Commissary: a place where inmates can purchase goods and toiletry items while in custody. An inmate may request individuals from outside the jail to put money in his/her account for these purchases, or an inmate can earn credits by attending classes or working in the jail for these purchases.
Electronic Monitoring: a program run by the Probation Department in which the offender is fitted with an ankle bracelet that is programmed to apprise the Probation Department of his/her whereabouts
Felony: a major crime punishable by confinement in a state prison, county jail, or by serving probation
Infirmary: an area within a healthcare unit set up and operated for the purpose of caring for patients who need skilled nursing care but are not in need of hospitalization or placement in a licensed nursing facility, and whose care cannot be managed safely in an outpatient setting. It is not the area itself, but the scope of care provided that makes the bed an infirmary bed.
Medium Security: a facility for inmates whose crime and criminal history do not pose a high security risk. They are housed in a locked facility, but often in a dorm-like setting, rather than in individual cells.
Minimum Security: a facility for inmates whose crime and criminal history pose very little security risk. They are housed in an unlocked facility.
Misdemeanor: a less serious crime punishable by confinement in a county jail normally for a period of one year or less, and/or probation
“O” Unit: the observation unit that includes rooms within the medical unit, where inmates who are physically or mentally ill are monitored both by video and medical staff
Parole: a condition of a sentence whereupon a person convicted of a felony crime is closely supervised by an agent (Parole Officer) of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation after being released from prison
Parole Hold: a parolee is placed in custody at
the local county jail by his/her Parole Officer for having violated the
conditions of parole or for committing a new crime. A hearing is held while the
parolee is in custody (
Plastic Boats: used by the Sheriff to sleep inmates when the population surpasses the maximum capacity of the facility. The boat-shaped plastic bed sits directly on the floor within a cell block.
Prison: a place of confinement operated by
the State of
Probation: a condition of the sentence whereupon a person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor crime, who is out of custody, is supervised by an agent (Probation Officer) of the county Probation Department
Rated Capacity: California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Corrections Standards Authority, minimum standards for detention facilities, contained in Title 15 of the California Code of Regulations. It includes the number of inmates each detention facility was built to hold (rated capacity) and the number of inmates that can safely be housed in the facility (maximum capacity).
Rubber Room: an isolated room in which the walls and floors are covered in a rubber material. Inmates who present a serious danger to themselves can be housed in this room, which is monitored by a surveillance camera and visited by staff every fifteen minutes.
SAFE: Safe and Free Environment Program which is derived from the Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Grant (RSAT). This program is in operation at the Rountree Medium Security facility for male inmates.
Sobriety Cell: used if a newly arrested individual needs time to sober up before going through the booking process
Ward: an offender who is under the age of eighteen years whose case is under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court
There are seven facilities that comprise the jail system in
1. Main Jail
2. Rountree Medium
3. Rountree Minimum
4.
5. Court Holding
6. Juvenile Hall
7. Camp 45
The first five facilities listed are operated by the Santa
Cruz County Sheriff. Juvenile Hall is operated by the Probation Department. The
budget for each of these facilities is under the control of the
The Grand Jury is mandated by California Penal Code § 919(b) to inspect and report on the conditions and management of the jail facilities within the county. To satisfy this mandate, the Criminal Justice Committee of the Grand Jury:
· inspected each facility at least once;
· spoke with management, staff, and inmates at each facility;
· reviewed previous Grand Jury reports, paying particular interest to prior recommendations;
· reviewed relevant laws in the California Penal Code and Code of Regulation;
· reviewed California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation inspection reports for each facility.
The Santa Cruz Main Jail is located at
1.
On
2. All law enforcement agencies must bring newly arrested individuals to the main jail for processing. This process is known as being “booked.” Additionally, all newly booked inmates are shown a video that explains the rules and what the inmate should expect while being housed at the jail. A copy of the video was provided to this Grand Jury for review. The video is available in English and Spanish.
3.
The
Response:
Response:
At
the direction of the Sheriff, an overcrowding task force was formed in early
2005, which included local Judiciary, Defense Bar, the District Attorney’s
Office, Community Based Organizations, Probation, Parole and law enforcement.
The Sheriff’s Office also initiated an assessment by the National Institute of
Corrections (NIC) with cooperation from the above-mentioned task force members.
Since the implementation of NIC recommendations, crowding has been reduced but
Main Jail inmate population still exists over the rated capacity on a frequent
basis. Working in cooperation with the CAO and the Board of Supervisors, the
Sheriff was able to add five Correctional Officer positions to Main Jail
staffing in the 2006-07 budget, which had been eliminated several years ago due
to budget adjustments.
4.
In the 2004-2005 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
Final Report Jail Review, it was reported that the booking fees per inmate for
the fiscal year through April 2005 were $168.00. This fee was paid by each city
law enforcement agency, and then each city agency was reimbursed by the State
of
Response:
The 2004-05
booking fee was $168.08. The revenue for the past year was lowered by
approximately 30 percent.
Response:
The 2004-05
booking fees were actually $168.08. The actual revenue was lowered thirty
percent. California State Sheriffs’ Association,
5. The Grand Jury observed that this facility’s ongoing maintenance was apparent. The smell of fresh paint was in the air, and painting of the inside was reported to be continuous. Inside doors were being upgraded and/or repaired. Plans are in place to renovate the plumbing and shower system in one of the cell block areas. The jail was clean in appearance. Inmates were respectful toward all officers.
6.
While there are cameras at the main entrance to the
jail, surveillance cameras were lacking on the outside of the facility by the
vehicle entrance to the booking area.
Response:
Surveillance cameras currently observe all
Main Jail perimeter property.
