Fresno County Grand Jury
2019-2020
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Findings & Recommendations
17 findings
F1:
Respondents to Grand Jury Report Findings and Recommendations do not consistently follow Penal Code timeline requirements.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
Grand Jury Report required and invited respondents should be knowledgeable of Penal Code timeline requirements and respond accordingly. (F1)
F2:
Respondents to Grand Jury Report Findings and Recommendations do not consistently follow Penal Code response format and language requirements, leaving interpretation to the reader.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
Grand Jury Report required and invited respondents should be knowledgeable of Penal Code format and language requirements and respond accordingly. (F2)
F3:
The Grand Jury does not receive responses to Grand Jury Reports from the County as they are received.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
Grand Jury Report responses should be forwarded by the County immediately upon receipt to the sitting Grand Jury in order to support the Grand Jury in tracking responses and following up on indicated implementation. (F3)
F4:
Prior Fresno County Grand Juries have been remiss in following up on the status of implementation on Grand Jury Recommendation responses indicating future implementation.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
Early in each new term, the Grand Jury should review the Continuity Committee section of the Grand Jury Procedures Manual and determine how the Jury will implement it. (F4)
F5:
There is significant emotional turmoil for inmates and their families during Warden & incarceration and release from prison. Programs for decreasing this turmoil and Medical Same as above Disagree helping inmates and families reunite are lacking, especially for those on CEO probation compared to those on parole.
F6:
Recruiting psychologists continues to be a challenge and the process could Warden & be improved. Other mental health and substance use positions appear to be Medical Same as above Agree filled in a timely manner and are close to being fully staffed (such as psychiatry, CEO social work, substance abuse counselors).
F7:
The grand jury commends PVSP on its American Correctional Association Warden & Agree (ACA) rating of 99.3 and OIG rating of Proficiency. We also heard many staff say Medical Same as above PVSP was the best correctional institution where they had worked. CEO
F8:
The grand jury commends the PVSP Mental Health Team for starting the Warden & Treatment Planned Focused Improvement Team, which was beyond what was Medical Same as above Agree recommended by the Psychological Autopsy Report recommendations. CEO
F9:
The grand jury commends PVSP on the development of innovative programs Warden & such as the Five Ventures Program and exploring the possibility of the Race Medical Same as above Agree Horse Rehabilitation Program. CEO
F10:
The grand jury commends PVSP on implementation of the Inmate/Family Warden & council meeting. Members of this council publicly praised the Warden and his Medical Same as above Agree team for supporting the success of this forum. CEO (1) Agreed = One or more respondent agrees with Finding in full or part. Disagree = All respondents disagree with Finding in full. Partially Disagree = All respondents disagree in part with Finding. 26 2019-2020 Grand Jury Investigation Responses Implementation Outcome
F11:
FSD has failed to regularly schedule meetings with user departments to aid in understanding of charges and invoicing. FSD’s regular meetings with user departments Same as above Same as above Partially Disagree encourages openness and accessibility, which fosters better management of FSD.
F12:
FSD continues to train lower-level staff to provide user departments with additional information to provide another Same as above Same as above Agree layer of training to user departments which may reduce user departments’ concerns regarding rates, costs, and invoicing.
F13:
Failure to publish additional rates and charges on the 1.Robert Bash, Fresno 1.Yes MSF prohibits effective planning by user departments for County Director ISD/CIO anticipated projects. 2.Jean Rousseau, Fresno CAO 2.Yes 3.Oscar Garcia, Fresno 3.Yes Disagree County Auditor-Controller/ Treasurer-Tax Collector 4.Fresno County BOS 4.Yes
F14:
FSD does not receive sufficient and regular allocations 1. Robert Bash, Fresno 1.Yes of deferred maintenance funds. Lack of deferred mainten- County Director ISD/CIO Partially disagree ance funds fails to protect the lifecycle of county property, 2.Jean Rousseau, Fresno CAO 2.Yes which in turn impacts FSD’s multi-year budget planning. 3.Fresno County BOS 3.Yes
F15:
The turnover and absence of facility managers has led to difficulty with cohesiveness of operations, proper delivery Same as above Same as above Agree of goods and services, and communication with user departments. 35
F16:
Circumventing FSD is not a widespread problem. When it does happen, failure to follow policy appears to lead to morale issues with FSD, along with potential liability to Same as above Same as above Agree persons and property, and from the possible filing of union grievances.
F17:
Failure by FSD personnel to properly complete the Robert Bash, Fresno County Facility Services Request forms can lead to confusion by Yes Partially disagree Director ISD/CIO giving the impression of duplicated surcharges. (1) Agreed = One or more respondent agrees with Finding in full or part. Disagree = All respondents disagree with Finding in full. Partially Disagree = All respondents disagree in part with Finding. 2019-2020 Grand Jury Responses Investigation Implementation Outcome
Additional Recommendations
11
Not linked to specific findings.
R5:
Increase communication between Fresno sheriff’s department, probation department, and PVSP social workers. The focus needs to Warden & be on making inmate’s reentry to Fresno County more effective, Same as above Unknown Medical linking inmates and their families with Fresno County resources, CEO especially for those on probation. 27
R6:
Explore the possibility of using telecommunications to hire Warden & mental health workers in difficult to fill positions, such as Medical Same as above Implemented None psychologists. CEO
R7:
Explore the possibility of obtaining a grant-funded program to Warden & use video conferencing to promote family reunification for all Medical Same as above Unknown Review inmates while incarcerated. CEO 28 Grand Jury 2016-2017
R8:
Schedule regular meetings with user departments to discuss costs and concerns Same as above Same as above Implemented None regarding invoicing. 37
R9:
Continue to train lower-level FSD staff to provide user departments with additional information to provide additional training to Same as above Same as above Implemented user departments, and address concerns regarding rates, costs, and invoicing.
