El Dorado County Grand Jury 2024-2025

Conclusions 3

• CL1 Page 150
  Hiring and retaining a dispatcher through the training and probation period is a challenging task. Central Dispatch performs well with adept multi-tasking from motivated employees, despite the challenges of low staffing. The County now needs to support Central Dispatch with improvements in pay and shift differentials to ensure full staffing, dispatcher retention and effective public safety. The County needs a sensible fiscal approach to attract and keep qualified dispatchers to fully staff and reduce the stress of mandatory overtime. Page 19 of 25 Case #25-06 9-1-1 Central Dispatch
• CL2 Page 166
  HHSA has fallen behind in processing Medi-Cal disenrollments since Covid due to understaffing. Staffing has been challenging due to the specific training and requirements for the position, as well as lower pay than surrounding counties. HHSA had to follow the state-mandated practice of not removing any subscribers during Covid (the California Families First Corona Virus Response Act, FFCRA). Citizens are now challenged when trying to move to other healthcare plans due to the inability to disenroll efficiently from Medi-Cal. Page 10 of 13 Case #25-07 HHSA Medi-Cal
• CL3 Page 180
  The facility was extremely clean. There were no signs of graffiti within the facility. There were no noticeable cracks in the ceiling, walls or floors. The facility is being remodeled to improve the environment from a detention center to a center of rehabilitation. The walls were freshly painted and there was new flooring. The JTC staff are a committed team who are proud to be working in the environment and really live the mission of the program. The programs at the JTC are focused on rehabilitation of the youth rather than punishment. One Probation Officer shared with us that he was approached by a young adult at the El Dorado County Fair who thanked him for making a difference in his life when he needed it most. *Inspection checklist included in appendix. Page 11 of 22 CASE #25-08 Juvenile Treatment Center

Commendations 1

• CM1 Page 191
  Comments: Click or tap here to enter text. Page 22 of 22 CASE #25-08 Juvenile Treatment Center 2024-25 GRAND JURY REPORT EL DORADO COUNTY APRIL 30, 2025 - CASE #25-09 EL DORADO IRRIGATION DISTRICT: BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER Accounting irregularities and certain financial decisions lead to questions about the financial oversight provided by the EID Board of Directors. Case #25-09 TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Summary ________________________________________________________________ 3 Highlights ______________________________________________________________ 3 Recommendations Summary _______________________________________________ 3 Background _______________________________________________________________ 4 Methodology ______________________________________________________________ 5 Interviews ______________________________________________________________ 5 Documents Reviewed _____________________________________________________ 5 Discussion _______________________________________________________________ 7 Accounting Irregularities Between Enterprises __________________________________ 8 Transparency Around Facilities Capacity Charges ______________________________ 16 The Question of a Pension Obligation Bond ___________________________________ 19 Financial Oversight Needed _______________________________________________ 23 Decisions Around Water Rate Increases ______________________________________ 23 Concluding Remarks _____________________________________________________ 31 Findings ________________________________________________________________ 32 Recommendations ________________________________________________________ 33 Request for Responses ____________________________________________________ 34 Cover Caption: Drone photo of EID wastewater treatment facilities near Blackstone in El Dorado Hills. Taken February 26, 2025, by G. Kinghorn Case #25-09 SUMMARY Summary “Thousands have lived without love. Not one without water.” - W. H. Auden HIGHLIGHTS El Dorado Irrigation District (EID or District) is the largest water district and one of the largest commercial entities in El Dorado County. A number of financial concerns have surfaced in recent years that warranted a Grand Jury investigation. Recent significant rate increases have raised questions. There was significant turnover in the finance department which delayed and complicated the 2022 and 2023 audits. The auditor in those years identified what it termed as “significant deficiencies” in internal controls. Review of the Basic Financial Statements in the 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) revealed unusual amounts of dollars moving between enterprise accounts, unlike those seen over the previous 5-year period. These include payments between water and wastewater lines of business, as well as an inexplicable period where payments to wastewater employees were a net positive to EID. Questions were also raised about the management of pension obligations and decisions to defer maintenance, which played a factor in the recent rate increases. The Grand Jury found no malfeasance, but did see a troubling trend of questionable accounting practices that serve to reduce trust and transparency and could ultimately conceal more overt problems. Furthermore, very little oversight was provided by the EID Board of Directors to ensure clear and transparent financial reporting by staff and engage fully on key financial decisions. RECOMMENDATIONS SUMMARY The Grand Jury recommendations include: (1) forming a finance committee to take a more active role overseeing accounting policies and decisions, (2) creating a separate Facilities Capital Charges report, and (3) ensuring that “significant deficiencies” noted by the auditor are addressed. We leave it to the County Board of Supervisors to determine whether the Grand Jury should receive additional funding to oversee a forensic audit in light of the concerns highlighted. Page 3 of 34 Case #25-09 EID Financial Oversight

