Final Report 2023-2024

Recommendations 3

• R1

  Page 18
  Restructure HR roles to avoid potential biases and conflicts in decision-making processes.
• R2

  Page 18
  Implement a formal procedure to reduce conflicts of interest within the organization. DISCLAIMER: Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Penal Code Section 929 requires that reports of the Grand Jury not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury. Imperial County 2023-2024 Civil Grand Jury Calipatria State Prison ANNUAL INSPECTION Jusification: California State Law mandates that the Civil Grand Jury (Grand Jury) will inspect all prison and jail facilities on a yearly basis. BACKGROUND Calipatria State Prison (CAL) is a minimum-maximum security prison located in Calipatria, California. In May 1989, the City of Calipatria agreed to annex the property as a satellite of its city property and provide city services as a way to increase its revenue through state funding. In September 1990, an agreement between the City of Calipatria and the State of California was made to declare that the annexed land would be owned by the State and exempt from local property taxes (City Resolution 90-16B, 91-14). CAL opened in January 1992 and is operated by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. It covers a total of 1,227.5 acres (with the prison itself on 300 acres). At 184 feet below sea level, Calipatria is at the lowest elevation of any prison in the Western Hemisphere. The prison was originally designed to house 2,208 inmates, but prior to activation, modifications were made to double the number of inmates that could be held. CAL can hold over 4,000 inmates, if needed. Currently on the date of inspection, the inmate population was approximately 2,500. According to CAL staff, the inmate population is expected to rise due to the closing of the Chuckawalla State Prison located in Riverside County, CA. Upon closure of that facility, an undetermined number of inmates will be transferred to CAL. Inmate security ranges from Level One, the lowest level, to Level Four, the highest. Several Level One inmates are assigned as the institutional firefighters. Approximately 60% of the inmates are serving life sentences, while the remaining 40% will be eventually released. METHODOLOGY The Imperial County Civil Grand Jury (ICGJ) conducted an inspection of CAL that included a tour of the major areas of the prison facility. They used a checklist developed by the previous Grand Jury members to guide their inspection. The areas of interest to the Grand Jury included the general safety and security of the facility, fire safety, food service, medical service, job training requirements for staff, law library, inmate treatment, investigations, housing units and staff morale. The tour was provided by C.D.C.R. personnel. As part of the inspection, the ICGJ toured major areas within the prison, including Prison Perimeter, Medical Care Center, Receiving and Release Center, Inmate Housing, Educational Departments, Vocational Training Areas, and Kitchens. DISCUSSION Prison Perimeter The Prison Perimeter is the perimeter of the main areas within the prison. The Prison Perimeter includes two layers of thirty-foot-tall chain-linked fencing, topped with concertina razor wire. Between the two fences, there is a third, which is a lethal electric fence. The lethal fence is electronically charged at all times, to prevent prison escape attempts. In addition, each Inmate Housing Yard has its own tall chain-linked concertina topped fence to keep the inmates contained. There are also twelve guard towers along the Prison Perimeter, only two of the twelve towers were in use. Due to the lethal electrical fences not all towers require use, however, should the need arise, 20 all towers may be and can be used and armed. Medical Care The Outpatient Housing Unit is located at the center of the prison and is designed to meet all immediate medical needs of the inmates. It has a short-term housing for inmates who need medical attention not currently available in the housing areas. The ICGJ observed a complete pharmacy, dental room, complete X-ray unit, and rooms for examining inmates. Some situations require transfer of patients to Pioneer Memorial Hospital via AMR ground ambulance service or REACH Helicopter air ambulance service. Receiving and Release The Receiving and Release area is located next to the Outpatient Housing Unit and where the process takes place for new arrivals as well as inmates being released. CAL R&R has a low dose X-ray machine, which speeds up the receiving process. The X-ray has aided the Staff in detecting attempted smuggling of contraband, drugs and make shift weapons have been discovered with new arrival inmates. Inmate Housing At CAL, each of the four housing facilities contain five housing units, each with a capacity of two hundred inmates. The ICGJ visited Housing areas, each having educational classrooms, a satellite kitchen, small medical area and vocational training area. ICGJ noted the shower areas were ADA compliant and inmates are afforded shower time daily. One ICGJ member ran hot water and noticed after several minutes the water did not warm up. Educational Departments The State of California mandates that every inmate has the opportunity to earn their diploma in General Educational Development (GED) while incarcerated. Inmates at CAL have access to in house classes that help them with their GED. There is also a path to a High School diploma, college courses for undergraduate up to Associate Degree. In addition, there is a general and Legal Library for inmates as well as correspondence courses to achieve a bachelor’s degree. Vocational Training Each facility at CAL has a vocational training area for inmates. Skills taught include GREEN employment skills (e.g., Solar, Geothermal, Smart Energy), welding, auto body and paint, auto repair, heating ventilation, and air conditioning. The Grand Jury was able to observe a roofing project being performed by Inmates who were being paid for their work while receiving training in the construction field. Main CAL Kitchen and Satellite Kitchens All food for the CAL inmates is prepared in the central main kitchen, after being baked or cooked, 21 it is quick chilled to 32 degrees and stored for up to 72 hours before reheated at one of the housing satellite kitchens. A state nutritionist/dietician determines what food is prepared and served. This is on a 13 week revolving schedule. Varied meals are provided for inmates on medical diets, such as inmates with diabetes, plus those on a religious diet and or vegetarian diets. All food from outside vendors is received at the central kitchen. The central kitchen maintains a 14 day (Two Weeks) supply of food to feed inmates properly prepared meals. For each meal a random meal is stored known as the “Deadman’s meal” for up to 72 hours for a testing/examining purposes, in the event of a possible food poisoning. The ICGJ also inspected the dining facility, reportedly a location that presents a significant opportunity for violence as it is staffed with only two (2) Officers on the floor and one in the tower.
• R3

  Page 22
  Clarify the policy and training to staff so the procedure for entry to the facility is consistent with information posted on the State’s website.