Modoc County Grand Jury
2008-2009
Findings & Recommendations
10 findings
F1:
There are five crews of fifteen inmates which perform conservation work and maintain facility grounds.
F2:
This is a low risk facility, with no towers or fences. Officers do not carry firearms.
F3:
Cal Fire provides inmate training for fire prevention and work areas for inmates to advance skills and learn good working ethics.
F4:
The inmates provide all maintenance and repairs to their equipment and vehicles.
F5:
The CDCR woodshop provides signs, benches etc. to governmental and county agencies for a nominal fee.
F6:
Inmates provide a portion of office staffing.
F7:
and acknowledge Recommendation COMPLAINT MODOC COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE AREA OF STUDY Modoc County Court House ISSUES AND COMPLAINTS • Alleged non-compliance with American Disability Act of 1990 (ADA) • Inaccessibility to disabled persons GENERAL The Grand Jury received a written complaint alleging that the Modoc County Court House was inaccessible to the disabled, making it impossible for them to conduct business therein. METHOD OF INVESTIGATION • Interviewed Modoc County Administrative Analyst FINDINGS 1. At the request of the Modoc County Board of Supervisors (BOS), the Modoc County Public Works department investigated the regulations regarding accessibility at the courthouse. 2. The courthouse is on the State Historical Register as an historic point of interest and must follow the state building code requirements for historical buildings. Any change to the structure, in order to make it handicapped accessible, would detract from the historic point of interest designation. 3. ADA compliance includes program accessibility as well as architectural accessibility. 4. Modoc County is in compliance with the ADA due to the fact that the BOS has moved their meetings to accommodate handicapped individuals wishing to attend. The BOS meetings are also available on the internet with audio available. Other public meetings can be moved if requested. 5. The MC Department of Public Works contracted an engineering firm to design an ADA compliant ramp for the entrance to the courthouse, specifically to the Clerk/Auditor/Recorder offices. This project is slated for spring 2009.
F8:
All meals are prepared and served by inmates.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
Request the 2009-2010 Grand Jury follow up on food Code Enforcement. FORMAL RESPONSE REQUIRED Modoc County Environmental Health Director to respond to Findings 1 through 5 pursuant to California PC 933.05.
F9:
The barracks and outside grounds are kept clean, orderly and in good condition by the inmates.
F10:
All monetary figures shown below are provided by CDCR and Cal Fire: • CDCR 2008 budget: $1,422,478 • Cal Fire 2008 budget: $1,787,248 • Estimated savings to California tax payers: $3,204,960 which includes road side clean up, fire breaks, campground maintenance, cemetery cleanup, community maintenance and fire hazard reduction around subdivisions and public schools.
Additional Recommendations
3
Not linked to specific findings.
R2:
Implement hiring a K-9 unit as soon as budget allows. FORMAL RESPONSE REQUIRED Modoc County Sheriff to respond to Findings 1 through 6 and Recommendations 1 and 2 pursuant to California PC 933.05. REVIEW OF MODOC COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES AREA OF STUDY Public Guardianship (PG) ISSUE Periodic review. GENERAL To provide information to the community regarding the workings of the Public Guardian Division of Modoc County Department of Social Services. METHODS OF INVESTIGATION
R3:
No recommendations for outlying schools as findings were informational only. FORMAL RESPONSE REQUIRED Modoc Joint Unified School District Superintendent to respond to
R4:
Will not be implemented because it is either unwarranted or unreasonable with an explanation and supporting facts. Timing of Responses to Findings and Recommendations Penal Code 933(c) states: "No later than 90 days after the grand jury sub- mits a final report on the operations of any public agency, the governing body of any public agency subject to grand jury reviewing authority, shall comment to the presiding judge of the superior court on Findings and Recommendations. Every elected official or agency head for which the grand jury has responsibility shall comment within 60 days to the judge of the superior court with a copy sent to the Board of Supervisors. For 45 days after the end of the term, the Grand Jury foreperson or designees shall, upon reasonable notice, be available to clarify recommendations in the report."
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Findings & Recommendations
10 findings
F1:
There are five crews of fifteen inmates which perform conservation work and maintain facility grounds.
F2:
This is a low risk facility, with no towers or fences. Officers do not carry firearms.
F3:
and acknowledge Recommendation • County Counsel to respond to Finding 4 and acknowledge
F4:
The inmates provide all maintenance and repairs to their equipment and vehicles. The CDCR woodshop provides signs, benches etc. to governmental and county agencies for a nominal fee.
F5:
It was stated that sixty percent of dog bites are from unvaccinated dogs and that dog licensing is of major importance.
F6:
Inmates provide a portion of office staffing.
F7:
Continuing Education is available by correspondence or on-line. Participation is done on inmates own time.
F8:
All meals are prepared and served by inmates.
F9:
The barracks and outside grounds are kept clean, orderly and in good condition by the inmates.
