Juvenile Detention Facility

The committee toured every room within the facility, with the exception of the rooms being used by professional staff while counseling juveniles. We found the facility to be exceptionally clean and organized. (The cleaning is done by the juveniles). The kitchen was clean and efficient. The showers were clean and the curtains in good shape. The procedure taken to insure the privacy of the inmates while taking a shower was explained and was found to be satisfactory. The class room was clean and the atmosphere was pleasant, with the students' work and projects well done with a qualified teaching staff.

The inmate telephone system was investigated. A new provider for telephone service has been implemented. The telephone calls are now at a more reasonable rate. Juveniles must request telephone time and make their calls during their assigned times.

During interviews with employees it was found that a perception of misuse of time sheets existed and promotions were not handled in a fair manner. Promotions within this department depend on various criteria, including but not limited to, educational background, job evaluations, and recommendations of supervisors. Assurances were received that promotions have been handled in a manner consistent with the written policy and procedures of the department. It was noted that more females are promoted in the department as a natural manner, due in part because more females are employed in the department. Supervisors are required to work forty hours a week. Their schedules are not always the same every day or every week. They are on call and are called out at various hours. The supervisors occasionally adjust the time worked away from the office that exceed forty hours per week, by sometimes working shorter hours in the office. Possible misuse of county vehicles and county cell phones in this department was also a concern that was brought to our attention. The Chief Probation Officer has the use of a county vehicle and cell phone for county business. Other county vehicles and cell phones are assigned to county employees, by him, as needed. Cell phone usage is at a minimum. They are used by the juvenile department and are available for use when using a county vehicle.

One complaint, regarding medication that was prescribed and given to a juvenile, was investigated by this committee. This investigation revealed the claimant misunderstood that the medications were prescribed for the juvenile by another county and upheld by an order from a judge in Trinity County.