Score: +7 (7/4/0)

Contra Costa County Grand Jury • 2018-2019

Contact: Richard S. Nakano Foreperson

Published: September 30, 2018 12 pages

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⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

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

Findings and Recommendations 7 findings

The 25 agencies that responded to the RFI affirmed their satisfaction with the quality of analysis performed by the Crime Lab.

No recommendations for this finding

The Crime Lab’s average analysis turn-around time is 30 days, depending on the test.

No recommendations for this finding

The Crime Lab indicates it can do more crime evidence testing.

No recommendations for this finding

The Crime Lab confirmed it has no strategic plan to address its future needs, including facilities, staffing, and equipment replacement.

Related Recommendations (2)

The Sheriff's Office should consider preparing a five-year strategic plan for the Crime Lab

As part of a five-year strategic plan, the Sheriff's Office should consider evaluating whether to consolidate its Crime Lab facilities, assess staffing needs, and develop an equipment update plan

The Crime Lab indicated that having Summit Lab, Muir Lab, and Property and Evidence Services operating in separate locations inhibits cross-training and supervision of staff.

Related Recommendations (1)

As part of a five-year strategic plan, the Sheriff's Office should consider evaluating whether to consolidate its Crime Lab facilities, assess staffing needs, and develop an equipment update plan

Even with the Crime Lab’s annual updates, not all law enforcement agencies in the County are fully aware of newly acquired equipment, turnaround times, and available capacity for testing.

Related Recommendations (1)

The Sheriff's Office should consider expanding its outreach to all law enforcement agencies in the County to promote its newly acquired equipment, turnaround times, and available capacity for testing

The Sheriff's Office and the other 27 County law enforcement agencies use outside labs for GSR testing.

Related Recommendations (1)

To eliminate the redundancy of effort and seek a competitive rate, the Sheriff's Office should consider studying the possibility of becoming the GSR testing contract organization for all law enforcement agencies in the County

Agency Responses 1

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

Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff

June 11, 2019 • 3 pages • 11 responses • Score: +7 (+7, 4, 0) View Details ▾

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11 responses to findings and recommendations

The 25 agencies that responded to the RFI affirmed their satisfaction with the quality of analysis performed by the Crime Lab.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The 25 agencies that responded to the RFI affirmed their satisfaction with the quality of analysis performed by the Crime Lab. The Office of the Sheriff agrees with the finding. F2: The Crime Lab's average analysis turn-around time is 30 days, depending on the test. The Office of the Sheriff agrees with the finding. The Crime Lab indicates it can do more crime evidence testing. F3: The Office of the Sheriff agrees with the finding. F4: The Crime Lab confirmed it has no stragetic plan to address its future needs, including facilities, staffing, and equipment replacement. The Office of the...

The Sheriff's Office should consider preparing a five-year strategic plan for the Crime Lab

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

The Crime Lab’s average analysis turn-around time is 30 days, depending on the test.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The Crime Lab's average analysis turn-around time is 30 days, depending on the test. The Office of the Sheriff agrees with the finding. The Crime Lab indicates it can do more crime evidence testing. F3: The Office of the Sheriff agrees with the finding. F4: The Crime Lab confirmed it has no stragetic plan to address its future needs, including facilities, staffing, and equipment replacement. The Office of the Sheriff partially disagrees with the finding, as our Accreditation Program does include a Management Review with a future needs assessment. We are also constantly assessing and foreca...

As part of a five-year strategic plan, the Sheriff's Office should consider evaluating whether to consolidate its Crime Lab facilities, assess staffing needs, and develop an equipment update plan

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

The Crime Lab indicates it can do more crime evidence testing.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The Office of the Sheriff agrees with the finding. F4: The Crime Lab confirmed it has no stragetic plan to address its future needs, including facilities, staffing, and equipment replacement. The Office of the Sheriff partially disagrees with the finding, as our Accreditation Program does include a Management Review with a future needs assessment. We are also constantly assessing and forecasting staffing and equipment replacement 651 PINE STREET • MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA 94553 • (925) 335-1500 Letter to Richard S. Nakano, Foreperson, 2018-2019 Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury June 11, 2019...

The Sheriff's Office should consider expanding its outreach to all law enforcement agencies in the County to promote its newly acquired equipment, turnaround times, and available capacity for testing

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

The Crime Lab confirmed it has no strategic plan to address its future needs, including facilities, staffing, and equipment replacement.

Response: Disagree Partially Score: 0

The Crime Lab confirmed it has no stragetic plan to address its future needs, including facilities, staffing, and equipment replacement. The Office of the Sheriff partially disagrees with the finding, as our Accreditation Program does include a Management Review with a future needs assessment. We are also constantly assessing and forecasting staffing and equipment replacement 651 PINE STREET • MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA 94553 • (925) 335-1500 Letter to Richard S. Nakano, Foreperson, 2018-2019 Contra Costa County Civil Grand Jury June 11, 2019 Page 2 of 3 needs as they relate to the overall workload...

Response: Will Implement

Score: +1

The Crime Lab indicated that having Summit Lab, Muir Lab, and Property and Evidence Services operating in separate locations inhibits cross-training and supervision of staff.

Response: Agree Score: +1

Services operating in separate locations inhibits cross-training and supervision of staff. The Office of the Sheriff agrees with the finding. Even with the Crime Lab's annual updates, not all law enforcement agencies in the F6: County are fully aware of newly acquired equipment, turnaround times, and available capacity for testing. The Office of the Sheriff agrees with the finding. F7: The Sheriff's Office and the other 27 County law enforcement agencies use outside labs for GSR testing. The Office of the Sheriff agrees with the finding. As for the recommendations: R1: The Sheriff's Offi...

Even with the Crime Lab’s annual updates, not all law enforcement agencies in the County are fully aware of newly acquired equipment, turnaround times, and available capacity for testing.

Response: Agree Score: +1

County are fully aware of newly acquired equipment, turnaround times, and available capacity for testing. The Office of the Sheriff agrees with the finding. F7: The Sheriff's Office and the other 27 County law enforcement agencies use outside labs for GSR testing. The Office of the Sheriff agrees with the finding. As for the recommendations: R1: The Sheriff's Office should consider preparing a five-year stragetic plan for the Crime Lab by December 31, 2020. The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future. The Forensic Services Division will explore th...

The Sheriff's Office and the other 27 County law enforcement agencies use outside labs for GSR testing.

Response: Agree Score: +1

The Sheriff's Office and the other 27 County law enforcement agencies use outside labs for GSR testing. The Office of the Sheriff agrees with the finding. As for the recommendations: R1: The Sheriff's Office should consider preparing a five-year stragetic plan for the Crime Lab by December 31, 2020. The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future. The Forensic Services Division will explore the need for an independent five-year strategic plan, and/or to improve upon the incorporation of its goals into the greater departmental stragetic plan already in e...