County Jail, Juvenile Hall and Holding Cells:

The Grand Jury found the Jail to be clean and functioning well. The inmates appeared to be safe, secure and orderly. Despite the recent increase in violence toward the staff, all indications were deputies were fully in charge of the facility and treated the inmates with dignity. The Jail's population has changed in two ways since the implementation of AB109. It now houses a larger number of inmates and more of them are repeat offenders. The result is an overcrowded jail. The Sheriff believes the most cost-effective way to reduce Jail overcrowding is to reduce the number of repeat offenders and he has directed a portion of County AB109 funds toward those efforts. A Jail Program Manager has been hired and is instituting a series of programs aimed at changing inmates' behaviors (including substance abuse), teaching life and job skills, and preparing them for reentry into society at large. The cost for medical care for inmates is increasing and is expected to continue to increase as the Jail population ages. Because 40% of the inmates require mental health care, it is a significant cost component of the Jail's budget. A hidden "medical" cost is the need for staff to transport and guard inmates requiring specialized care outside the Jail. Although this was recently contracted to a private company, it is still an expense in the budget. The Grand Jury found all the existing holding cell facilities to be clean and safely operated. All policy and procedure manuals, state mandated health inspections and safety certifications were up-to-date and available for review. The Grand Jury found Juvenile Hall to be clean and well maintained.

The Grand Jury commends the staffs of the Jail and Juvenile Hall for their professionalism.