F10:
All monetary figures shown below are provided by CDCR and Cal Fire: CDCR 2008 budget: $3,204,726 Cal Fire 2008 budget: $1,787,248 Estimated savings to California tax payers: $3,204,960 which includes road side clean up, fire breaks, campground maintenance, cemetery cleanup, community maintenance and fire hazard reduction around subdivisions and public schools. 7.77 DEVIL'S GARDEN CONSERVATION CAMP #40 - continued
Additional Recommendations
6
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
pursuant to California PC 933.05. COMPLAINT MODOC COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AREAS OF STUDY Modoc County Board of Supervisors (BOS) Underlying County Departments Modoc County Fire Districts ISSUES Failure to respond to Grand Jury requests GENERAL The Grand Jury is charged each year to investigate various county departments. California penal code 933(c) requires no later than 90 days after the grand jury submits a final report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of the public agency shall comment to the presiding judge of the superior court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the governing body. METHODS OF INVESTIGATION Reviewed previous Grand Jury reports from years 2003 through 2008 · Determined response requests with responses received
R2:
Accusations - Formal written complaints accusing a government office, official or employee of misconduct.
R3:
Indictments - Formally charging a person with a crime. Under its review authority, the Grand Jury is specifically authorized to: Evaluate conditions of jails and detention centers within the county Investigate and report on questionable practices of such agencies or officials Request subpoenas. Modoc County Grand Jury Roster 2008-2009 Patricia Avers, Alturas Paula Copp, Adin Norvaleen Crandall, Davis Creek Rebecca Cypert, Alturas Peggy Duncan, Cedarville Marie English, Alturas Larry Estes, Alturas Don Fredrickson, Alturas Dick Greene, Alturas Karen Kendall, Canby Carol Kuhn, New Pine Creek Linda-Jean Martinez, Alturas Richard Mund, Alturas Alanna Orr, Lookout Dale Richardson, Alturas Wolfgang Sheppard, Eagleville Shirley Swallow, Canby Clarence Wager, Alturas John Zimmerman, Davis Creek Acknowledgements The 2008-2009 Grand Jury extends a special thanks to Judge Francis W. Barclay for dealing with various issues, both legal and practical. We also wish to thank District Attorney Gary Woolverton for attention and guidance on specific issues, and his great overview of non-criminal Grand Jury responsibilities. The jury recognizes Linda Ostoja, Modoc County Superior Court Executive Officer, for her professional and prompt response to Grand Jury needs. The jury extends appreciation to county and city department heads and employees for their cooperation and assistance in its investigations. The jury thanks the Modoc County Sheriff's office and staff for providing the meeting room for regular and committee meetings. Finally, we wish to thank Bruce T. Olson, American Grand Jury Foundation for presentation of his expert training program and copyright permission. Modoc County Grand Jury Activity Report The following is a list of the 2008 – 2009 Grand Jury activities: Held 16 official meetings of the full jury including 2 training session meetings (per diem and mileage claimed) Held 69 committee meetings and interviews (per diem and mileage claimed) • Traveled 8,040 miles to attend official meetings and training sessions (per diem • and mileage claimed) Traveled an additional 6,333 miles to attend committee meetings and interviews • (per diem and mileage claimed) Contributed 1,080 hours to official meetings, committee meetings and interviews • Received 9 citizen complaints o Investigated 6
R4:
Will not be implemented because it is either unwarranted or unreasonable with an explanation and supporting facts. Timing of Responses to Findings and Recommendations Per Penal Code 933(c) states: "No later than 90 days after the grand jury submits a final report on the operations of any public agency, the governing body of any public agency subject to grand jury reviewing authority, shall comment to the presiding judge of the superior court on Findings and Recommendations. Every elected official or agency head for which the grand jury has responsibility shall comment within 60 days to the judge of the superior court with a copy sent to the Board of Supervisors. For 45 days after the end of the term, the Grand Jury foreperson or designees shall, upon reasonable notice, be available to clarify recommendations in the report." MODOD COUNTY GRAND JURY CITIZENS COMPLAINT FORM 205 S. East Street, Alturas, CA 96101 Phone: 233-6526 Date:____ Your name: Home Address: Zip: Work Address: Zip: Telephone #:(Home)_____(Work)____
R5:
REASON TO CONTACT THE ABOVE:
R6:
WHAT RESULT DO YOU WANT FROM THE GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION? PLEASE ATTACH ANY CORRESPONDENCE OR SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION THAT WOULD BE PERTINENT TO THIS COMPLAINT. Among the many powers and responsibilities of the Grand Jury is the investigation of citizen complaints to assure that all branches of County government are being administered efficiently, honestly and in the best interests of it's citizens. All Complaints submitted to the grand jury will be treated in the strictest of confidence. Signature of Complainant Date GRAND JURY CITIZENS COMPLAINT FORM The undersigned hereby authorizes the Modoc County Grand Jury to disclose my identity to the person or office against whom or which I've made a complaint Date Signature
* 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.