Score: +12 (13/12/1)

Contra Costa County Grand Jury • 2007-2008

Report on the Inspection of Detention Facilities in Contra Costa County

Published: April 08, 2008 5 pages

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⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings and Recommendations 10 findings

All the facilities inspected were found to meet or exceed the minimum inspection standards established by the State of California Corrections Standards Authority (CSA).

Related Recommendations (1)

That the Sheriff expands wherever possible the use of the Custody Alternative Facility.

Fees charged to detainees that qualify for the work-release program substantially support the Custody Alternative Facility in Martinez. In 2006, fees collected from detainees totaled more than $1 million, nearly 50% of the cost of operating the facility.

Related Recommendations (1)

That of this report, the Sheriff works with the General Service Department to accomplish the installation of an electrically operated gate and security cameras at the entrance to the Marsh Creek Detention Facility.

In 2006, detainees served approximately 118,000 custody alternative days. Had the detainees been obligated to serve their sentences in a detention facility, the additional cost to the county would have been approximately $13.5 million.

Related Recommendations (1)

That of this report, the Sheriff works with the General Services Department to complete a feasibility study and to secure proposals that cover the available alternatives to alleviate the Martinez and West County Detention Facilities’ sewage drainage systems’ vulnerability.

The entrance road leading to the Marsh Creek Detention Facility lacks a security gate and entrance monitoring security cameras. Such security devices would reduce the opportunities for contraband to enter the facility.

Related Recommendations (1)

That of this report, the Sheriff obtains and uses additional copies of the Martinez and West County Detention Facilities inmate orientation videotape to include any other languages that account for a significant percentage of the inmate population.

The design of the sewage drainage systems at the Martinez and West County Detention Facilities makes them vulnerable to inmate sabotage.

Related Recommendations (1)

That of this report, the Sheriff completes a full evaluation of the costs and benefits of making the West County Detention Facility intake area fully operational.

The orientation video shown to new inmates in the Martinez and West County Detention Facilities is recorded in English only.

Related Recommendations (1)

That of this report, the Sheriff works with the County Health Services Department to complete a full evaluation of the costs and benefits of providing West County Detention Facility medical services similar to those available at the Martinez Detention Facility. 4

The Martinez Detention Facility is the sole operational intake (i.e., processing) center for all County inmates. The area designed to handle West County Detention Facility processing of new inmates is not staffed. West County sheriff’s deputies and West County police department officers are required to transport detainees to the Martinez Detention Facility rather than the West County Detention Facility for processing. 3

Related Recommendations (1)

That of this report, the Probation Department works with the General Services Department to install security cameras in the classrooms at Juvenile Hall.

The West County Detention Facility has limited medical services as compared with the Martinez Detention Facility.

Related Recommendations (1)

That of this report, the Probation Department works with the County Health Services Department to complete a full evaluation of the costs and benefits of making specialized medical services available around the clock to detainees being treated with psychotropic drugs at the Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility.

Classrooms in Juvenile Hall lack security cameras. The cameras would allow the staff to more closely monitor the classroom activities and reduce the number of disruptive incidents.

No recommendations for this finding

F10

The Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility is not an option for juveniles undergoing psychotropic drug therapy due to the lack of qualified, on-site, round the clock medical staff to monitor and manage such detainees. CONCLUSION While the facilities inspected were found to meet or exceed minimum CSA inspection standards, the preceding Grand Jury findings serve as the basis for the following

No recommendations for this finding

Conclusions 1

CL1 Page 4

While the facilities inspected were found to meet or exceed minimum CSA inspection standards, the preceding Grand Jury findings serve as the basis for the following recommendations.

Agency Responses 2

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

Sheriff Office

September 29, 2008 • 9 pages • 13 responses • Score: +6 (+6, 7, 0) View Details ▾

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13 responses to findings and recommendations

All the facilities inspected were found to meet or exceed the minimum inspection standards established by the State of California Corrections Standards Authority (CSA).

