Contra Costa County Grand Jury
2013-2014
From the annual report
The consolidated year-end volume. The individual investigations it contains are listed separately below.
📑 Year-End Report
The full consolidated volume; individual reports are listed below.
Individual reports (9)
Findings and recommendations not yet extracted.
Findings & Recommendations
7 findings
F1:
The Contra Costa County adult and juvenile facilities are well managed and well maintained by staff who conduct themselves professionally and courteously. Contra Costa County is committed to a policy of providing adult and juvenile prisoners with programs that address their psychological and educational needs to reduce the likelihood that they will reoffend when they are released.
F3:
The County's rehabilitation-oriented philosophy cannot be fully implemented because rehabilitative programs are not available for a substantial number of adult prisoners housed at the Martinez facility.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
The County should consider preparing a complete application, including the identification of matching funds, when applying for a grant from the State during the next round of funding for the construction of additional detention facilities at West County, in order to provide rehabilitative services to inmates who could be transferred from Martinez.
F4:
The Sheriff's Office has applied to the State, unsuccessfully, for funds to build additional cells and program space at the West County facility that would help alleviate the problem of insufficient program space. The next opportunity to secure funding is likely to occur in 2015.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
The County should consider preparing a complete application, including the identification of matching funds, when applying for a grant from the State during the next round of funding for the construction of additional detention facilities at West County, in order to provide rehabilitative services to inmates who could be transferred from Martinez.
F5:
The juvenile facilities face challenges in providing adequate rehabilitative services because of a shortage of staff. In 2015, a federal law will begin to be phased in that ultimately require a minimum 1:8 ratio of probation staff to juveniles, which compares favorably to the current ratio of 1:10.
F7:
Adequate mental health services at the Boys' Ranch are now available.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The County should consider continuing to make the provision of adequate mental health services at the Boys' Ranch a high priority.
F8:
Routine maintenance and repair issues continue to be a constant source of annoyance to inmates/residents and to those responsible for operating both adult and juvenile detention facilities.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
The County should consider continuing to engage appropriate unions in discussions with respect to using inmate labor to perform maintenance and repairs at county detention facilities.
F9:
Absent the availability of more funding to address maintenance and repair needs, the best solution with regard to the adult facilities may would be to make use of inmate labor, as appropriate.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
The County should consider continuing to engage appropriate unions in discussions with respect to using inmate labor to perform maintenance and repairs at county detention facilities.
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R2:
The County should analyze ways to provide additional staffing at the juvenile facilities to comply with upcoming federal mandates.
Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F1:
The potential hazards to County facilities and communities are well documented and include both earthquake and weather-related hazards. One of the major challenges the County faces in planning for emergencies is the possibility of being isolated from the surrounding communities.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
The Sheriff should update the Emergency Operations Plan.
F2:
The Emergency Operations Plan being used today is a draft document that has never been approved by the Board of Supervisors and has not been updated since 2011.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
The Board of Supervisors should approve an updated Emergency Operations Plan.
F3:
The Plan's drafters' self-imposed schedule to update it annually is unrealistic since the Board of Supervisors has not approved any of the previous revisions.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The County should plan for and construct a permanent Emergency Operations Center if funds become available. Contra Costa County 2013-2014 Grand Jury Report 1409
F4:
The current Emergency Operations Center, located at 50 Glacier Drive in Martinez, is inadequate. It is not constructed to survive a major earthquake or natural disaster, is too small and is otherwise insufficient for sustained operations.
F5:
There is neither a clear strategy nor an ongoing effort to update the current Emergency Operations Center.
Findings & Recommendations
7 findings
F1:
The law strongly encourages cities to provide their employees who are "mandated reporters" with training about their obligations to identify and report known or suspected child abuse.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
Each city should consider immediately adopting a policy to train its employees and other personnel about their obligation to identify and report suspected cases of child abuse.
F2:
A "mandated reporter" employed by a city includes, but is not limited to, an administrator or employee whose duties require direct contact and supervision of children.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
Each city should review the duties of all employees and other personnel to determine which personnel fall within the definition of "mandated reporters" under Penal Code section 11165.7.
