⚠️ 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 8 findings
F1
Page 9
Considering the age of the building, the interior and exterior of the facility are in satisfactory condition. All interior areas inspected were noted to be clean and well-maintained except for “holding cells,” which were commonly littered with food and trash but cleaned twice daily. Inmates are not held accountable for cleaning upon leaving the cell.
F2
Page 9
The staff is very well versed on “gang” identities and classifies all inmates in the “booking” process. This allows for segregation of affiliated gang members and insures the safety and security to all other inmates and staff members.
F3
Page 9
The Merced County Department of Public Health has a registered nurse from Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) on call for any first-time expectant mother placed in the custody of this facility.
F4
Page 21
Atwater Fire Department This department is under the direction of Cal Fire. At the time of this investigation, they did not have a Safely Surrender Baby Law policy in place but have begun working on a policy and training program.
F5
Page 21
Los Banos Fire Department The City of Los Banos moved to adopt the Safely Surrender Baby Law and developed policies and procedures, training manuals, and training for all fire personnel. They have appropriate signage and a kit ready to use in the event there is a baby surrendered.
F6
Page 21
Merced County Hospitals Mercy Medical Center and Los Banos Memorial do have policies and procedures pertaining to the Safely Surrender Baby Law in their Labor and Delivery Departments and Emergency Rooms.
F7
Page 21
Merced County Office of Education The Merced County Office of Education does provide to Merced County High Schools education material that is adopted from the State of California Education Department. It is clear the schools have adopted the curriculum for Safely Surrender Baby Law in their sex education classes. (AB 2817; Chapter 1099) There is a minimal amount of educational material available from the state of California Department of Education.
F8
Page 21
Merced Union High School District Although the MCCGJ realizes that this is not directly about the Safely Surrender Baby Law, we were very impressed with Merced High School District’s (MUHSD) program for pregnant teenagers. Once the school becomes aware that a student is pregnant, the student is provided with options of participating in the parenting classes, and day care for their children. Both the mother and father of the baby can participate in this program, which enables class attendance for the High School aged parents. The goal is graduation for all high school students regardless of their situation. This school program ensures the mother is seeing doctors and getting the care she needs and is offered help through Merced County Public Health Department in the Nurse Family Partnership; however, this is an option and the mother can opt out if she wants (with no questions asked). We found that most mothers attending Merced High Schools tend to keep their babies. These mothers and their babies remain healthy, and the mothers finish school or continue in General Education Diploma (GED) classes. Funding is limited, and many of the instructors take it upon themselves to provide books and transportation to doctor appointments. It was noted that not all the high schools within the MUHSD can participate because of transportation issues. 21
Recommendations 7
-
R1Page 9Inmates must discard unused food items and trash before exiting their holding cells. COMMENDATION The Department of Public Health is to be commended for their Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) Program and their services and coordinated efforts in serving expectant mothers in the facility. MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT/JOHN LATORRACA CORRECTIONAL CENTER On January 23, 2015, the MCCGJ inspected the John Latorraca Correctional Center, located at 2584 W. Sandy Mush Road in Merced County. It has a state-rated capacity of 564 inmates. It houses both male and female inmates. Average capacity is 485, but it occasionally exceeds maximum capacity. John Latorraca Center was originally built as a Minimum Security facility. However, since the implementation of AB109, the jail now houses Medium to High-risk inmates as well. This facility is 24 years old. The cells as well as the interior and exterior of the buildings are in need of repair. Graffiti is present and appears to be gang-related in most cases. This facility maintains a Minimum level of staffing but is still fully secure (normally through the use of staff-overtime.)
-
R2Page 22We recommend all fire stations throughout the county (including all Cal Fire stations) are Safely Surrender Baby receiving sites.
-
R3Page 22We recommend funding to ensure that there is adequate transportation for the parent or guardian to safely surrender the infant to these sites within cities and county areas.
-
R4Page 22We recommend that the county develops a website to inform women in crisis to provide immediate options and help. This website should include sites in their area to surrender the newborn, transportation options, and an easy-to-read rendition of the law which defines their rights to confidentiality and anonymity. We also recommend a hotline in place with an appropriate agency such as hospital or fire station and future implementation to the new 211 program. (The 211-program will be coming to Merced County. It is a directory/hotline of local programs for the community to assist in health and crisis.)
