Modoc County Grand Jury
2013-2014
Findings & Recommendations
5 findings
F1:
The Sheriff’s Department has an insufficient number • From the Board of Supervisors: (R1, R5, R6.) of sworn female officers to house female inmates and be in compliance with Title 15, Section 1027. Reports issued by the Civil Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Penal Code Section 929 requires that reports of the Grand
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
Department heads should resume monthly meetings year’s Grand Jury Report. with the budget being the topic of consideration. The DISCUSSION Board of Supervisors Ad Hoc Budget Committee should also be present to hear and understand the needs of the Last year’s Grand Jury reported lapses in the Board of department heads and be prepared to present the budget Supervisors’ duty to prepare the budget in accordance to the citizens and the auditor at the appropriate time. with legally required timelines. This year there has been no improvement. The summary budget was given to the R2. Fixed Assets under $500 should be inventoried. auditor at 7 p.m. the night before an 8 a.m. meeting for
F2:
The Modoc County Jail inspection by the State Jury not contain the name of any person, or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Civil Grand Jury. The Fire Marshal was overdue at the time of the biennial California State Legislature has stated that it intends the provisions of inspection by the Board of State and Community Penal Code Section 929 prohibiting disclosure of witness identities to Corrections on July 2013. encourage full candor in testimony in Civil Grand Jury investigations by - Modoc County Grand Jury Report, 2014 protecting the privacy and confidentiality of those who participate in any We have heard requests from several department heads that Civil Grand Jury investigations. monthly financial meetings concerning budget needs and priorities be held so that the Board of Supervisor’s Ad Hoc Budget Committee gets input from all departments and R A & f eview of udit inAnce all departments know they are being treated equally. This would also enable the Board of Supervisors to prepare the budget in a timely manner. In the interest of cooperation SUMMARY and solidarity, a budget done by persons with adequate knowledge of the workings within a department would best The position of County Auditor is an elected position and serve the interests of the county. the auditor is directly responsible to the citizens of Modoc County. The positions on the Board of Supervisors are Last year’s Grand Jury noted the lack of inventory of elected, and the Board members are directly responsible to county assets including vehicles, computers, furniture and the citizens of Modoc County. It is the nature of these two other assets over $500 in value. There is no control over different positions that they have different responsibilities or accountability for these assets. There is still no policy and priorities. Some might say they are adversarial in to identify county-owned fixed assets of any value. nature. It is part of the checks and balances we have built into our government system to protect ourselves from The Board of Supervisors acknowledged the findings of government. We need to be wary of any attempts to alter last year’s Grand Jury but took no remedial action. that balance of power. We support the independently elected nature of the position of auditor and oppose any FINDINGS attempt to change it to an appointed position that could
Related Recommendations (1)
R2:
The Modoc County Jail needs to keep all inspections community. up to date. A special calendar or computer program FACTS logging all inspection due dates and alerting personnel to seek these inspections before they become overdue Title 15, Section 1027 – Number of Personnel- requires would be a useful tool. that whenever one or more female inmates are in custody, there is at least one female employee immediately R3. Have all fire extinguishers inspected on a yearly available and accessible. basis and replace them when necessary. Title 15, Section 1032 – Fire Suppression Pre-Plan R4. Compile a binder with all Material Safety Data requires that fire prevention inspections be conducted by Sheets for the substances used in the jail. the State Fire Marshal or their local designee biennially.
F3:
There is no accurate listing of Fixed Assets over deal with the Board of Supervisors and the auditor on a $500, including computers that could contain sensitive routine basis. information. We examined many various documents.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
Fixed Assets over $500 should be inventoried and review of changes and corrections which were made on controlled, especially computers. an overhead spreadsheet, and no official budget was given to the auditor in writing or final line item detail for over RESPONSES thirty days. The auditor needs line item details in order to stay within the budget and disperse funds appropriately. Pursuant to Penal Code section 933.05, the Grand Jury The auditor also needs this information in a timely manner requests responses from the following: so that she can get the books in order to prepare for the From the following individuals: State Audit that follows in early December. The Board of Supervisors was aware of the need for the budget but • Modoc County Administrative Officer (R1, R2, unresponsive to requests from the auditor, thereby making
F4:
Material Safety Data Sheets are not kept on site. of Modoc County driving. The past request by the Sheriff’s Department for fixed asset monies to purchase
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
Potential Grand Jury Contacts – Who do you think the Grand Jury should contact or _________________________________________________________________________ iIns ttehrivsi ecowm apbloauintt t ahlirse caodmy pinl aliitnitg aatniodn W? h yY?e _s _ __ N__o_ _ ______________________________ Is this complaint already in litigation? Yes No Last Revised: 4/18/2007 11:26:17 AM ________________________________________________________________________ Last Revised: 4/18/2007 11:26:17 AM
F5:
The new members of the Board of Supervisors have new vehicles was denied by the Board of Supervisors. not toured the jail and have no first-hand knowledge of The Department’s goal would be to purchase three new the jail conditions. vehicles a year in an effort to replace high mileage patrol vehicles and keep maintenance costs down. F6. The Sheriff’s Department needs sufficient funds allocated by the Board of Supervisors either specifically The Sheriff’s Department prepared a presentation and designated for or provided for in their general fund to application for a grant that would fund a new Modoc purchase at least three new patrol vehicles a year for the County Jail. Twenty-eight counties vied for the next several years. $500,000,000 available in grant money. Only a handful of counties obtained funding. The Grand Jury feels the F7. The Sheriff’s Department was unsuccessful in its Sheriff’s Department should apply for the grant again attempt to obtain a grant for building a new jail. with timely support and cooperation of the Board of Supervisors, county administration and the general public. RECOMMENDATIONS Deputies and the Sheriff make a concerted effort to R1. The Board of Supervisors should provide the Sheriff portray a positive presence in the local schools in hopes of with adequate funds to recruit, hire, train and employ a recruiting young people into the field of law enforcement sufficient number of female officers to staff the jail. that will stay in Modoc County and serve their home
Related Recommendations (1)
R5:
The Board of Supervisors should tour the jail on an The fire extinguishers had not been inspected since annual basis. April 2011 at the first Grand Jury jail tour but had been
Additional Recommendations
2
Not linked to specific findings.
R6:
The Board of Supervisors needs to allocate funding inspected by the second tour. for new patrol vehicles. There are still no Material Safety Data Sheets in the
R7:
The Sheriff’s Department should redouble their facility as noted by the 2012-2013 Grand Jury. efforts to obtain a grant to build a new jail facility. The Modoc County Jail is now thirty-five years old. The