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE Finding No. 2: Contra Costa County (County) shares waterway boundaries with Sacramento, Solano, San Joaquin, and Alameda Counties. Response: AGREE Finding No. 3: The County is responsible for approximately 200 miles of waterways and shorelines. Response: AGREE Finding No. 4: These waterways are important to the county and the state, not only because they are the source of drinking and irrigation water for millions of the state's citizens, but because they also offer fishing and recreational opportunities. Response: AGREE Finding No. 5: There are places in the County where waterwa...

That the Sheriff expands wherever possible the use of the Custody Alternative Facility.

Response: Requires Analysis

Score: 0

The recommendation requires further analysis. A minimum of six months is required to identify funding sources, create a joint task force, identify and determine the nature and scope of work to be done and prepare a formalized cleanup plan for presentation to the Board of Supervisors. Recommendation No. 2: The Supervisors direct the joint task force to address the following elements in its Delta cleanup plan: a. The identification of state, federal, and adjoining county agencies, and representatives that are responsible for monitoring and addressing problems related to the Delta waterways, es...

Response: Agree Score: +1

AGREE Finding No. 2: Contra Costa County (County) shares waterway boundaries with Sacramento, Solano, San Joaquin, and Alameda Counties.

Response: Agree Score: +1

AGREE Finding No. 3: The County is responsible for approximately 200 miles of waterways and shorelines.

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

No reply requested from Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office Recommendation No. 4: The Supervisors and the Sheriff should be proponents of legislation and actions regarding the identification and removal of both recreational and commercial derelict or abandoned vessels and other debris. They should consider advocating for an increase to the state's recreational watercraft registration fee and for a change in state law that would allow the additional revenue to be used for the abatement of abandoned commercial as well as recreational vessels. Response: The recommendation has not yet been impl...

Response: Agree Score: +1

AGREE Finding No. 4: These waterways are important to the county and the state, not only because they are the source of drinking and irrigation water for millions of the state's citizens, but because they also offer fishing and recreational opportunities.

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future. The Office of the Sheriff, in cooperation with the California State Sheriff's Association, will propose a change in state law that would allow the existing annual funds available in the Department of Boating and Waterways Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Program to be used for the abatement of abandoned commercial as well as recreational vessels. Recommendation No. 5: The Sheriff conducts a semi-annual inventory of all abandoned vessels to provide additional evidence and documentation to support the departm...

The design of the sewage drainage systems at the Martinez and West County Detention Facilities makes them vulnerable to inmate sabotage.

Response: Agree Score: +1

AGREE Finding No. 5: There are places in the County where waterways, shorelines, and adjacent land are littered with debris, abandoned vessels, docks and pilings, gutted mobile homes, and houses that have fallen into the waterway.

That of this report, the Sheriff completes a full evaluation of the costs and benefits of making the West County Detention Facility intake area fully operational.

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

The recommendation has been implemented. The Office of the Sheriff Marine Services Unit maintains a semi-annual inventory of identified abandoned vessels, both recreational and commercial, and is able to provide additional evidence and documentation to support a request for additional funding. Grand Jury Response No. 0808 Page 9 of 9

The orientation video shown to new inmates in the Martinez and West County Detention Facilities is recorded in English only.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

PARTIALLY DISAGREE The Office of the Sheriff does not maintain information regarding building permits and County code compliance with respect to electrical wiring, plumbing, treated water, fire protection and building integrity. Finding No. 7: Derelict vessels and many other abandoned objects in the County's waterways contain toxic substances. Examples include creosote-treated pilings, lead-acid batteries, fuel tanks, asbestos, and lead paint. Response: AGREE Finding No. 8: Abandoned commercial vessels in the waterways include tugboats, commercial fishing boats, schooners, houseboats, barg...