F3:
Training in child abuse reporting obligations should be given annually to every city employee whose duties require direct contact and supervision of children.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The training program should include all personnel who are "mandated reporters". The training program in child abuse reporting obligations should include:
F4:
Training in child abuse reporting obligations should include: a. Who are "mandated reporters"; b. What is "reasonable suspicion" of child abuse; c. How and when a report should be made; What safeguards are in place to protect mandated reporters; and d. e. What are the ramifications of making a suspected child abuse report.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
a. Who are "mandated reporters"; b. What is "reasonable suspicion" of child abuse; How and when a report should be made; What safeguards are in place to protect mandated reporters; and d. What are the ramifications of making a suspected child abuse report. e.
F5:
While volunteers who have direct contact or supervise children are excluded from the definition of "mandated reporters" under the Penal Code, the law "encourages" such volunteers to obtain training in identifying and reporting suspected or known child abuse.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5:
Each city should consider including all volunteers who have direct contact with or supervise children in its abuse reporting training program.
F6:
A procedure should be implemented to verify that all city personnel who are mandated reporters receive training.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6:
In the case where a city enters into an agreement with an independent contractor to provide services that requires direct contact or supervision of children, the city should consider ensuring that the independent contractor and each of its staff who will have direct contact or supervision of children have successfully completed the city's "mandated reporting" training program.
F7:
The Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County provides training services in abuse reporting at no cost to cities in the County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7:
Each city should establish a procedure for verifying that all employees and other personnel who are mandated reporters have successfully completed the training program each year.
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R8:
Each city should consider retaining the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County to provide free training services about child abuse reporting. Contra Costa County 2013-2014 Grand Jury Report 1403
Findings & Recommendations
9 findings
F1:
In response to previous Grand Jury reports concerning annual employee evaluations, the Board of Supervisors and the County Administrator have stated that "departments are required to conduct annual performance reviews on all employees."
F2:
Approximately half the employees (over 4,000 employees) in the County do not receive annual evaluations.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
Departments with less than 100% annual performance evaluation completion rates should consider implementing policies and plans with timelines to develop and conduct annual evaluations, and identifying funds to do so.
F3:
The two largest departments, Health Services and Employment and Human Services accounted for over 3,000 incomplete evaluations last year (FY 2012-2013).
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
Departments with less than 100% annual performance evaluation completion rates should consider implementing policies and plans with timelines to develop and conduct annual evaluations, and identifying funds to do so.
F4:
Responsibility for tracking performance reviews by department heads has not improved completion rates.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
Departments with less than 100% annual performance evaluation completion rates should consider implementing policies and plans with timelines to develop and conduct annual evaluations, and identifying funds to do so.
F5:
While most departments have an internal function to track employee evaluations, many of these departments track only probationary and merit/step increases as required by the County for pay increases. Contra Costa County 2013-2014 Grand Jury Report 1406
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
Departments with less than 100% annual performance evaluation completion rates should consider implementing policies and plans with timelines to develop and conduct annual evaluations, and identifying funds to do so.
F6:
Merit/step increases can term out as quickly (typically 5 years for most job classifications) resulting in long-term employees not receiving performance evaluations for years or even decades.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
Departments with less than 100% annual performance evaluation completion rates should consider implementing policies and plans with timelines to develop and conduct annual evaluations, and identifying funds to do so.
F7:
There is no formal written county-wide policy on completing annual evaluations for all employees except for the response to past Grand Jury reports by the Board of Supervisors.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
Departments with less than 100% annual performance evaluation completion rates should consider implementing policies and plans with timelines to develop and conduct annual evaluations, and identifying funds to do so.
F8:
Only half of the departments in the County have a written policy concerning conducting annual employee evaluations.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
Departments with less than 100% annual performance evaluation completion rates should consider implementing policies and plans with timelines to develop and conduct annual evaluations, and identifying funds to do so.
F9:
Departments are not reporting annual evaluation completion rates to the County Administrator or the Board of Supervisors.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The Board of Supervisors should consider requiring the County Administrator to report yearly on annual employee evaluation completion rates by department.
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
as agreed to in past Grand Jury reports.