-
R5Page 22There should be service announcements and bill boards, as well as marketing to the public that there are safe and discrete options for moms and/or families in crisis.
-
R6Page 22It would be ideal for all county high schools to have the ability to participate in parenting programs. We recommend that the county seek funding in the future to allow the MUHSD to have more adequate transportation within their district. We also suggest that they continue funding for more parenting programs within all the county high school districts.
-
R7Page 22We also would like to recommend educational information be provided to Alpha Pregnancy Crisis Center and to all Primary Care doctors in the Merced County area. If we in Merced County can save one baby, then any effort we exert will diminish in the victory we have achieved.
Commendations 3
-
CM1 Page 9The Department of Public Health is to be commended for their Nurse Family Partnership (NFP) Program and their services and coordinated efforts in serving expectant mothers in the facility. 9 MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT/JOHN LATORRACA CORRECTIONAL CENTER On January 23, 2015, the MCCGJ inspected the John Latorraca Correctional Center, located at 2584 W. Sandy Mush Road in Merced County. It has a state-rated capacity of 564 inmates. It houses both male and female inmates. Average capacity is 485, but it occasionally exceeds maximum capacity. John Latorraca Center was originally built as a Minimum Security facility. However, since the implementation of AB109, the jail now houses Medium to High-risk inmates as well. This facility is 24 years old. The cells as well as the interior and exterior of the buildings are in need of repair. Graffiti is present and appears to be gang-related in most cases. This facility maintains a Minimum level of staffing but is still fully secure (normally through the use of staff-overtime.)
-
CM2 Page 13Los Banos Police Department and its Police Chief are commended for excellent communication and notification of all matters regarding staff safety and injury reporting. The transparency of their records and their timely maintenance were found to be excellent. The Los Banos Police Department also promptly provided all requested documentation pertaining to the work-loss situation. INVITED RESPONSES Merced County Sheriff Merced County Chief Probation Officer Chief of Police, City of Los Banos 13 INVESTIGATIVE REPORTS 14 MERCED COUNTY PERMITTING PROCESS FOR DOMESTIC WELLS (Internal Investigation 14-11-08) SUMMARY The 2014- 2015 Merced County Civil Grand Jury (MCCGJ) has conducted an inquiry regarding the domestic water well permitting process. After the MCCGJ reviewed the entire permitting process, we chose to focus on the inspection process. This appears to be the greatest area of concern to the citizens of Merced County.
-
CM3 Page 23Los Banos Fire Department: The Los Banos City Council Adopted the SSBL on April 1, 2015. Shortly after, the MCCGJ conducted a site visit of the Los Banos Fire Department. It must be noted that the Department had acted quickly in assigning a SSBL coordinator, completing training of all staff members of each department and implemented a definitive program for the city of Los Banos. Merced Fire Department: The Merced County Civil Grand Jury was very pleased to find in our investigation that the Merced Fire Department had recognized that their department did not have the SSBL in place a couple of years ago. They took it upon themselves to do the research and put a policy and kit together and there is a kit in each station and also ensuring every one of their employees were trained in the event a baby would be surrendered to their station. We were very impressed with their thoroughness and initiative. Merced Union High School and Yosemite High School: The Merced County Civil Grand Jury would like to commend the teachers, counselors, and administrators in their works to ensure these young women with babies are graduating and raising their children in a warm, clean, friendly atmosphere as you 23 provide. It is a very safe environment and it was obvious you as educators do a marvelous job helping these young women daily not just in the classroom but all the time. The Department of Public Health is to be commended for acquiring grant money for the Nurse Family Partnership. This funding requires Registered Nurses to assist and follow first time mothers, who meet specific criteria from pre-natal care through post-natal care up to the age of five for each child. 24 MERCED COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER ELECTION PROCESS (Citizen Complaint 15-01-08) SUMMARY The Merced County Civil Grand Jury 2014-15 (MCCGJ) received two complaints regarding possible misrepresentation on an application for the Gubernatorial Merced County Elections, Area 1, Merced Union High School District. The complainants alleged that the one candidate was not residing in the required residential area at the time of the application.
No Responses Found 4
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Los Banos
City
Merced County Sheriff
Elected County Office