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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2022-2023
Envisioning the Future of our Jails
⚠️ 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 10 findings
F1
Page 53
Permanent mandatory overtime for Corrections Officers has a negative effect on them that leads to high turnover, and the need to hire more COs and train them, which is inefficient and demoralizing for the Sheriff’s Office.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Page 54
In the next budget cycle the Board of Supervisors should allocate more funding to the Sheriff’s Office to be used to increase Correctional Officer pay, and/or give out increased hiring or retention bonuses as the Sheriff’s Office determines. (F1)
F2
Page 53
Overcrowding at the Main Jail would be alleviated if the Blaine Street Women’s Jail and the second unit at Rountree could be reopened.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
Page 54
The Blaine Street Women’s Jail should be reopened as soon as practical, but definitely before the end of 2023. (The reopening is imminent and will occur mid May 2023) (F2 – F4)
R3
Page 54
After Blaine Street, the second unit at Rountree should be reopened as soon as sufficient staffing is available, and preferably (F2, F4, F5)
F3
Page 53
Keeping women who do not need to be in a high security facility in the Main Jail is clearly detrimental to their mental health, and to their chances of staying out of jail once released. Envisioning the Future of our Jails published May 25, 2023 48 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 54
The Blaine Street Women’s Jail should be reopened as soon as practical, but definitely before the end of 2023. (The reopening is imminent and will occur mid May 2023) (F2 – F4)
F4
Page 54
Reopening Blaine Street and the second unit at Rountree would give the Sheriff’s Office much more scope to balance the jail population between the three facilities, and would allow some inmates from the Main Jail to move to Rountree and take advantage of the programming available there.
Related Recommendations (3)
R2
Page 54
The Blaine Street Women’s Jail should be reopened as soon as practical, but definitely before the end of 2023. (The reopening is imminent and will occur mid May 2023) (F2 – F4)
R3
Page 54
After Blaine Street, the second unit at Rountree should be reopened as soon as sufficient staffing is available, and preferably (F2, F4, F5)
R7
Page 55
The Sheriff’s Office should commission a study to determine the most effective use of the three jails and any modifications to existing facilities needed to house the expected jail population into the future. This study should be completed (F4, F9, F10)
F5
Page 54
Lack of programming at the Main Jail is bad for inmate welfare, both their mental health while on the inside, and their ability to stay out of the criminal justice system once released.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 54
After Blaine Street, the second unit at Rountree should be reopened as soon as sufficient staffing is available, and preferably (F2, F4, F5)
F6
Page 54
Programs such as those run by the Public Defender’s Office and CAFES that reduce recidivism are effective because they give former inmates the mental health and/or substance abuse treatments they need, as well as case management and supportive housing.
Related Recommendations (2)
R4
Page 54
Programming at the Main Jail, both that intended to stimulate and entertain inmates, and that intended to provide them with skills for life on the outside, should be restarted as soon as practical and as Covid restrictions allow. (F6)
R6
Page 54
In the next budget cycle, County Behavioral Health should be funded to adequately treat released inmates with mental illness, including supportive housing where necessary. (F6 – F9) Envisioning the Future of our Jails published May 25, 2023 2022–2023 Consolidated Final Report 49
F7
Page 54
Lack of continuing care for released inmates, most especially those with mental illness, SUD and/or who will be homeless after release, significantly contributes to recidivism, which then contributes to the need for a new jail.
Related Recommendations (2)
R5
Page 54
The Public Defender’s Office should receive funding in the next budget cycle to provide adequate anti recidivism programs. (F7 – F9)
R6
Page 54
In the next budget cycle, County Behavioral Health should be funded to adequately treat released inmates with mental illness, including supportive housing where necessary. (F6 – F9) Envisioning the Future of our Jails published May 25, 2023 2022–2023 Consolidated Final Report 49
F8
Page 54
Some continuing care does exist, but is massively underfunded, especially for former inmates who need supportive housing.
Related Recommendations (2)
R5
Page 54
The Public Defender’s Office should receive funding in the next budget cycle to provide adequate anti recidivism programs. (F7 – F9)
R6
Page 54
In the next budget cycle, County Behavioral Health should be funded to adequately treat released inmates with mental illness, including supportive housing where necessary. (F6 – F9) Envisioning the Future of our Jails published May 25, 2023 2022–2023 Consolidated Final Report 49
F9
Page 54
The Main Jail is old, has been overcrowded, and does not meet current requirements for incarceration.
Related Recommendations (3)
R5
Page 54
The Public Defender’s Office should receive funding in the next budget cycle to provide adequate anti recidivism programs. (F7 – F9)
R6
Page 54
In the next budget cycle, County Behavioral Health should be funded to adequately treat released inmates with mental illness, including supportive housing where necessary. (F6 – F9) Envisioning the Future of our Jails published May 25, 2023 2022–2023 Consolidated Final Report 49
R7
Page 55
The Sheriff’s Office should commission a study to determine the most effective use of the three jails and any modifications to existing facilities needed to house the expected jail population into the future. This study should be completed (F4, F9, F10)
F10
Page 54
The Main Jail might be adequate for incarcerating inmates who need to be in a high security facility, providing it can be renovated to meet current incarceration requirements for a much reduced population.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Page 55
The Sheriff’s Office should commission a study to determine the most effective use of the three jails and any modifications to existing facilities needed to house the expected jail population into the future. This study should be completed (F4, F9, F10)
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 53In a perfect world, the Sheriff’s Office would have sufficient funding to raise Correctional Officers’ pay sufficient to hire all the officers they need, and build the new jail they want. But in that perfect world, there would also be sufficient resources to give all inmates the mental health care they need and to provide adequate continuing care after they are released, including supportive housing as appropriate. This report asks the question “In the real world, with the funding constraints in this County, what is the best solution to both the aging Main Jail and to the distressingly high recidivism rate?” The Santa Cruz County Grand Jury believes that funding for the Sheriff’s Office to hire and retain more Correctional Officers should be increased. Funding for the Public Defender’s Office and County Behavioral Health should also be increased so their anti recidivism efforts can reduce the current horrifying 60 percent recidivism rate.
Commendations 1
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CM1 Page 55C1. The Probation Office and the Public Defender’s Office are doing an excellent job of diverting low level offenders away from the criminal justice system. C2. The Probation Office is providing their Juvenile Hall youngsters a more physically and emotionally healthy environment that most of them ever had at home.
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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