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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.

Mendocino County Grand Jury • 1999-2000

Mendocino County Jail Staffing and Facility

14 pages
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Findings 23 findings

F1 Page 133
Main control panel in Building II was inoperative and a temporary panel was installed to control 18 doors to the cell block. Individual cells were locked by a key. The installation of a new panel is in progress. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding; a new control panel has been installed. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding as an accurate statement of the conditions at the time of the Grand Jury’s inspection. The defective panel has since been completely replaced by a new control system. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding. The control panel has been replaced.
F2 Page 133
The intercom system is operating intermittently. Repairs are ongoing, completion date unknown. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding; repairs have been completed. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding as an accurate statement of the conditions at the time of the Grand Jury’s inspection. The intercom system in Building II was replaced with the control board. The intercom system in Building I was replaced. Basic intercom functions are operational, but the vendor is still resolving minor technical problems. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding. The intercom system was replaced.
F3 Page 133
There were no spare electronically controlled door locks for cell blocks during the Grand Jury's initial inspection. As of March 2000, this situation had been corrected. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding. 1999-2000 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report 133
F4 Page 134
The air conditioning system is in need of new and improved filters and the duct work needs to be cleaned out. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding; work has been completed. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding. The work has been done.
F5
Cell blocks are in need of painting. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding; please see recommendations. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. A recent attempt to re- paint the jail was unsuccessful. The paint formulation did not bond with the wall surface. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding and the response of the Sheriff. Buildings and Grounds attempted to paint the cell blocks but the paint did not bond to the wall.
F6 Page 134
The kitchen dishwasher low temperature problem, previously reported, has been corrected. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding.
F7 Page 136
B&G work orders are not filled out completely, i.e., work performed, date and time on and off the job, material used if any, and who performed the job. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding; improvements have been made by completing work orders. Response (Sheriff): This finding is directed to Buildings & Grounds, however the department agrees that it is an accurate statement of the conditions at the time of the Grand Jury’s inspection. Buildings & Grounds has since improved their handling of these work orders. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding. Improvements have been made in fully completing work orders.
F8 Page 136
Jail Commander is not informed when work is completed. There is no follow- up by Jail staff on work orders and no documentation from B&G indicating that repairs were completed. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding. Improvements have been made by completing work orders. In addition, Buildings and Grounds and the Jail Commander hold regular meetings reviewing work orders and repairs. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding as an accurate statement of the conditions at the time of the Grand Jury’s inspection. The Buildings & Grounds Manager and the Jail Commander now hold regular meetings to discuss repair and maintenance issues. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding. The Jail Commander and the Buildings and Grounds Manager now hold regular meetings to review work orders and repairs.
F9 Page 136
At the present time B&G has assigned one person to the maintenance of the County Corrections Department, however, this person is re-assigned from time to time for emergencies elsewhere in the County. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding. See
F10 Page 137
There is no preventative maintenance program. When something breaks down it is repaired or replaced. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding. Software for the system has been purchased with implementation in calendar year 2000. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding. Software for the preventative maintenance program has been purchased.
F11 Page 137
B&G response time to emergency problems in the Jail is generally within two hours. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding.
F12 Page 137
There is no separate budget for the maintenance and upkeep of the facility. All maintenance expenses come from the General Services general account. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding.
F13 Page 137
B&G has ordered a computer software program, which, when operational, will handle work orders, inventories and maintenance schedules. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding. 1999-2000 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report 137
F14 Page 138
California Penal Code Section 4025 permits the use of the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund for Jail maintenance. The Grand Jury found no indication that the Welfare Trust Fund has been used for this purpose. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding, however the language cited must be read in context with other portions of the statute. Penal Code §4025, subsection (e), reads as follows: “The money and property deposited in the inmate welfare fund shall be expended by the sheriff primarily for the benefit, education, and welfare of the inmates confined within the jail. Any funds that are not needed for the welfare of the inmates (emphasis added) may be expended for the maintenance of county jail facilities. Maintenance of county jail facilities may include, but is not limited to, the salary and benefits of personnel used in the programs to benefit the inmates, including, but not limited to, education, drug and alcohol treatment, welfare, library, accounting, and other programs deemed appropriate by the sheriff. An itemized report of these expenditures shall be submitted annually to the board of supervisors.” Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding and will explore this funding avenue with the Sheriff.
F15 Page 138
