San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury • 2022-2023

Inspection Report for San Luis Obispo County Law Enforcement and Detention

Published: July 26, 2022 76 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 20 findings

F1
CMC offers a broad range of educational, vocational, and rehabilitative services for inmates.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Recent significant investments by the State of California in both facilities and in specialized services make it unlikely that CMC will be on the list of California correctional facilities slated for closure in the coming years. SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY JAIL
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office Main Jail and other detention facilities are staffed by sworn personnel who have self-selected for a career in corrections.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
The Main Jail has experienced a 42% increase in the number of inmates categorized as having serious mental health issues (for both 2020 and YTD 2021). The percentage of inmates in the Jail with serious mental health issues has doubled since the onset of the COVID-19 Pandemic.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
The Sheriff’s Office conducts regular assessments and reassessments of inmate behavior to ensure that individual inmates are housed appropriately and in the least restrictive environment consistent with their current risk profile.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
A discernable dynamic tension exists between staff at the SLO County Main Jail and staff at the SLO County PHF around issues related to PHF staff safety and security when an inmate is transferred from the Main Jail to the PHF.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Work collaboratively with the PHF and the County Administrative Officer to ensure staff and patient safety and security when inmates are released into the care of the PHF and explore the possibility of having the Jail designated as a PHF (with appropriate staff) so that inmates with a high potential for violence who are experiencing mental health issues can be treated at the Jail.
F7
The reduction of inmates eligible for assignment to the Honor Farm means fewer inmates are eligible to do more work related to food, laundry, maintenance, and other essential services.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Articulate and publish data on what constitutes a reasonable workload for Honor Farm inmates who provide essential services such as food service, laundry service and maintenance, along with a plan to provide supplemental employees when such workloads are exceeded due to lack of eligible inmates.
F8
Proximity of the SLO County Safe Parking Area immediately adjacent to the Honor Farm fence creates safety and security concerns for staff and inmates.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Move the SLO County Safe Parking Area to a location that is not near the Honor Farm or other areas where incarcerated persons live and work. SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY JUVENILE HALL
F9
Nearly every aspect of Jail operations has been affected and changed in some way due to the many and varied impacts of the COVID-19 Pandemic. JUVENILE HALL
No recommendations for this finding
F10
Juvenile Hall is currently operating well below its capacity.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Actively promote SLO County Juvenile Hall as a resource for other California Counties on a fee-for-service basis.
F11
There is space available within the Juvenile Hall facility for new rehabilitative programs. HOLDING CELLS
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Proceed with plans and secure funding to create a welding studio and a teaching kitchen to provide educational and vocational opportunities for incarcerated youth. HOLDING CELLS
F12
As inmate populations continue to grow, additional space will likely be needed at the SLO County Courthouse holding cells. SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CORONER’S FACILITY
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Explore options for additional or reconfigured space to support the SLO County Courthouse holding cells and related functions. SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY CORONER’S FACILITY
F13
The Coroner’s facility appears to be operating at maximum capacity while the caseload appears to be growing year-over-year. Current spaces are likely not sufficient if current trends continue. PSYCHIATRIC HEALTH FACILITY (PHF)
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Complete the recommendations of the prior Grand Jury related to facilities expansion and add a standby or backup generator to protect the refrigeration system in case of power outage. SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY PSYCHIATRIC HEALTH FACILITY (PHF)
F14
SLO County has been unable to meet its commitment to providing around-the-clock security at the PHF.1
Related Recommendations (2)
R8
Require contract security to meet its obligation to provide 24/7 security guard presence, to include during meal breaks.
R10
Develop and implement a plan to relieve PHF staff of the collateral duty to transport patients from area hospitals to the PHF or to out of County locations. SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY DISPATCH CENTER
F15
Although well-trained and competent in the discharge of their duties, staff at the PHF do not feel safe and secure in their work environment.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
The required co-mingling of jail inmates with non-justice system involved individuals creates safety and security risks for PHF staff and patients. Subsequent to this Finding, SLO County Behavioral Health advised the Grand Jury that a second security company was engaged to fill open shifts and that the County is in the process of changing contractors. SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY DISPATCH CENTER
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
Develop and implement a plan to segregate inmates from non-justice system involved persons in the care of the PHF and to provide better security for inmates while at the PHF.
F17
Despite comprising the majority of the workforce, women assigned to the SLO County Dispatch Center are provided with restroom facilities significantly smaller than their male counterparts.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
Develop a plan to remediate the gender equity issue deriving from the facility retrofit that reduced the size of the women’s restroom facilities.
F18
A lack of available facilities necessitates the parking of a large travel trailer converted into a locker room that occupies needed parking spaces in a lot shared by several departments.
Related Recommendations (1)
R12
Develop a plan to incorporate locker room facilities into the main building occupied by the Dispatch Center so available parking areas are restored and so staff is not exposed to inclement weather between the locker room and the workplace. SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE PROPERTY ROOM
F19
The vast majority of the facility housing the Dispatch Center is occupied by the County Office of Emergency Services, a tenant only in residence during major emergencies. SLO COUNTY SHERIFF’S OFFICE PROPERTY ROOM
No recommendations for this finding
F20
The Property Room is at 95% capacity. COMMENDATION The Grand Jury commends the San Luis Obispo County Sheriff’s Office for taking the initiative to create the Behavioral Health Unit within the Main Jail in response to the challenge of providing services for inmates experiencing mental health issues. In particular, we commend the Sheriff for securing more than $290K in private donations which covered the total cost of construction for this very worthwhile project.
Related Recommendations (1)
R13
Develop a plan to expand the capacity of the Property Room, possibly by annexing the contiguous Marine Division spaces.

Conclusions 1

Commendations 1