7.
Visiting rooms, both “non-contact” and “contact”
were inspected. Visiting hours for both attorneys and civilians had strict
requirements. A survey was sent to ten defense attorney offices in the county
soliciting input regarding conditions of the visiting rooms and hours of
visiting.[2]
Soon after that survey, the visiting hours for attorneys were expanded to allow
24-hour access, except at meals. The “non-contact” attorney visiting rooms had
been greatly improved. Feedback has been positive.
Response:
8. Inmate grievances are reviewed by detention staff. Responses to the inmates’ grievances are made both orally and in writing.
9.
An upgraded “strip search room” is pending
construction. Plans are in progress to enlarge and remodel the kitchen
facility.
Response:
The strip search room
is funded and under construction. A consultant is currently reviewing options
for better utilization of the kitchen facilities, including possible remodel
options.
Response:
Consultants have been
hired to assess potential remodels to include the Medical Housing area (known
as “O” Unit) and the Kitchen facility.
10. A formal meeting room, once used as a library, is now being used to conduct parole hearings.
11. Programs and classes that are available to the inmates include: educational and GED programs, religious services, counseling, anger management, parenting classes, domestic violence classes, and drug and alcohol classes. Attendance is high.
12. Prior to inmate placement in a housing unit, strict criteria of classification are followed. This placement process includes: an interview with the inmate to determine criminal sophistication, gender, whether there is a need for the inmate to be in protective custody due to gang affiliation and charges, if the inmate is an escape risk, if the inmate has any physical, medical, or mental health needs.
13.
Tuberculosis (TB) testing is an optional
component of the booking process.
Response:
Inmates can opt out of TB testing
but, in an effort to protect other inmates and employees, they are housed in a
negative air-flow room in the medical unit until they opt to be tested.
Response:
If an inmate refuses to
submit to TB testing, he/she will be placed in a negative air-flow room in the
medical unit, for preventative reasons, until he/she complies with testing for
the safety of other inmates and staff. Exceptions are only authorized via
medial staff due to a recent, previous booking which would have included a TB
test.
14.
There was one reported death this year at the
jail prior to our first site visit. A copy of the report on this incident was
requested from the Sheriff, but has not been provided.
Response:
The death-in-custody
report is being reviewed by
15. There have been no escapes in the past year.
16. Correctional officers receive twenty-four hours of training each year under the Standard Training for Corrections, which is under the Department of Corrections. This is state-mandated training to review commonly accepted practice and to further educate officers and deputies on changes in the field and in dealing with inmates.
17. The Medical Unit treats inmates from all county jail facilities. All medical staff are employed by the county Health Services Agency (HSA), and their budget is approved by the Board of Supervisors.
18. A member of the medical staff is on-site twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Medical staff includes one physician, registered nurses, unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP), a mental health psychiatric technician, a nurse practitioner, and a medical assistant.
19.
As stated in previous jail reviews, the nurses’
pay schedule is below what a nurse can earn in the private sector. Detention
facility nurses earn $37.00 per hour, while a nurse at a local hospital could
earn $51.00 per hour. In December 2005, there were three vacancies for
registered nurses. These positions include nursing responsibilities at the Main
Jail, Juvenile Hall, and Rountree.
Response:
The difference in
hourly wage reflects, in part, skills that are required of nurses working in a
hospital setting (including intravenous insertion, naso-gastric tube placement
and telemetry monitoring) that are not required in the detention medical
system. A salary review will be completed for all health care positions for the
next Memorandum of Understanding negotiations scheduled for September 2007.
Presently, there is one .65 FTE RN position vacancy, a decrease from the 3
vacancies in December 2005.
20.
When an inmate requires medical treatment that
cannot be provided by the medical unit, for conditions such as stroke, heart
attack, cancer, or broken bones, the inmate is taken by ambulance or patrol car
to
Response:
The Detention Bureau
has a contract for security services with First Alarm at $19.45 per hour for
unarmed security and $30.00 per hour for armed security.
Response:
The First Alarm
Security contract for private security is: Unarmed $19.45 hr./Armed $30.00 hr.
21. “O” unit is designated for inmates with serious psychiatric problems. Seven of the rooms have video monitoring. One healthcare worker is present in this unit. There is a padded or “rubber” room known as Room 13 that is used to house inmates who are a danger to themselves or others. The room is monitored by video surveillance and physically inspected every fifteen minutes.
22. Inmates
who need to take medication receive it in the form of a bubble pack. By taking
advantage of this method of dispensing medications to inmates, the jail is able
to return any unused medications. The
23. The jail has been, and continues to be, a no smoking facility.
24. The Grand Jury observed that the surrounding grounds were clean and well maintained.
1. All officers and staff conducted themselves in a professional manner during site inspections.
2. Upgrades to the plumbing, kitchen, and the “strip search” rooms are being undertaken.
3. The outside grounds are being maintained.
4. Overcrowding remains an issue.
5. The low pay scale for nursing staff makes it difficult to attract and keep personnel.
6. The new “bubble pack” for dispensing medications has proven to be cost effective.
7. A video prepared for newly arrested individuals has proven to be of assistance in the booking process.
8. The recent improvements made to the interview rooms, the increase in attorney visiting hours, and the renovation of the old library into a room used for parole hearings have received positive responses.
9. Because TB testing for a newly booked inmate is non-mandatory, it raises a health risk due to the fact that TB can be easily transmitted. The health risk to staff and other inmates is a concern.
10. The lack of cameras for monitoring the outside garage/booking area needs to be addressed for enhanced security.
11.
The recent loss of booking fee revenue, due to the
reduction in reimbursement amounts from the State of
1.
