through Supervised Release as part of the county's Custody Alternative Program.

Smith has been employed with the Sheriff’s Office since 2015. She is now on administrative leave pending the completion of an administrative investigation.