📋
Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2015-2016

DVC Main Jail

Published: June 30, 2016 60 pages
View PDF View Full Original

Findings and Recommendations 11 findings

F1 Page 60
The District Attorney's Office does not currently provide an annual summary of the disposition of civil asset forfeitures.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
Page 60
The Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office should include an annual summary of civil asset forfeitures on their website. (F1)
R2
Page 60
Such a report should include a chart similar to the table 2014 Civil Asset Forfeiture Process Summary above. (F1)
R6
Page 65
County Office of Education should require a yearly report from each district superintendent certifying the existence and annual update of each school’s safety plan. (F1)
F2 Page 60
The Sheriff and prosecuting authorities are following the letter and spirit of the law.
No recommendations for this finding
F3 Page 60
The District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office are following strict accounting procedures in managing the process.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 64
The County Office of Education should ensure that schools have sufficient and appropriate emergency supplies. (F3)
F4 Page 60
Property due to be returned was released in a timely and fair manner.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Page 64
All district and school staff members should know about the existence of the safety plan and should know the exact location of their printed safety plan. (F4) K-12 School Safety and Emergency Plan Audit 2015-2016 Final Report 65
F5 Page 60
Proper escrow procedures were followed.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Page 64
All schools and district offices should have a printed copy of the school safety plan readily available. (F5)
F6 Page 60
There is no incentive to abuse the program to supplement salaries and benefits, since none of the retained funds are used for salaries or benefits in the Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Page 81
The Sheriff-Coroner and Board of Supervisors should require in the contract that the medical services provider for detention facilities obtain and maintain accreditation from the California Medical Association-Institute for Medical Quality for adult detention facilities. (F6)
F7 Page 80
The Chemically Dependent Inmate Policy lacks objective measurement tools for assisting the medical staff with their clinical decision making and determination of when a patient requires a higher level of medical care.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Page 81
The Sheriff-Coroner should require that the Chemically Dependent Inmate Policy include the use of objective measurements of opiate detoxification stages, such as the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS), to assist the medical staff in making more objective decisions regarding treatment. (F7)
F8 Page 80
The Chemically Dependent Inmate Policy does not include procedures and symptoms necessitating immediate transfer to a hospital or other medical facility.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
Page 81
The Sheriff-Coroner should work with the medical services provider to revise the Chemically Dependent Inmate Policy to comply with California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Section 1213, regarding procedures and symptoms necessitating immediate transfer to a hospital or other medical facility. (F8)
F9 Page 80
The Chemically Dependent Inmate Policy and the Sheriff’s Medical and Mental Health Care Procedure Manual lack guidance for when an inmate should be transferred to a hospital for a higher level of care or when an inmate should be placed on IV hydration.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
Page 81
Clear guidelines need to be established in the Sheriff’s Medical and Mental Health Care Procedure Manual for when an inmate should be given a higher level care such as IV hydration or transfer to a hospital. (F9)
F10 Page 80
The Detoxification of Chemically Dependent Inmates, Federal Bureau of Prisons Clinical Practice Guidelines, February 2014, contains useful information related to recommended standards for the medical management of withdrawal from addictive substances.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
Page 81
The Sheriff-Coroner should review Detoxification of Chemically Dependent Inmates, Federal Bureau of Prisons Clinical Practice Guidelines, February 2014, and revise applicable Sheriff's policies and procedures to meet or exceed federal guidelines. (F10) Published June 8, 2016 82 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury
F11 Page 80
The Sheriff’s Office at times refers to placing at-risk inmates in the infirmary, when in fact they are placed in the Observation Unit. The Observation Unit is not an infirmary. The Grand Jury finds this misnomer to be misleading to the public and endangering of the public trust. Another Death in Our Jail 2015-2016 Final Report 81
Related Recommendations (1)
R12
Page 82
The Sheriff-Coroner should stop referring to the Observation Unit as an infirmary unless major steps are taken to improve the medical services provided in this unit. Continuing to refer to this group of observation cells as an infirmary is misleading to the public and does a disservice to the public trust. (F11) Commendation C1. In this entire unfortunate situation, there is but one bright spot. The Corrections Officers who watched over Krista DeLuca during her last hours carried out their duties with professionalism and compassion for their charge by making small but meaningful efforts to preserve her dignity during her last hours. The Corrections Officer who was working at the booking desk was concerned for Ms. DeLuca’s safety and kept her in booking so he could keep a closer watch on her. Corrections Officers in the Observation Unit made efforts to provide water and assistance while performing their required duties.

Commendations 17

Observations 1