Comments 12

• CO1 Page 176
  Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT)
• CO2 Page 176
  Matrix Model Intensive Adolescent Alcohol and Drug ☒ ☐ ☐ Treatment Program
• CO3 Page 176
  Interactive Journaling
• CO4 Page 176
  Gender-specific programming
• CO5 Page 176
  Educational services
• CO6 Page 177
  Utilization of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• CO7 Page 177
  Utilization of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) Counseling and ☒ ☐ ☐ Case workers handle different programs Casework Family If youth is identified as safe to return to family counseling is done Reunification and ☒ ☐ ☐ Counseling Substance Abuse ☒ ☐ ☐ Counseling is available for substance abuse Cognitive 16 step cognitive based model. ☒ ☐ ☐ Behavioral Victim Awareness/ Click or tap here to enter text. Restorative Justice ☐ ☐ ☐ Vocational Training Click or tap here to enter text. ☐ ☐ ☐ Post-Secondary Click or tap here to enter text. Education ☐ ☐ ☐ Work Programs ☒ ☐ ☐ Morning cleanup, kitchen, laundry room Community Click or tap here to enter text. ☐ ☐ ☐ Services Parenting Classes Click or tap here to enter text. ☐ ☐ ☐ Sexual Harassment Click or tap here to enter text. ☐ ☐ ☐ Classes Page 20 of 22 CASE #25-08 Juvenile Treatment Center APPENDIX AND RELATED INFORMATION AREA REVIEWED YES NO N/A COMMENTS Religious Activities Click or tap here to enter text. ☐ ☐ ☐ USE OF FORCE Click or tap here to enter text. Comments: Click or tap here to enter text.
• CO8 Page 62
  MEALS/NUTRITION Have the inmates Yes working in the kitchen been trained? Have the inmates had a Medical clearance is done before being brought into custody medical then more thoroughly before housing clearance/review before assignment? Page 28 of 30 Case #25-02 Jail Inspections APPENDIX AND RELATED INFORMATION Are meals served in the Both In the day room it is done by pod cell, dayroom or at a central cafeteria? Are inmates permitted Yes to converse during meals? Length of time allowed 15 minutes for eating. PERSONAL APPEARANCE OF INMATES Showers: Can be done daily. Generally done every other day and are private. No supervision inside the shower Any reported assaults by The inmates fight daily inmates on inmates? Condition of clothing Clothing fits and is appropriate for the weather PROGRAMS Exercise: is it inside or Inside out? How frequently is it Inmates who are dangerous or have an issue getting along with offered? others are scheduled in the exercise room by themselves Do men get more Equal time exercise time than the women? Are there clergy available Yes, upon request to inmates upon request? Is there access to 8-9 different services, Catholic, Christian, Jehovah Witness, religious services? Mormon Are anger management MRT- Moral Recognition Therapy and other applicable programs available? Are medical services Yes, RN and LVN available? There is a locked pharmacy Page 29 of 30 Case #25-02 Jail Inspections APPENDIX AND RELATED INFORMATION How frequently is MD onsite few days per week ad available by phone -Wellpath medical staff onsite? How long do inmates 5 days to weeks depending on the situation wait to be seen? Is a physician available Yes, the MD is available by phone. There is an MD on site a by phone or onsite? few days per week. Wellpath Are mental health 20 Hours per week. LCSW, LCFT services available? How frequently is mental 20 hour per week health staff onsite? How long do inmates Variable due to shortages wait to be seen? Are vocational classes Yes. The inmates use tablets to take classes. a vailable? If so, what types, Inmates use tablets cooking, gardening, Is there a program to involve community volunteers? Is there a work Programming is voluntary program? Self-Reliance Program Inmate worker program. Inmates earn points to reduce time from their sentence. DISCIPLINE OF INMATES How often is discipline Low level is enacted every day. enacted? Formal requires a hearing to deter future issue What is the range of Cleaning duties, loss of tablets and cell isolation discipline options? TELEPHONE Access to telephones? tablets Page 30 of 30 Case #25-02 Jail Inspections 2024-25 GRAND JURY REPORT EL DORADO COUNTY FEBRUARY 11, 2025 - CASE #25-03 EDSO: PREVENTING INTERNET CRIMES AGAINST CHILDREN The Grand Jury investigated the capabilities and resources of this critically important Sheriff unit focused on the increasing number of high-tech crimes. Case #25-03 TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Summary ________________________________________________________________ 3 Highlights ______________________________________________________________ 3 Recommendations Summary _______________________________________________ 3 Background _______________________________________________________________ 4 Methodology ______________________________________________________________ 5 Interviews ______________________________________________________________ 