Usually Inmates do not ordinarily perform Jail maintenance work. Response (Buildings and Grounds): Agree with this finding. Response (Sheriff): Disagree with this finding, but only as to the definition of maintenance. Inmate labor is used extensively throughout the facility. Inmates do not ordinarily perform work on mechanical systems due to the potential for compromising facility security. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with the response provided by the Sheriff. Inmates are used extensively throughout the facility for maintenance but do not work on mechanical systems.
F16 Page 140
Corrections Department Staffing remains inadequate and does not meet State Standards. This same finding was reported by the 1997-98 and the 1998-99 Grand Juries. 140 1999-2000 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. Although the Sheriff’s Office is allocated 57 Corrections Deputy positions, only 44 of these positions are funded, and at present only 34 are filled. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding. The Board has committed to the proper staffing of the Jail but funding remains a critical issue in this process. The Jail is funded for 44 Correctional Deputies with currently filled positions at 34. The Board believes the implementation of the Slavin Study will help in the recruitment and retention of Deputies.
F17 Page 141
A survey dating back to 1990, shows that 93 Corrections Officers have terminated. Of these 43 have accepted positions with other police agencies. Response (Sheriff): Generally agree with this finding, however the wording could be clearer. The survey in question is not ten years old. The survey analyzed terminations dating back to 1990. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with the response provided by the Sheriff. The survey in question is not ten years old.
F18 Page 141
The Sheriff's Department continues to have great difficulty recruiting new Corrections Officers. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. Ongoing recruitment efforts are attracting applicants, but not a sufficient number of qualified applicants. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding. Staffing has and continues to be a major issue in the operation of the Jail. The Board believes that the implementation of the Slavin Study will help in the recruitment and retention of Correctional Deputies. The Sheriff has redoubled his efforts to recruit qualified applicants and has been successful in encouraging more interest in the field.
F19 Page 141
Although the 2000 Slavin Report is recommending salary increases for Corrections Officers, the wages may not be adequate to encourage recruitment and retention. Furthermore, for the detriment of the Jail staff, the difference between Corrections Officer's and Field Deputy's salaries will be even larger if the current proposal before the Board of Supervisors is accepted. There is nearly a $5,000.00 disparity ($4,950.00) between Field and Corrections Deputies in their final pay steps in Mendocino County. 1999-2000 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report 141 Response (Sheriff): Agree with the first sentence of this finding but disagree with the remaining statements, only because they do not take into account changes since the Grand Jury’s investigation. After considerable discussion, the County agreed that when the new pay plan is implemented on November 26, 2000, Corrections Deputies will be on pay parity with the classification of Deputy Sheriff-Coroner I. These two positions will be 5% behind the classification of Deputy Sheriff-Coroner II. As a result of this change, the salary difference between a top step Corrections Deputy and a top step Deputy II will be $2,067.00 per year. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board disagrees with this finding and agrees with the response provided by the Sheriff. When the Slavin Study is implemented, Correctional Deputies will be on pay parity with the classification of Deputy Sheriff I.
F20 Page 142
The high turnover and understaffing at the Jail has a negative impact on Jail workload and morale. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding.
F21 Page 142
The new vertical court system, implemented by the Mendocino County Courts in February 1999, requires the Jail to deliver inmates to three separate courtrooms. This requires additional Corrections Officers for the transport and supervision of inmates. Because of Jail understaffing, Field Deputies are being pulled away from their regular duties to assist in transporting inmates. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. The lack of adequate staff at the jail forces the reassignment of inmate transportation duties to patrol deputies. On some weekday mornings, all available Ukiah area day-shift deputies are assigned to transportation. This compromises public safety and creates unacceptable delays in responding to calls for service. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with the response provided by the Sheriff. The lack of adequate staff at the jail forces the reassignment of inmate transportation duties to patrol personnel. The Courts are aware of this issue and are looking at means to mitigate this concern.
F22 Page 142
The Grand Jury quotes from the 1998-99 Grand Jury report: "There has been no progress in creating interview space in the holding facility at the County 142 1999-2000 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report Courthouse." The 1997-98 Grand Jury report also recommended that Courthouse space adjacent to the holding facility be used. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. Recently a small office space next to the holding cells was vacated. Discussions are underway in an attempt to secure this space and configure it as an attorney/client interview room. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with the response provided by the Sheriff. An office next to the holding cell was vacated and discussions are taking place in an attempt to secure this space for an attorney/interview room.
F23 Page 143
Currently, there are over 17 different agencies, groups and individuals who provide services to inmates at the Jail. These services include Adult Education, substance abuse programs, job placement, medical counseling, domestic violence counseling and religious programs. Response (Sheriff): Agree with this finding. As an example of the success of the program, during 1999 the Inmate Services Program, working in cooperation with its various program providers, presented a total of 780 classes, meetings & religious services to inmates and awarded 18 inmates with their certificates of general educational development (GED). In the first six months of 2000, the program has presented 485 classes, meetings & religious services and awarded another 19 GED certificates. The 1999-2000 Inmate Services Annual Report will be presented to the Board of Supervisors within the next few weeks. Response (Board of Supervisors): The Board agrees with this finding.

Recommendations 4