The Sheriff’s Department should continue with
its improvement projects currently in progress for the renovation of the
plumbing, the kitchen, and the “strip search” rooms.
Response:
This recommendation
requires further analysis. The “strip search” room is 90% completed. The
kitchen and “O” Unit Medical Housing areas are being assessed for
upgrade/enlargement.
2.
The Board of Supervisors should review nurses’
salaries and consider pay increases to attract and retain competent staff.
Response:
The recommendation
will be implemented. County salaries and benefits are regularly reviewed as a
part of negotiations in the various budget units.
3.
The projected loss of revenue due to the
decrease in booking fees collected and the impact that it will have on the jail
and jail staff should be addressed by the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff.
Response:
The recommendation will
be implemented as part of budget preparation.
Response:
This recommendation
requires further analysis. Since this issue affects all 58 California Counties,
a legislative solution is being pursued.
4. Potential liability could be reduced by upgrading surveillance cameras for the areas around the jail and garage/booking area. These upgrades should be budgeted by the Board of Supervisors and implemented by the Sheriff.
Response:
The recommendation will
not be implemented because the existing surveillance cameras provide the
necessary security.
5.
TB testing for newly booked inmates should be
mandatory. Funding should be provided by the Board of Supervisors and testing
implemented by the Health Services Agency.
Response:
The
recommendation has been implemented. TB testing is required for all inmates.
Those that refuse are placed in negative air-flow rooms, to protect the health
of other inmates and employees, until they opt to be tested.
Response:
This recommendation has
been implemented. Mandatory testing is occurring for newly booked inmates.
Those inmates that refuse are housed in negative air-flow rooms until they
comply due to the contagious nature of TB.
6. Jail administrators and staff should be commended for their professionalism in managing day-to-day duties and keeping up with modern advances in running an efficient, secure facility.
Response:
The County appreciates the Grand Jury’s comments.
Entity |
Findings |
Recommendations |
Respond Within |
|
|
3, 4, 6, 9, 13, 19, 20 |
2 - 6 |
60 Days ( |
|
|
3, 4, 7, 9, 13, 14, 20 |
1, 3, 5 |
60 Days ( |
The Rountree Facility is located
in
The facility, located at
25. Spanish is the primary language for forty-five to sixty
percent of the inmate population, although there is only one bilingual staff
person per shift.
Response:
The Sheriff’s Office
has a priority on recruiting bilingual and bicultural staff.
26.
The Grand Jury observed that
the four visiting stations were clean and generally well maintained.
Appointments for visiting are scheduled in advance and are usually for one
hour, two times per week. Visitors cannot be on parole or have been in custody
within the past sixty days.
Response:
The County defers to the Sheriff to assess the accuracy of
findings related to daily operations.
27.
A statewide no smoking policy
was initiated in all detention facilities in September 2005 and seems to be
relatively well accepted. Correctional officers have assisted in facilitating
inmate acceptance.
Response:
The
County defers to the Sheriff to assess the accuracy of findings related
to daily operations.
28.
There are several small,
quiet rooms off a hallway across from the dormitories. Some of the rooms are
equipped with a computer, although there is no internet access. The rooms allow
for “time-off,” “cooling down,” separation of inmates, or a space to discuss
personal problems with a correctional officer.
Response:
The County defers to the Sheriff to assess the accuracy of
findings related to daily operations.
29.
The kitchen area is clean,
and meals are sufficient in quantity. Inmates eat in
Response:
The County defers to the Sheriff to assess the accuracy of
findings related to daily operations.
30.
The living areas are
dormitory style with five bays, each with eleven beds. A correctional officer
is present in the dormitory at all times.
Response:
The County defers to the Sheriff to assess the accuracy of
findings related to daily operations.
31. The SAFE Program (an in-house drug program) has forty
allocated beds. The annual budget for the program is $200,000. There were
twenty-seven inmates in the program
in October and twenty-four in the program in February.
Response:
The SAFE Program was discontinued in June 2006 due
to a lack of funding at the State and Federal level.
Response:
32. The SAFE Program is voluntary, but has eligibility
criteria. Volunteers must complete all four phases of the program, even though
it could result in an extension of an inmate’s release date from Medium
Security.
Response:
The SAFE Program was discontinued in June 2006 due
to a lack of funding at the State and Federal level.
Response:
33. Funding for the SAFE Program is in jeopardy. When funding
ran out in January 2006, the
Response:
As stated above, the SAFE Program was
discontinued in June 2006 due to a lack of funding at the State and Federal
level.
Response:
Federal and
State funding for the SAFE Program ended and was not continued, although the
Inmate Welfare Fund/County bridged end-of-fiscal-year funding. Therefore, the
SAFE Program officially ended on June 30, 2006.
34.
Inmates in the
SAFE Program have only one opportunity to participate in the program. A discipline
problem may result in removal from the program.
Response:
35. Several classrooms exist within the facility. Classes
offered include: GED, English as a Second Language, Substance Abuse, and Ray of
Hope. Meetings include A.A. and anger management. An AIDS class and testing are
scheduled quarterly.
Response:
36.
During the October site
visit, inmates were unable to view donated videos due to copyright
infringement. The issue had been resolved by the February visit. The inmates
now have satellite TV purchased entirely through the inmate welfare fund.
Response:
The County defers to the Sheriff to assess the accuracy of
findings related to daily operations.
37. Inmates who need frequent medical attention or have chronic
conditions such as diabetes mellitus, or psychiatric disorders are, generally,
not placed at either Rountree facility. However, on occasion, inmates who take
single psychotropic drugs may be placed at either facility if they are
considered stable.