5 Documents Reviewed _____________________________________________________ 5 Discussion _______________________________________________________________ 6 A Growing Need for Digital Forensic Research __________________________________ 6 Investigating Crimes Against Children _______________________________________ 10 A Child Recovery and Treatment Effort in Northern California _____________________ 14 Findings ________________________________________________________________ 16 Recommendations ________________________________________________________ 17 Request for Responses ____________________________________________________ 18 Cover Caption: Google Gemini AI-generated image of a girl and hacker. Created 2/5/25 by G. Kinghorn Case #25-03 SUMMARY Summary “Amateurs hack systems; Professionals hack people.” - Bruce Schneier, Cybersecurity researcher and author HIGHLIGHTS The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) has a well-equipped High Tech Crimes Unit (HTCU) that supports a wide range of investigations that involve the recovery of digital forensic evidence, such as data from cell phones, hard drives, and cloud storage. The underlying criminal activity can range from financial fraud, narcotics, and industrial espionage. The unit is primarily responsible for coordination with regional and federal task forces that investigate crimes against children, including creating and consuming child pornography, as well as child trafficking. Human trafficking is the fastest-growing organized crime activity in the United States, estimating that 250,000 children per year are victims of trafficking for sex and forced labor. HTCU receives approximately 200 leads per year from the International Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task force and from online service providers such as Google, Discord, and Reddit. It has a backlog of about 250 leads within the County that need to be followed up currently, more than a year’s worth. The unit has state-of-the-art technology and highly skilled resources to apply to these classes of investigations, but the problem is quickly outpacing the County’s ability to fully address. The Grand Jury learned that there is a shocking amount of child trafficking occurring in the County. Highway 50 is a common corridor for moving children between Nevada and Sacramento, a known hub for child trafficking activity and a gateway to other regions. RECOMMENDATIONS SUMMARY The Grand Jury was deeply impressed with HTCU capabilities and resources, but more can be done, including ensuring additional training time for dedicated detectives to stay abreast of current technologies and trends, and leveraging ICAC resources more fully. Page 3 of 18 Case #25-03 EDSO High-Tech Crimes Unit
• CO9 Page 190
  Click or tap here to enter text. Recommendations: ROOM CONFINEMENT Click or tap here to enter text. Comments: Click or tap here to enter text. Recommendations: DUE PROCESS Discipline Discipline is administered as needed. There is a point system in the treatment center and points are deducted for disciplinary reasons ☐ ☐ ☐ Grievances ☐ ☐ ☐ Click or tap here to enter text. MEALS/NUTRITION Servings Ample, On-site kitchen provides three meals and a snack daily. There is a Nutritious and ☒ ☐ ☐ registered dietician who approves all menus and ensures all special Appetizing medical dietary needs and restrictions are met. Staff Supervise Meal Service and Staff eat meals and interact with the youth are Present during ☒ ☐ ☐ service and Consumption Cafeteria Style Cafeteria style, Direct serve if needed Service or Direct ☒ ☐ ☐ Serve Youth Allowed to Yes Converse During ☒ ☐ ☐ Meals Page 21 of 22 CASE #25-08 Juvenile Treatment Center APPENDIX AND RELATED INFORMATION AREA REVIEWED YES NO N/A COMMENTS Length of Time 30 minutes allotted to Eat ☒ ☐ ☐ PERSONAL HYGIENE/APPEARANCE Appearance ☒ ☐ ☐ Youth wear facility uniforms Showers ☒ ☐ ☐ Showers are available in the pod and youth is assigned to specific times BEHAVIOR HEALTH Caseload Ratio Click or tap here to enter text. ☐ ☐ ☐ Youth Experience The center is focused on redesigning the center into a more “home” ☐ ☐ ☐ environment. Click or tap here to enter text. Comments: Click or tap here to enter text. Recommendations:
• CO10 Page 190