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Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F3:
Training in child abuse reporting obligations should be given to every employee of school districts in the County on an annual basis.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The training program in child abuse reporting obligations should include: a. Who are "mandated reporters"; b. What is "reasonable suspicion" of child abuse; c. How and when a report should be made; d. What safeguards are in place to protect mandated reporters; What are the ramifications of making a report about known and/or suspected child e. abuse.
F4:
Training in child abuse reporting obligations should include: a. Who are "mandated reporters"; b. What is "reasonable suspicion" of child abuse; How and when a report should be made; d. What safeguards are in place to protect mandated reporters; e. What are the ramifications of making a suspected child abuse report.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
Each district should establish a procedure for verifying that each employee has successfully completed the training program each year.
F5:
While "volunteers" who have direct contact or supervise children are excluded as "mandated reporters" under the Penal Code, the law "encourages" such volunteers to obtain training in the identification and reporting of known or suspected child abuse.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5:
Each district should consider including all "volunteers" who have direct contact with and/or supervise children in their abuse reporting training programs.
F6:
School districts should establish a procedure to verify that each employee has successfully completed the child abuse training program.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6:
Each district should consider retaining the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County to provide training services about child abuse reporting at no cost to the district.
F7:
The Child Abuse Prevention Council of Contra Costa County provides training services about abuse reporting at no cost to school districts in the County.
Additional Recommendations
2
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Each district should evaluate its program currently in place to train its employees in their obligations to identify and report suspected cases of child abuse.
R2:
Each district should adopt a program that provides training on an annual basis to all Contra Costa County 2013-2014 Grand Jury Report 1402 employees of the district about their obligations to report known or suspected child abuse.
Findings & Recommendations
7 findings
F2:
County law enforcement agencies have avoided overcrowding primarily by continuing to implement the rehabilitative model of detention.
F3:
The lack of space for classes or meaningful counseling programs at the Martinez detention facility may prevent full implementation of the rehabilitative model of detention.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
In the next round of funding by the State, the County should consider making a strong case for the funds for the construction of county detention facilities.
F4:
Implementation of AB 109 does not appear to have resulted in a large increase in crime in the County.
F5:
Although it is difficult to be certain as to the cause of any increase in crime that has taken place since the implementation of AB 109, such increase has been isolated to property crimes, especially car thefts.
F6:
Most jurisdictions throughout the County cut back on their police forces prior to the adoption of AB 109.
F7:
Hiring addition law enforcement officers for street patrol is the most efficient use of money to curtail crime.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
To the extent that additional funds become available for law enforcement operating funds, the County should consider making the addition of law enforcement officers for routine street patrol the highest priority.
F8:
The close cooperation between the Sheriff's Office, the Probation Office, and the active participation of community advocates has been a key factor in the successful implementation of AB 109 in Contra Costa County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
The County should consider continuing to involve community advocates and service providers in the implementation of AB 109 initiatives. Contra Costa County 2013-2014 Grand Jury Report 1410
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The criminal justice agencies of the County should consider continuing their policies of emphasizing rehabilitative services and programs over lengthy incarcerations for convicted criminals.
Findings & Recommendations
6 findings
F2:
The high cost of Capital Appreciation Bonds has caused a higher, long-term debt for school districts in Contra Costa County that have used these bonds to finance construction.
F3:
It is preferable for bonds to contain a "callable clause."
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
School districts should consider including "callable" provisions in all future bond issues. Contra Costa County 2013-2014 Grand Jury Report 1411
F4:
Each of the subject school districts has a published repayment schedule of its Capital Appreciation Bonded indebtedness.
F5:
The Auditor-Controller of Contra Costa County sets tax rates for properties in a school district to make sure principal and interest to bonded debts are paid when due.
F6:
The County Tax Collector collects the taxes that are held in designated accounts of the County Treasurer for issuance of debt payments as directed by the County Auditor- Controller.
F7:
The State Superintendent of Schools, the State Treasurer, and the California Association of County Treasurers and Tax Collectors have urged local districts to halt any further use of Capital Appreciation Bonds as a means of funding construction projects.
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
All school districts should consider avoiding the sale of Capital Appreciation Bonds in the future.
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Findings and recommendations not yet extracted.
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.