Response:
In the past, inmates that were considered stable
might, on occasion, be housed at the medium detention facility. Currently, per
Title 15 regulations, inmates who need psychotropic drugs are not placed at the
Rountree facility due to the lack of staff that can legally dispense this kind
of medication.
38. As noted in last year’s Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final
Report, the lack of an on-site nurse precludes inmates who require cardiac,
psychotropic drug combinations, or injectable medications from being placed in
the medium or minimum security facility.
Response:
39. No physician comes to the facility. It is reported that a
nurse comes to the facility eight hours every day, Monday through Friday, to
check and/or replenish medications. The nurse may check an inmate’s temperature
and/or blood pressure, if needed.
Response:
A nurse is on duty 8 hours a day, Tuesday through
Friday, for a total of 32 hours per week. The nurse also conducts a routine
sick call at which time inmates’ medical requests are triaged and appropriate
treatment provided.
40. Medications are in bubble packs, kept in an alphabetical
file, and are dispensed under the supervision of an officer at mealtime. The
process of medication administration involves an inmate identifying himself,
removing appropriate medication from the bubble pack, taking the medication,
and signing a card to indicate receipt of the medicine. The medicine and files
are secured except for meal times. The most common medications are
antihistamines, antibiotics, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
Response:
41. An inmate requiring medical attention must be transported
to the Main Jail Facility, Doctors On Duty, or a local emergency room. The
costs for transportation, an accompanying officer, and services provided are
significant.
Response:
Response:
42. Inmate dental work is performed at the Main Jail Facility
one day a month. Only basic services are rendered such as pulling teeth;
fillings and crown work are not considered basic. Transportation costs are
incurred.
Response:
43. Testing for HIV, hepatitis C, tuberculosis, and sexually
transmitted diseases is optional.
Response:
The testing is voluntary for all inmates except for
those who want to work in the kitchen.
44.
Grievance procedures are
posted in several areas. Grievances are generally minor. The complaint form is
filled out by the inmate and responded to by the subject of the complaint.
Typically, the supervisor will review the complaint and subject’s response
within several days and will seek a resolution.
Response:
The County defers to the Sheriff to assess the accuracy of
findings related to daily operations.
45.
Depending on the severity of
the violation, discipline problems may be handled with a verbal warning,
revocation of privileges, or a return to the Main Jail.
Response:
The County defers to the Sheriff to assess the accuracy of
findings related to daily operations.
12.
The physical
appearance of the facility, including the kitchen and visiting areas, is
exemplary.
13.
Bilingual staffing is
minimal and is not always adequate to serve the inmate population.
14.
The SAFE Program is
costly for the small number of inmates served.
15.
Staff seem to be
oriented toward problem resolution. Resolution of the recent video copyright
infringement issue was cost-effective and timely.
16.
Grievances are handled in a timely manner.
17.
An on-site nurse would
allow placement of additional low-risk inmates from the main jail facility who
require closer medication administration monitoring.
18.
Inmates share an
enclosed facility twenty-four hours a day with other inmates who may not have
agreed to medical testing for transmissible diseases.
19.
Expenses for medical
care, transportation to and from medical care, and the additional cost of
accompanying security personnel could be reduced.
20.
Classes offered at the
facility are located in formal classrooms and are in keeping with the
structured environment.
21.
A mutually respectful
relationship was consistently observed between the correctional officers and
inmates.
7.
The Board of
Supervisors and the Health Services Agency should seek reduction of medical
transportation and security costs by contracting with appropriate local medical
personnel. Contracting with a Physician Assistant or Nurse Practitioner for one
day a week (or even an on-call status) would reduce the costs of transportation
for non-urgent medical care.
Response:
The recommendation requires further analysis.
The medical clinic at the medium security facility
is now partially staffed and additional medical staff would be needed to meet
medical needs within the facility. The provision of medical staffing at all
county detention facilities is evaluated each year as part of the budget
discussions between the Sheriff’s Office, the Health Services agency, and the
Response:
This
recommendation requires further analysis. The Medium facility has a fully
functional, modern medical unit, which remains partially staffed. To fully
enable this unit would require the addition of two R.N.s, fulltime employees
(FTE) and accompanying physician (PA) hours. Implementing this recommendation
would also assist narcotic medication distribution issues.
8.
The Sheriff should
weigh the cost-effectiveness of the SAFE program (lacking outcome statistics)
against other needs at the facility.
Response:
The
County defers to the Sheriff to respond to this recommendation.
Response:
This
recommendation has been implemented. The SAFE Program ended June 2006 due to
lack of funding.
9.
As recommended in the
2004-2005 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report, to alleviate overcrowding
at the main jail, the Health Services Agency should consider employing an
on-site registered nurse to facilitate the transfer of lower risk main jail
inmates who require medication or monitoring of chronic conditions to the
Rountree Medium Facility. Appropriate funding should be included in the budget
by the Board of Supervisors.
Response:
Overcrowding
issues, including detention health services, are addressed at regular meetings
of the Jail Overcrowding Committee. Due to the complexity of the overcrowding
issue, it is not anticipated that detention medical staffing will be resolved
in the timeframe suggested by the Grand Jury. This recommendation requires further analysis
and will be considered as part of budget deliberations.
10.
Given the close proximity of
inmates and the ease of air-borne transmission, tuberculosis testing by the
Health Services Agency should be mandatory and incorporated into the booking
process by the Sheriff.
Response:
The recommendation has been implemented.
11. The Sheriff should increase bilingual staff at the next
hiring opportunity.
Response:
This recommendation
has been implemented.