R10:
Adopt and include on the Master 1.Robert Bash, Fresno County 1.Yes Schedule of Fees, Charges & Recovered Costs Director ISD/CIO (MSF) all charges listed on the Facility Service 2.Jean Rousseau, Fresno CAO 2.Yes Will not Request (Work Order) Form by November 30, 3.Oscar Garcia, Fresno County 3.Yes implement 2017. Auditor-Controller/ Treasurer-Tax Collector 4.Fresno County BOS 4.Yes
R11:
Create and propose to the BOS a five- 1.Robert Bash, Fresno County 1.Yes Will implement year plan for deferred maintenance 25 Director ISD/CIO (See Exhibit 1 for budget allocation by September 30, 2018. 2.Jean Rousseau, Fresno CAO 2.Yes updated response 3.Fresno County BOS 3.Yes pages 22-26.)
R12:
Evaluate the need for an assistant Implemented position to the Facility Manager to aid in (See Exhibit 1 for Same as above Same as above retention of the Facility Manager. updated response None pages 22-26.)
R13:
Provide additional training for elected officials and appointed dept. heads on Implemented existing county policy for use of FSD services. (See Exhibit 1 for Same as above Same as above The CAO and/or BOS should supplement updated response existing county policy to address personnel pages 22-26.) circumventing FSD.
R14:
Train FSD staff to properly complete the Same as above Same as above Implemented None Facility Service Request Form. 38
R15:
Revise the Facility Service Request Form to provide clarity and disclose all categories Implemented of charges by November 30, 2017. Until the (See Exhibit 1 for Same as above Same as above None form is revised, all FSD staff should properly updated response complete the existing form including the pages 22-26.) table section. RESPONSES #1 Continuity Report Fresno County Grand Jury October 2020
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Additional Recommendations
4
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
Name of complainant and contact information to include address, phone number and email. Anonymous complaints will not be investigated.
R2:
Complete nature of complaint to include name of person(s) or department(s) against which the claim is being filed.
R3:
Complaint form must be signed.
R4:
Written confirmation of complaint will be sent to complainant. EMAIL FORM TO: info@fresnocograndjury.com OR MAIL FORM TO: Fresno County Civil Grand Jury P.O. Box 2072 Fresno, CA 93718 15 FRESNO COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY ALL COMPLAINTS RECEIVED BY THE GRAND JURY ARE CONFIDENTIAL Complaints will not be processed without a brief summary, contact information and a signature YOUR NAME: MAILING ADDRESS: CITY, STATE & ZIP: PREFERRED PHONE CONTACT NUMBER: EMAIL ADDRESS: BRIEF SUMMARY OF COMPLAINT: Please include dates of events, names of officials involved, names of people who know about this, public agencies involved and any other pertinent information to help the Grand Jury assess the complaint. You may attach additional information as necessary. The information contained in this complaint is true, accurate and complete to the best of my knowledge. Anonymous complaints will not be investigated. Signature: Date: The Grand Jury is grateful for your participation. You will receive acknowledgment of your complaint after it has been reviewed by the Grand Jury. Because of statutory and confidentiality restrictions, The Grand Jury retains all complaints and attachments thereto in accordance with it’s policies and procedures. The Grand Jury does not discuss the status of complaints nor offer advice on how to pursue a complaint by any other investigatory body. EMAIL FORM TO: info@fresnocograndjury.com OR MAIL FORM TO: Fresno County Civil Grand Jury P.O. Box 2072 Fresno, CA 93718 16
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Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
There is a lack of robust central coordination in providing homeless services in Fresno County.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1:
The Street2Home organization should fill all board vacancies by December 31, 2020. (F1)
R2:
The Street2Home organization should operate openly and transparently with community involvement by inviting the public to participate in widely noticed meetings and by allowing time for public comment during board meetings. (F1)
F2:
Although funding is available, the three positions recommended in the Street2Home report for the “backbone organization” remain unfilled.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
The Street2Home organization positions of executive director, facilitator, and data manager should be filled by no later than March 31, 2021. (F2)
F3:
The Fresno Madera Continuum of Care does not adequately communicate its processes and operations to allay concerns that potential conflict in interests may exist among the board members; however, the CoC is operating within the guidelines established by HUD.
Related Recommendations (2)
R4:
The Fresno Madera Continuum of Care should update its website with current member information; meeting agendas and minutes; and current funding opportunities and awards no later than March 31, 2021. (F3)
R6:
The Fresno Madera Continuum of Care ought to consider complying with the Brown Act guidelines for posting meeting notices, and also inform the members and the public about the application and ranking process for organizations that apply for HUD awards. This should be ongoing and begin no later than 90 days after the publication of this report. (F3) 112
F4:
There is a lack of communication with the public at-large regarding services provided for the homeless and the success of efforts to reduce the homeless population.
Related Recommendations (3)
R5:
The City of Fresno and County of Fresno should perform and publish quarterly audits of all homeless grants to ensure that funds are being spent appropriately, services are being provided, and goals are being met. This should be ongoing beginning with Fiscal Year 2020-21 and findings should be posted on their websites as well as the CoC website. (F4)
R7:
Street2Home should develop a plan for regular dialogue with the Fresno County community to educate and inform the public about what is being done to resolve homelessness in the community. (F4)
R8:
Street2Home meetings should be held at easily accessible venues and at times that encourage public participation, beginning no later than March 31, 2021, or as allowed by restrictions imposed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. (F4)