  Click or tap here to enter text. Recommendations: DUE PROCESS Discipline Discipline is administered as needed. There is a point system in the treatment center and points are deducted for disciplinary reasons ☐ ☐ ☐ Grievances ☐ ☐ ☐ Click or tap here to enter text. MEALS/NUTRITION Servings Ample, On-site kitchen provides three meals and a snack daily. There is a Nutritious and ☒ ☐ ☐ registered dietician who approves all menus and ensures all special Appetizing medical dietary needs and restrictions are met. Staff Supervise Meal Service and Staff eat meals and interact with the youth are Present during ☒ ☐ ☐ service and Consumption Cafeteria Style Cafeteria style, Direct serve if needed Service or Direct ☒ ☐ ☐ Serve Youth Allowed to Yes Converse During ☒ ☐ ☐ Meals Page 21 of 22 CASE #25-08 Juvenile Treatment Center APPENDIX AND RELATED INFORMATION AREA REVIEWED YES NO N/A COMMENTS Length of Time 30 minutes allotted to Eat ☒ ☐ ☐ PERSONAL HYGIENE/APPEARANCE Appearance ☒ ☐ ☐ Youth wear facility uniforms Showers ☒ ☐ ☐ Showers are available in the pod and youth is assigned to specific times BEHAVIOR HEALTH Caseload Ratio Click or tap here to enter text. ☐ ☐ ☐ Youth Experience The center is focused on redesigning the center into a more “home” ☐ ☐ ☐ environment. Click or tap here to enter text. Comments: Click or tap here to enter text. Recommendations:
• CO11 Page 190
  Click or tap here to enter text. Recommendations:
• CO12 Page 191
  Click or tap here to enter text. Page 22 of 22 CASE #25-08 Juvenile Treatment Center 2024-25 GRAND JURY REPORT EL DORADO COUNTY APRIL 30, 2025 - CASE #25-09 EL DORADO IRRIGATION DISTRICT: BRIDGE OVER TROUBLED WATER Accounting irregularities and certain financial decisions lead to questions about the financial oversight provided by the EID Board of Directors. Case #25-09 TABLE OF CONTENTS Contents Summary ________________________________________________________________ 3 Highlights ______________________________________________________________ 3 Recommendations Summary _______________________________________________ 3 Background _______________________________________________________________ 4 Methodology ______________________________________________________________ 5 Interviews ______________________________________________________________ 5 Documents Reviewed _____________________________________________________ 5 Discussion _______________________________________________________________ 7 Accounting Irregularities Between Enterprises __________________________________ 8 Transparency Around Facilities Capacity Charges ______________________________ 16 The Question of a Pension Obligation Bond ___________________________________ 19 Financial Oversight Needed _______________________________________________ 23 Decisions Around Water Rate Increases ______________________________________ 23 Concluding Remarks _____________________________________________________ 31 Findings ________________________________________________________________ 32 Recommendations ________________________________________________________ 33 Request for Responses ____________________________________________________ 34 Cover Caption: Drone photo of EID wastewater treatment facilities near Blackstone in El Dorado Hills. Taken February 26, 2025, by G. Kinghorn Case #25-09 SUMMARY Summary “Thousands have lived without love. Not one without water.” - W. H. Auden HIGHLIGHTS El Dorado Irrigation District (EID or District) is the largest water district and one of the largest commercial entities in El Dorado County. A number of financial concerns have surfaced in recent years that warranted a Grand Jury investigation. Recent significant rate increases have raised questions. There was significant turnover in the finance department which delayed and complicated the 2022 and 2023 audits. The auditor in those years identified what it termed as “significant deficiencies” in internal controls. Review of the Basic Financial Statements in the 2023 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report (ACFR) revealed unusual amounts of dollars moving between enterprise accounts, unlike those seen over the previous 5-year period. These include payments between water and wastewater lines of business, as well as an inexplicable period where payments to wastewater employees were a net positive to EID. Questions were also raised about the management of pension obligations and decisions to defer maintenance, which played a factor in the recent rate increases. The Grand Jury found no malfeasance, but did see a troubling trend of questionable accounting practices that serve to reduce trust and transparency and could ultimately conceal more overt problems. Furthermore, very little oversight was provided by the EID Board of Directors to ensure clear and transparent financial reporting by staff and engage fully on key financial decisions. RECOMMENDATIONS SUMMARY The Grand Jury recommendations include: (1) forming a finance committee to take a more active role overseeing accounting policies and decisions, (2) creating a separate Facilities Capital Charges report, and (3) ensuring that “significant deficiencies” noted by the auditor are addressed. We leave it to the County Board of Supervisors to determine whether the Grand Jury should receive additional funding to oversee a forensic audit in light of the concerns highlighted. Page 3 of 34 Case #25-09 EID Financial Oversight

No Responses Found 1

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