12. The Sheriff should remain open to the addition of
vocational classes that build self-esteem and facilitate preparation for
employment and re-entry into society.
Response:
This recommendation
has not yet been implemented. The Sheriff’s Office remains open and committed
to inmate rehabilitation despite funding challenges.
13. Staff should be commended by the Board of
Supervisors for their knowledge, professionalism, display of genuine concern
for inmates, and the conscientious manner in which they fulfill their duties.
Response:
The County appreciates
the Grand Jury’s comments.
Entity |
Findings |
Recommendations |
Respond Within |
|
|
26-33, 36-45 |
7-10, 13 |
60 Days ( |
|
|
25, 31-35, 41 |
7, 8, 11, 12 |
60 Days ( |
The Minimum Security Facility,
previously known as “The Farm,” is an older, barracks-style facility built in
the 1970s. The facility is located at
46. Many of the inmates participate in work-release programs.
The programs allow employers within the county to request a certain number of
inmates with particular skills to work for them on a particular date.
Response:
47. Other inmates attend vocational classes on-site, go to
Adult Education Computer Assembly and Repair programs in
Response:
48. Educational programs are provided through a contract with
the
Response:
49.
On-site vocational programs
include classes about: computer skills development, gardening and landscaping,
English as a Second Language, substance abuse (in English and Spanish), anger
management, bible study, and an animal bonding program.
Response:
The County defers to the Sheriff to assess the accuracy of
findings related to daily operations.
Response:
50.
An immensely popular
series of vocational courses includes auto body, advanced auto body, auto
detailing, and auto paint mixing. This series has been in existence since 1979.
It commonly has a waiting list of thirty applicants.
Response:
The County defers to the Sheriff to assess the accuracy of
findings related to daily operations.
Response:
51.
Each of the
programs/classes requires a certain number of hours (150-350) of participation
in order to earn a certificate.
Response:
The County defers to the Sheriff to assess the accuracy of
findings related to daily operations.
Response:
52.
Certificates earned by
an inmate may be a consideration when an inmate requests a modification of
sentence.
Response:
The County defers to the Sheriff to assess the accuracy of
findings related to daily operations.
Response:
53. A separate bicycle refurbishing program was started in 1998
in cooperation with a local Marines Toys for Tots program. The Marines purchase
parts for the bikes and inmates refurbish eighty to one hundred bicycles per
year. Marines then distribute the bikes to children and teens in the
Response:
The County defers to the Sheriff to assess the accuracy of
findings related to daily operations.
Response:
54.
The facility is
partially sustained by inmates who are responsible for a portion of the laundry
service, maintenance of all buildings, and landscaping services.
Response:
55.
The plumbing and
septic systems are using outdated seven-gallon flush toilets. Due to the older
plumbing system, some of the laundry must be contracted out to prevent system
overload.
Response:
The toilets are mid 1970 vintage units along
with same era shower/sink fixtures, which leak water. Replacing those fixtures
with low-flow units would save water, septic space and reduce our demand for
outsourced laundry services.
56.
There is no perimeter
fence on the thirty-acre site between the facility and residential
neighborhoods.
Response:
57.
Inmates are screened
and selected for the minimum facility based on interviews with the Sheriff’s
Department correctional officers to determine appropriate fit.
Response:
58.
In the past four
years, escapes (walkaways) have been reduced in number from thirty-three per
year to nine per year.
Response:
59.
Within the past year,
cameras that monitor the facilities and grounds have been upgraded from black
and white to color, but are still too limited in their range and clarity,
according to detention staff.
Response:
Cameras at both the Medium and
Minimum facilities do not currently monitor the direct supervision units.
22.
The facility offers a
substantial number of quality vocational programs.
23.
Vocational and
work-release programs facilitate skill-building and opportunities for potential
employment upon release from custody.
24.
The bicycle
refurbishing program directly benefits the community.
25.
The necessity to
contract a portion of the laundry services is costly.
26.
A residential
neighborhood borders the perimeter of the property. The lack of a fence around
the property perimeter is a potential liability for the county.
27.
The reduction in the
number of walkaways is commendable and reflects the integration of appropriate
screening criteria.
28.
Security of the
facility and officer and inmate safety would be enhanced with updated camera
and monitoring equipment.
14.
The Sheriff should continue
all vocational programs and work-release opportunities and should remain open
to the addition of vocational programs that prepare for employment.
Response:
The County defers to the Sheriff to
evaluate this recommendation.
Response:
This
recommendation has been implemented.
15.
The Board of
Supervisors needs to be aware of and reduce potential liability for the county
by installing a fence to secure the grounds.
Response:
The Department of General Services and the
Sheriff’s Office are currently in discussions to determine if the project will
be recommended in the County’s Plant Acquisition budget. It is anticipated that a decision will be
reached by the end of December, 2006. In addition,
Response:
This
recommendation requires further analysis. The Sheriff’s Office has been
consulting with the CAO and General Services Department on this issue.
16.
Bringing the plumbing
and septic system up to modern standards would reduce water usage and laundry
services and should be implemented by the Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff.
Response:
Reducing water usage at the Rountree detention complex has
been a continuing project that is incrementally proceeding within available
funding each fiscal year. Low flow
toilets using less water were installed in 2003. Additionally, the County installed a new
fresh water storage tank in 2005 at a cost of over $318,000; the tank provides
service to the Rountree detention complex, as well as neighboring Public Works
facilities and a non-profit group serving developmentally disabled adults.
Current work that is underway includes mechanical upgrades to the fresh water
well and maintenance of the freshwater tank.