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE Finding No. 8: Abandoned commercial vessels in the waterways include tugboats, commercial fishing boats, schooners, houseboats, barges, cranes, and dredges. Some vessels exceed 300 feet in length. These vessels are often accompanied by junk and debris, including butane and propane tanks, kitchen appliances, tires, barrels, scrap iron, and portable toilets. Response: PARTIALLY DISAGREE Houseboats are defined as recreational vessels. Finding No. 9: Abandoned creosote-covered pilings, some with the remnants of buildings on them, number in the thousands. Response: AGREE Grand Jury Respon...

Classrooms in Juvenile Hall lack security cameras. The cameras would allow the staff to more closely monitor the classroom activities and reduce the number of disruptive incidents.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

F10

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

AGREE Finding No. 11: Counties adjacent to Contra Costa have not enacted ordinances that would enable them to participate with Contra Costa in removing derelict or abandoned vessels in the Delta. Response: DISAGREE Solano County has enacted an ordinance similar to Contra Costa County's Vessel Mooring and Sanitation Ordinance in an effort to enforce illegal sewage disposal and mitigate the potential for future abandoned vessels. Sacramento County and San Joaquin County have written similar ordinances and are currently in the legislative review process. Finding No. 12: Several County agencie...

Sheriff Office

April 29, 2008 • 5 pages • 16 responses • Score: +6 (+7, 5, -1) View Details ▾

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16 responses to findings and recommendations

All the facilities inspected were found to meet or exceed the minimum inspection standards established by the State of California Corrections Standards Authority (CSA).

Response: Agree Score: +1

AGREE Finding; No. 3: In 2006, detainees served approximately 118 ,000 custody alternative days. Had the detainees been obligated to serve their sentences in a detention facility, the additional cost to the county would have been approximately $13.5 million. Response: AGREE Finding No. 4: The entrance road leading o the Marsh Creek Detention Facility lacks a security gate and entrance monitoring security cameras. Such security devices would reduce the opportunities for contraband to enter the facility. Response: AGREE Finding No. 5: The design of the sewage drainage systems at the Martinez...

That the Sheriff expands wherever possible the use of the Custody Alternative Facility.

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

The recommendation has been implemented. The Sheriff remains committed to prioritizing the use of alternatives to custody and will continue to expand Custody Alternative to include expanding into Drug Treatment and Prevention as an alternative to custody. Recommendation No. 2: That within six months of this report, the Sherjff works with the General Service Department to accomplish the installation of an electrically operated gate and security cameras at the entrance to the Marsh Creek Detention Facility. Response: The.recommendation requires further analysis. A request for an estimate has b...

Response: Agree Score: +1

AGREE Finding No. 2: Fees charged to detainees that qualify for the work-release program substantially support the Custody Alternative Facility in Martinez.

Response: Requires Analysis

Score: 0

The.recommendation requires further analysis. A request for an estimate has been placed with General Services and will be considered dependent on cost and budget constraints. Recommendation No. 3: That wilhin six months of this report, the Sheriff works with the General Services Department to complete feasibility study and to secure proposals that cover the available alternatives to alleviate the Martinez and West County Detention Facilities' sewage drainage systems ' vulnerability. Response: The recommendation requires further analysis. The General Services has been advised of the Grand Jur...

Response: Requires Analysis

Score: 0

The recommendation requires further analysis. The General Services has been advised of the Grand Jury's recommendation. CSB staff will work with GSD to study any alternatives to reduce the vulnerability of the sewage systems to include the use of flush restrictors and shutoff valves. Plumbing maintenance is the financial responsibility of General Services, and any implementation of recommendations will depend on General Services' ability to budget for them. Recommendation No. 4: That within six months of this report, the Sheriff obtains and uses additional copies of the Martinez and West Cou...

Response: Agree Score: +1

AGREE Finding No. 4: The entrance road leading o the Marsh Creek Detention Facility lacks a security gate and entrance monitoring security cameras.

