San Diego County Detention Facilities Condition and Management

Recommendations 16

• R1
  24-hour medical and mental health services,
• R2
  Comprehensive education programs provided by the County Office of Education,
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  Daily rehabilitative programs for at-risk youth: Gang intervention & personal character development, o Substance abuse counseling, o Independent living skills, o Anger management, o Literacy programs, o Personal health education, and o Victim awareness, o
• R4
  Daily athletic programs, and
• R5
  Full kitchen and laundry facilities. JUVENILE RANCH FACILITY (CAMPO) The Grand Jury visited the Juvenile Ranch Facility (JRF) on November 18, 2011. It houses only males and is located approximately 65 miles east of downtown San Diego. It is a minimum security camp that is isolated enough that escape attempts are rare and usually unsuccessful. Part of the camp has been designated a San Diego County Historical Landmark. This status makes it difficult to maintain the older buildings due to the strict rules governing how historical landmarks may be changed. In spite of this, the camp is well maintained and in good condition. Detainees are assigned to JRF after assessment by the Probation Department. Detainees range in age from 12 to 19 and can be held for up to one year. They are usually assigned 12 to JRF based on their eligibility for the programs offered and the detainees’ acclimation to the rural setting. The camp is divided into three sections with programs focused on:
• R6
  Substance abuse rehabilitation
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  Self responsibility, and
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  Setting life goals There is an on-site State-certified public high school managed by the San Diego County Department of Education, Juvenile Court and Community Schools. Staff members carry no weapons; weapons brought in by other law enforcement personnel are secured properly before entering the facility. Medical needs are handled by registered nurses. Any prescribed medications are strictly monitored. Upon a detainee’s release, parents or guardians are advised of any medications currently being administered. They are encouraged to follow-up with their own medical provider for any future treatment. More than adequate space is provided for exercise including basketball, soccer, football and baseball. Telephones are available in the dorm rooms. All mail is scanned except for correspondence with legal counsel. Visitation is encouraged, but this right may be curtailed for rules violations. CAMP BARRETT The Grand Jury visited Camp Barrett (CB) on November 4, 2011. It is an all male facility located in a remote area approximately 32 miles from downtown San Diego. The Director gave an overview of the facility. The Principal of the Camp Barrett High School, managed by San Diego County Department of Education, Juvenile Court and Community Schools, explained the educational programs and provided a tour of the classrooms. At the time of our visit there were 135 detainees, which is the current maximum. Detainees at CB range in age from 16 to 21 years. Since the last Grand Jury visit there has been one escape attempt and no suicides. Approximately 15 percent to 20 percent of the detainees are on prescribed, strictly-monitored psychotropic medications. Juvenile detainees are assigned to CB after an assessment by the court. In addition to classes provided by their high school, each detainee must complete Camp Barrett’s own program, which is designed to increase the likelihood of successful re-entry. The program includes the following: 13
• R9
  Aggression replacement training
• R10
  Thinking for a Change, and
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  Criminal conduct and substance abuse treatment These programs have proven successful enough that courts order placement in CB. Due to capacity limits there is a waiting list. Individual tutoring is available. The number of detainees who earn a high school diploma or complete requirements for a GED is quite high. Regular Alcohol Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings and clergy visits are available. If a detainee is removed from Camp Barrett for disciplinary reasons, he is sent to either Kearny Mesa or East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility while an investigation is conducted. SAN DIEGO COUNTY WORK FURLOUGH PROGRAM The San Diego County Work Furlough Program (WFP) is a responsibility of the County Probation Department. The County contracts with a private firm known as Correctional Alternatives, Inc, (CAI) to administer the WFP. Along with county inmates, CAI accepts both federal and state offenders. CAI has provided Probation’s Work Furlough program for offenders who are employed since 1995, and administers a separate re-entry program for federal inmates. In March 2012, the San Diego County Board of Supervisors approved use of WFP as an alternative custody option and to provide community-based intervention services for suitable offenders. This is the only arrangement of its kind in California. WFP is designed to play an important role in management of low-risk inmates who, if incarcerated, would qualify as minimum security inmates. The WFP offers those inmates an opportunity to re-enter society as productive citizens with jobs and the ability to pay their own way. WFP inmates are housed in a county-owned facility in central San Diego. CAI leases the facility which resulted in revenue to the county in the amount of $260,000 in 2011. CAI is responsible for the day-to-day maintenance of the facility. Three years ago CAI invested over $3 million for rehabilitation of the property and other improvements. The facility has 480 beds, 190 of which are designated for the WFP. Currently, only 90 of those beds are in use by WFP inmates. The estimated cost to house an inmate in any of the county jail facilities is $149.64 per day. If an inmate qualifies for the WFP and is transferred to CAI, the cost to CAI is reduced to $42 per day. This amount is paid by the inmate. Qualifications for the WFP for both male and female inmates are:
• R12
  Must already be employed
• R13
  Must be able to work at least 36 hours per week
• R14
  Must verify employment and be monitored weekly
• R15
  Must have no convictions for credit card fraud or theft of money, and
• R16
  Must submit to periodic screening by the Probation Department CAI’s Re-entry Program consists of substance abuse monitoring and helping inmates develop job-seeking skills. CAI has a list of “felon friendly” employers to assist in the job search. RECOMMENDATION The 2011-2012 San Diego County Grand Jury recommends that the San Diego County Chief Probation Officer: 12-24: Consider adding Saturday to the visiting day schedule at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility. REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS The California Penal Code §933(c) requires any public agency which the Grand Jury has reviewed, and about which it has issued a final report, to comment to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the agency. Such comment shall be made no later than 90 days after the Grand Jury publishes its report (filed with the Clerk of the Court); except that in the case of a report containing findings and recommendations pertaining to a department or agency headed by an elected County official (e.g. District Attorney, Sheriff, etc.), such comment shall be made to the Presiding Judge with an information copy sent to the Board of Supervisors. Furthermore, California Penal Code §933.05(a), (b), (c), details, as follows, the manner in which such comment(s) are to be made: (a) As to each grand jury finding, the responding person or entity shall indicate one of the following: (1) The respondent agrees with the finding (2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which case the response shall specify the portion of the