While the
plumbing system could be upgraded, improvements are being made in an
incremental fashion and the situation is not beyond the County’s maintenance
capability. Further analyses by an energy consultant has been conducted in 2006
at all detention facilities to seek specific measures for achieving energy and
water conservation, with engineering and planning to continue into the next
fiscal year. During the plant budget
cycle for 07/08, this planning work will be
considered in view of both the Sheriff’s Office’s prioritizations for all of
their detention sites and available funding for infrastructure projects. Therefore the recommendation requires further
analysis.
Response:
This
recommendation requires further analysis. The Sheriff’s Office is working with
17.
Upgrading camera and
monitoring equipment would contribute to officer and inmate safety and security
of the facility. Sufficient funding should be provided by the Board of
Supervisors and implemented by the Sheriff.
Response:
The
recommendation has not yet been implemented. The County plans to move forward
with the upgrade of the exterior of the minimum security facility (interior
lighting is adequate) and is currently reviewing the project in terms of
implementation options and cost. It is anticipated that the necessary
information will be gathered this year with implementation likely in 2007-08.
Response:
This
recommendation has not yet been implemented. The Sheriff’s Office is working
within the fiscal year budget to upgrade camera-monitoring systems.
18.
Staff should be
commended for their success in screening and inmate placement.
Response:
The County
appreciates the Grand Jury’s comments.
Response:
This
recommendation has been implemented.
19.
Staff should be commended for
offering a variety of programs leading to potential future employment,
self-esteem, and community benefit.
Response:
The County appreciates
the Grand Jury’s comments.
Response:
This
recommendation has been implemented.
20.
Staff is to be
commended by the Board of Supervisors for their organization of programs,
work-release scheduling, and dedication to the goals of operating a safe,
structured, but humane facility.
Entity |
Findings |
Recommendations |
Respond Within |
|
|
49-53 |
14-19 |
60 Days ( |
|
|
46-59 |
14-19 |
60 Days ( |
This jail facility is located at
60. This facility houses sentenced female inmates who pose a minimum threat to the community. Common crimes are substance abuse, welfare fraud, bad checks, and identification theft.
61. The inmate population is often from the community transient population. When discharged, most inmates have no permanent residence.
62. The
average monthly inmate population is twenty-seven. On
63. There were two escapes last year. If an inmate walks away from the facility, she is charged with the crime of escape. The facility has a no-chase policy on escapes in progress.
64. There is one correctional officer on duty each shift. The facility is supervised by a Supervising Correctional Officer.
65. The Grand Jury observed that staff and inmates show mutual respect to each other while at the facility.
66. The Grand Jury observed that the grounds and facility are well maintained.
67. The Grand Jury observed that kitchen facilities were clean and appeared adequate despite their non-institutional design. Meals are prepared by inmate kitchen staff.
68. Inmates at this facility can work in the kitchen at the main jail and learn food preparation job skills.
69. Inmates serve as Kitten Foster Parents, in cooperation with the Animal Shelter, caring for kittens until they are old enough to be placed for adoption.
70. Inmates
attending GED classes must be transported to the Adult Education campus in
71. Inmates and staff are not permitted to smoke at this facility.
72. Drugs
and other prohibited items can be easily introduced into the facility by
throwing them over the fence from the public sidewalk.
Response:
As a result of the minimum
security setting, more frequent foot patrols are scheduled at this facility.
73. On-site programs available to inmates include:
· Alcoholics Anonymous
· Narcotics Anonymous
· computer skills class
· parenting skills class
· literacy skills
·
yoga instruction
74.
Job skills training is minimal. The only
training available is in the areas of computer skills and kitchen skills.
Response:
Women
inmates do not have a Medium Facility, which limits the transition and number
of inmates who can successfully populate the
75.
The recidivism rate is high for inmates at this
facility, as many do not have a residence to return to or do not have useful
job skills.
Response:
Recidivism
is a complex societal issue. A substantial portion of female inmates have
ongoing substance abuse issues. Statewide statistics are showing an increasing
trend of female inmates on a county level.
76. The facility passed inspection by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
77. Inmates are housed in two-person bedrooms that were observed to be clean and well organized.
29. The facility is operated by a professional staff.
30. The facility is well maintained and designed to meet the needs of the community.
31. The Kitten Foster Parent program provides a good service to the community and inmates benefit from the act of caring for the animals.
32. Additional fencing could reduce introduction of drugs and other prohibited material into the facility.
33. More job skills training would help inmates find gainful employment upon release from custody.
21. The Board of Supervisors should commend the staff for their professionalism.
22. Additional fencing that would not distract from the neighborhood setting should be considered by the Sheriff, with sufficient funding provided by the Board of Supervisors, to reduce the introduction of drugs and other prohibited items into the facility.
Response:
The Sheriff’s Office – Detention Bureau and the General
Services Department are currently discussing practical options for security
fencing at the
23.
The Sheriff should solicit additional job
training classes from educational, professional, and community organizations to
help inmates be successful upon their return to the community.
Response:
This
recommendation has been implemented. Inmate programs are vital to the
Entity |
Findings |
Recommendations |
Respond Within |
|
|
72 |
22 |
60 Days ( |
|
|
74, 75 |
23 |
60 Days ( |
The Court Holding Facility is located in the basement of the
Superior Court building located at
78. This facility passed inspection by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation as a holding facility.
79. The facility consists of five large concrete rooms for holding inmates.
80. Between forty and fifty inmates per day pass through the facility.
81. Inmates may change into personal clothing before appearance at a jury trial.
82. Holding rooms are monitored by video surveillance.
83.
There is no video surveillance covering the outside
entrance to the facility or the stairwell leading to the courts.
