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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.
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 11 findings
F1
The public has not received a clear, understandable accounting of the County of Santa Cruz’s total annual retirement costs and obligations in a single summary document.
F2
The Mental Health Advisory Board is not meeting the requirements of the Mental Health Services Act or achieving its own goals to advocate for persons with mental illness and to increase community awareness on issues related to mental health.
F3
The Board of Supervisors is providing little or no direction, no specific goals and objectives, and no comprehensive training on how to be an effective advisory board.
F4
The apparent lapses of direct communication between the Advisory Board, HSA[Health Services Agency], and the Board of Supervisors impedes the Advisory Board’s goals of effective advocacy for clients and advising HSA concerning Prop 63 funded mental health programs.
F5
The Mental Health Advisory Board takes no responsibility for investigation or possible action on issues raised at their meetings, and there is no general process available for the public to raise concerns.
F6
Five vacancies on the 11- member Advisory Board left it ineffective for months during our investigation. 2013–2014 Recommendations
F7
The Mental Health Advisory Board receives a great deal of information from local mental health agencies and professionals on available programs and services, but there is no mechanism to circulate and share the information with the community and to keep local mental health professionals up to date.
F8
The Grand Jury’s involvement has resulted in an increased recognition that an effective Mental Health Advisory Board is important to the community and that more positive steps are needed for continuing improvement.
F9
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.
F10
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.
F11
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
Recommendations 2
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R1The Board of Supervisors should direct the County Administrative Office to provide an annual summary of all retirement costs and obligations starting in FY 2016/17.
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R2The annual summary of the total retirement costs and obligations should be identified in the county budget in clear and understandable language.
Commendations 17
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CM1Legislative Council, State of California. “California Penal Code §832.5.” Accessed May 23, 2016 http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=pen&group=00001-01000 &file=830-832.18
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CM2Capitola Police Department. February 2014. “Capitola Police Department Policy Manual - Policy 1020 Personnel Complaints.” Accessed May 23, 2016 http://www.cityofcapitola.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/police/page/2459/p olicy_1020_cpd_personnel_complaints.pdf
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CM3Capitola Police Department. February 2016. “Capitola Police Department Citizen Complaint Form”. Accessed May 23, 2016 http://www.cityofcapitola.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/police/page/2459/c apitola_police_department_citizen_complaint_form_updated_030216.pdf Site Visits Capitola Police Department Page 6 of 6 Capitola Police Department’s Citizen Complaint Procedures 2015-2016 Final Report 113 Public Program Successes Exceptional Public Service Summary Every year the Santa Cruz County Grand Jury conducts many investigations, inquiries, and site visits in our role of holding hundreds of local government entities accountable. This year, the Grand Jury witnessed many public programs providing exceptional public service. This report commends the following programs and supporting agencies: ● Bob Lee Community Partnership for Accountability, Connection and Treatment (PACT) Program District Attorney’s Office, the City of Santa Cruz, City of Santa Cruz Police Department, the County Board of Supervisors, Sheriff’s Office, County Health Services Agency, and Probation Department ● Birthday Books by Coco Starlight Elementary School, Pajaro Valley Unified School District ● Neighborhood Safety Team Santa Cruz City Manager’s Office, City of Santa Cruz Police Department, City of Santa Cruz Planning Department, City of Santa Cruz Parks and Recreation, City of Santa Cruz Information Technology Department, and City of Santa Cruz Code Enforcement ● Abandoned Vehicle Program City of Santa Cruz Police Department, Santa Cruz County Department of Public Works, and Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office ● Inmate Welfare Program Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office ● Voter Outreach Santa Cruz County Clerk's Office
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CM4Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors. February 10, 2015. “Downtown Accountability Program (DAP) Update.” Accessed on May 11, 2016. http://sccounty01.co.santa- cruz.ca.us/BDS/Govstream2/Bdsvdata/non_legacy_2.0/agendas/2015/20150210 -649/PDF/020-1.pdf
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CM5City of Santa Cruz. May 18, 2015. “PACT Program Named in Honor of Former District Attorney Bob Lee.” Accessed on May 11, 2016. http://www.cityofsantacruz.com/Home/Components/News/News/1885/
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CM6Register-Pajaronian. October 16, 2015. “A Fitting Memorial.” Accessed on May 11, 2015. http://www.register- pajaronian.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=19639&page=72
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CM7Santa Cruz Sentinel. September 11, 2015. “Watsonville children's literacy project honors Santa Cruz crash victim.” Accessed on May 11, 2015. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/article/NE/20150911/NEWS/150919914
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CM8Santa Cruz Sentinel. March 21, 2016. “Santa Cruz new safety team refocuses City resources on high-priority concerns.” Accessed on May 11, 2015. http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/article/NE/20160321/NEWS/160329938
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CM9Santa Cruz City Police blog. June 30, 2014. “SCPD Introduces the Neighborhood Enforcement Team (NET).” Accessed on May 11, 2016. http://santacruzpolice.blogspot.com/2014/06/scpd-introduces-neighborhood.html Published June 23, 2016 Page 5 of 6 118 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury
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CM10Santa Cruz County Code. Chapter 9.56. Accessed on May 11, 2016. http://www.codepublishing.com/CA/SantaCruzCounty/html/SantaCruzCounty09/ SantaCruzCounty0956.html
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CM11City of Santa Cruz Website. “Report Abandoned Vehicle.” Accessed on May 11,
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CM12Santa Cruz County Sheriff's Office Website. “Abandoned Vehicle Program.” Accessed on May 11, 2016. http://www.scsheriff.com/Home/AbandonedVehicles.aspx
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CM13Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office. May 19, 2015. “Inmate Welfare Fund Report Of Expenditures For Calendar Year 2014.” Accessed on May 11, 2016. http://sccounty01.co.santa- cruz.ca.us/BDS/Govstream2/Bdsvdata/non_legacy_2.0/agendas/2015/20150519 -658/PDF/025.pdf Page 6 of 6 Public Program Successes
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CM14C1. The Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency Behavioral Health Division has demonstrated a spirit of cooperation and support for the Mental Health Advisory Board by agreeing to fund an annual planning meeting, regular training for board members, and clerical support.
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CM15C1. The SCCOE and all of the districts in its jurisdiction have worked together to successfully complete a difficult upgrade of their accounting system.
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CM16C1. The Grand Jury commends the quality of the process followed by the District Attorney’s Office and the Sheriff’s Office. C2. The Grand Jury found that the District Attorney’s Office and Sheriff’s Office are treating the return of assets to parties as directed, and it is being done intelligently, with care, compassion, and a focus on timeliness. Page 2 of 4 Very Civil Asset Forfeiture in Santa Cruz County 2015-2016 Final Report 61
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CM17C1. 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.
Observations 1
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OB1F8. The Main Jail’s unsecured kitchen back door is a security risk.