Response: Implemented

Score: 0

The recommendation has been implemented. Spanish versions have been completed and are being loop-played after the English version. We will continue to monitor significant changes in inmate population and adjust as needed. Recommendation No. 5: That within six months of this report, the Sheriff completes a full evaluation of the costs and benefits of making the West County Detention Facility intake area fully operational. Response: The recommendation will not be implemented. Operating the West County intake area has been studied, studied again, and then studied some more to include the origin...

The design of the sewage drainage systems at the Martinez and West County Detention Facilities makes them vulnerable to inmate sabotage.

Response: Agree Score: +1

AGREE Finding No. 5: The design of the sewage drainage systems at the Martinez and West County Detention Facilities makes them vulnerable to inmate sabotage.

That of this report, the Sheriff completes a full evaluation of the costs and benefits of making the West County Detention Facility intake area fully operational.

Response: Will Not Implement

Score: -1

The recommendation will not be implemented. Operating the West County intake area has been studied, studied again, and then studied some more to include the original decision by the Board of Supervisors not to open the intake area when West County opened over 17 years ago. The current and prospective budgets of the County, particularly the Office of the Sheriff, have, or will result in staff reductions. When the County fiscal situation improves, at least $12 million will be necessary to restore the nearly 100 positions that are now vacant or otherwise unfunded. Recommendation No. 6: That wit...

The orientation video shown to new inmates in the Martinez and West County Detention Facilities is recorded in English only.

Response: Agree Score: +1

AGREE Finding No. 7: The Martinez Detention Facility is the sole operational intake (i.e., processing) center for all County inmates. The area designed to handle West County Detention Facility processing of new inmates is not staffed. West County sheriff's deputies and West County police department officers are required to transport detainees to the Martinez Detention Facility rather than the West County Detention Facility for processing. Response: AGREE Finding No. 8: The West County Detention Facility has limited medical services as compared with the Martinez Detention Facility. Response...

Response: Requires Analysis

Score: 0

: That within six months of this report, the Sheriff works with the County Health Services Department to complete a full evaluation of the costs and benefits of providing West County Detention Facility medical services similar to those available at the Martinez Detention Facility. Response The recommendation requires further analysis. This Office will be working with the County Health Services Department as they explore contracting health services delivered to inmates. We, of course, will encourage that a primary goal is to provide similar health care at the West County Detention Facility.

Response: Agree Score: +1

AGREE Finding No. 7: The Martinez Detention Facility is the sole operational intake (i.

That of this report, the Probation Department works with the General Services Department to install security cameras in the classrooms at Juvenile Hall.

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

N/A Recommendation No. 8: That within six months of this report, the Probation Department works with the County Health Services Department to complete a full evaluation of the costs and benefits of making specialized medical services available around the clock to the detainees being treated with psychotropic drugs at the Orin Allen youth Rehabilitation Facility. Response: N/A Grand Jury Response No. 0804 Page 4 of 4

Response: Unknown

Score: 0

N/A Grand Jury Response No. 0804 Page 4 of 4

Classrooms in Juvenile Hall lack security cameras. The cameras would allow the staff to more closely monitor the classroom activities and reduce the number of disruptive incidents.

Response: Agree Score: +1

AGREE Finding No. 9: Classrooms in Juvenile Hall lack security cameras.

F10

Response: Unknown Score: 0

Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility falls under the authority of the Probation Department. Grand Jury Response No. 0804 Page 2 of 4 .- " RECOMMENDA TIONS The 2007-2008 Contra Costa Grand Jury recommends the following to the Contra Costa County Sheriff-Coroner and to the Board of Supervisors: Recommendation No. 1: That the Sheriff expands wherever possible the use of the Custodj~A lternative Facility. Response: The recommendation has been implemented. The Sheriff remains committed to prioritizing the use of alternatives to custody and will continue to expand Custody Alternative to inclu...

No Responses Found 1

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

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