Response:
The Court
Holding Facility at
Response:
The
entrance to the Court Security Holding area and the stairwell leading to the
courts are monitored by video surveillance.
84. The facility was found to be clean and well maintained.
34. The facility is well organized and operated in an efficient manner.
35. Security would be enhanced by the addition of video surveillance cameras to the exterior of the facility and stairwell leading to the courts.
24. The Board of Supervisors should commend the staff for their professionalism.
25.
Sufficient funding should be provided by the Board of
Supervisors for the Sheriff to enhance the video surveillance capabilities to
provide better security for the public and staff in and around the facility.
Response:
The
recommendation will not be implemented by the County because the Superior Court
is responsible for security upgrades in the Court holding facility.
Response:
This
recommendation will not be recommended because it is not warranted or is
unreasonable. The Court Security budget is funded by a state contract with the
Superior court of
Entity |
Findings |
Recommendations |
Respond Within |
|
|
83 |
25 |
60 Days ( |
|
|
83 |
25 |
60 Days ( |
Juvenile Hall is located at
In 1999, Santa Cruz County Juvenile Hall was selected by the Annie E. Casey Foundation as one of only four facilities in the nation as a model site for the reduction of the unnecessary incarceration of juvenile offenders.
85. Juvenile Hall has been rated to house forty-two wards by the California Department of Corrections. The average daily population between March 2005 and February 2006 was 18.4. This is down from 24.7 in 2004.
86. Approximately seventy-nine percent of the population is juvenile boys and twelve percent is juvenile girls.
87. Sixty percent of staff are bilingual.
88. The average stay is five days. This figure is down from 10.6 days in 2002.
89. Juvenile
Hall has passed inspections by the California Department of Corrections,
90. The
Response:
91. Wards are housed in two units, one of which houses more criminally sophisticated wards. The units are connected by a common hallway.
92. Wards are housed in private rooms that are small but contain necessary personal features. Wards spend most of their day outside their rooms.
93. Upon intake, wards are given an orientation on the rules of the facility and the consequences of a violation. Rules are also posted on bulletin boards.
94. Grievances can be filed and placed in a grievance box that is checked daily.
95. Parents are charged a daily fee of $24 while their child is housed at Juvenile Hall.
96. Local law enforcement agencies are not charged a booking fee. There is a local protocol for booking criteria.
97. A Grand Jury inspection showed the grounds and facility to be clean and well maintained.
98. The outside exercise area is considered too small by current state standards, and the facility does not have a gymnasium or covered (shaded) courtyard. The facility is exempted from conforming due to its age.
99. Staff and wards continue to complain of poor heating and air conditioning within the facility.
Response:
100. According to staff, the video monitoring system is old and inadequate.
Response:
101. Most doors are secured by key-locking systems that can cause a delay during an emergency response.
Response:
While most
doors are secured by key-locking systems, we do not agree that the system
causes a significant delay in an emergency.
102. The food facilities were clean and appeared adequate. Food Services passed the Nutritional Health Evaluation.
103. Nursing services are available seven days a week. There is one mental health therapist to every four wards. Medications are administered in the morning and evening. A physician assistant is present one time per week as is a physician.
104. The
105. The Probation Department continues to operate the Oasis Program that offers home supervision and encourages pro-social activities. The program reports a ninety percent success rate.
106. National studies have shown it is more beneficial to return offending juveniles back to their community than detaining them in secure detention facilities such as Juvenile Hall.
107. Santa Cruz County
Juvenile Hall was selected as the model site in the nation for small counties
in the elimination of unnecessary use of secure detention of juveniles. Model
sites for larger counties were in
108.
109. Juvenile Hall provides many programs to enrich the wards such as Barrios Unidos, yoga, substance abuse counseling, writing, and poetry instruction.
110. The poetry program is immensely popular among the wards and offers them instruction in the writing arts. It gives participants the opportunity to have their writing published in a weekly newsletter published by Pacific News Service. This program provides a therapeutic opportunity and builds self-esteem.
111. There have been no escapes from Juvenile Hall during the last year.
112. The Board of Supervisors appoints qualified members of the community to the Santa Cruz County Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Commission, which is charged with monitoring the practices and performance of staff at Juvenile Hall and recommend changes.
113. This commission’s
report reflects that
36. Juvenile Hall is well managed and operated by a professional and caring staff.
37. Juvenile Hall buildings and grounds are well maintained despite the age of the facilities.
38. A covered outside exercise area would provide a better place for physical activity during poor weather conditions.
39. Juvenile Hall provides excellent programs to enrich the wards.
40. Juvenile Hall has been nationally recognized for its efforts in reducing the detention of juveniles.
41. Home supervision programs continue to be successful.
42. Video monitoring is inadequate and should be upgraded along with the necessary electronic infrastructure to ensure safety and security.
43. Electronic security doors and intercom systems would provide better security and safety.
44. The heating and ventilation system in Juvenile Hall continues to be inadequate despite numerous recommendations for its upgrade.
45. The county and Juvenile Hall were delinquent in obtaining the required medical/mental health inspection.
26. Sufficient money should be budgeted by the Board of Supervisors to upgrade the security system with emphasis on video monitoring, electronic security doors, and the necessary infrastructure upgrades. This recommendation was made by the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury in 2003, 2004, and 2005. The county agreed with the recommendation, but it has not yet been implemented.
Response:
This
recommendation is being implemented. The Probation Department, along with
General Services, is currently working with security consultants in planning
for the recommended infrastructure upgrades.
The project has been divided into stages, with the video camera upgrades
to be completed first.
27. Sufficient
money should be budgeted by the Board of Supervisors to upgrade the heating and
ventilation system at Juvenile Hall. This recommendation was also made by the
Santa Cruz County Grand Jury in 2003 and 2005. The county agreed with the
recommendation, but it also has not yet been implemented.
Response:
A
replacement heating/ventilation system is very costly and, as indicated above,
is included on the list of improvements that are being implemented over time.
Therefore this recommendation requires further analysis and will be
implemented.
28. Sufficient
money should be budgeted by the Board of Supervisors for the construction of a
covering over the courtyard area which would provide an exercise area during
poor weather conditions.
Response:
A covering
over the courtyard is also very costly, and, as indicated above, is included on
the list of improvements that are being implemented over time. Therefore this
recommendation requires further analysis and will be implemented.
29. The
Probation Department should ensure that medical/mental health inspections (as
with all other mandated inspections) are conducted in a timely fashion.
Response:
This
recommendation has been implemented. The Juvenile Hall medical and mental
health components were inspected on
30. The
Board of Supervisors should commend the Probation Department and Juvenile Hall
staff for their professionalism and their dedication to the community.
Response: The
The County appreciates
the Grand Jury’s comments.
Entity |
Findings |
Recommendations |
Respond Within |
|
|
90, 99-101 |
26, 27, 28, 30 |
60 Days ( |
|
|
90 |
29 |
90 Days ( |
Camp 45 is located at 13575 Empire Grade Road in
Camp 45 is a satellite facility of the California State Prison, Susanville, and is a minimum security facility that is operated as a fire conservation camp in cooperation with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF).
Camp 45 is operated by the State of
114. The facility has a rated capacity of 110 inmates.
115. The average daily population was 102 for the first quarter and 107 for the second quarter.
116. As
of
117. Most inmates have less than one year remaining on their sentence. For every day working in a program or on a fire crew, an inmate receives credit for two days served.
118. Inmates convicted of a crime of violence and verified prison gang members are not permitted to serve time at a camp.
119. No inmates from
120. Probable cause and random drug testing is performed one to four times a month.
121. After an inmate is assigned to the camp, he must participate in a one-week physical fitness training program and then attend a fire fighting school. Upon successful completion of these two programs, he is assigned to a fire crew led by a CDF captain.
122. In preparation for opening the facility, staff met with local residents and agreed to notify local homeowners’ associations and schools of any escapes.
123. Only non-prescription products are available unless specific medication is prescribed by a physician. Inmates with more serious medical problems are either taken to a local medical facility or returned to their original institution for treatment.
124. During the off season, fire crews are sent out to schools, parks, and other facilities to perform vegetation removal.
125. There is a pre-release class to help inmates prepare for their return to society.
126. In the first five months of operation, four staff members transferred from the camp due to the high cost of living in the area and lack of family living quarters. To maintain minimum staffing, correctional officers often work overtime or must be brought in temporarily from other institutions.
127. Staff reported the recidivism rate is lower from camps than standard institutions.
128. There were no reported assaults on correctional officers. Inmate violation of rules can result in loss of privileges or immediate return to their original institution, depending on severity.
129. Due to the newness of the facility, there were few books and educational materials in the library for inmates to read.
130. A Grand Jury inspection showed that the grounds and facilities were very clean and well maintained.
46. The facility is operated by a conscientious and professional staff.
47.
Due to the high cost of living in
48. Additional books for the inmates to read would be a benefit.
49. The camp provides a service to the community.
31. Department of Corrections staff should continue to meet with neighborhood and community organizations and be an active partner in the community.
32. Department of Corrections staff should reach out to community organizations to obtain donations of appropriate books and learning materials for the educational enrichment of the inmates.
33. Department of Corrections should continue to seek solutions to affordable housing problems to retain qualified professional staff.
Responses requested but not required
Entity |
Findings |
Recommendations |
Respond Within |
|
|
122, 126, 129 |
31-33 |
90 Days ( |
________________________________________________________________________
Ten letters sent out
to defense lawyers; some sole practitioners and two public defender offices
Twenty-two responses received
________________________________________________________________________
Question: How long
have you been a criminal defense attorney practicing in
From five months to over thirty years
Question: What is the
average length of time that you wait to see a client at the main jail in
Responses: Fifteen to twenty minutes, with the rare wait of over thirty minutes
Question: What
interview room do you prefer (or request) when visiting a client?
Responses: Majority preferred “contact rooms” and the old library was mentioned three times
Question: What is the
most common problem, if any, that you encounter at the main jail when seeing a
client?
Twelve responses complained about lengthy waits
Twelve responses complained about restrictive hours
Four responses complained that the interview rooms were being used as
holding cells for Department #11
Eleven responses complained re: lengthy waits after pushing button
alerting staff when interview was over
Eleven responses complained of the smell of urine in “contact”
interview rooms
Eleven responses complained that the “contact” interview rooms were
dirty
Four responses complained that there were not enough interview rooms
Question: How would
you characterize the attitude of the jail staff toward you and your client(s)?
No complaints about jail personnel/detention officers
Question: Briefly
describe the conditions of the interview rooms.
Good (one response)
Smelly, disgusting, stuffy (sixteen responses)
No place to write (seven responses)
Conversations can be heard in other rooms and in the hallway (one
response)
Cold (one response)
Fine (one response)
Unsafe (no place for attorney to exit if problem arises) (one response)
Question: Is there
anything else you would like to add regarding the conditions of the
“Non-contact” rooms are completely unacceptable - Can hear other
interviews and conversations
Jail needs expanded mental health treatment teams
Four responses specifically requested expanded visiting hours for
attorneys
Five responses complained about the slow response to “panic button”
when interview is over.
Two responses compare other counties to
This page intentionally left blank.