Humboldt County Grand Jury
• 2018-2019
The Last Resort As providers of last resort, county jails have become the de facto mental health providers of many of
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⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 14 findings
F1
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury acknowledges the hard work and dedication of the staff providing mental health care within the Humboldt County Correctional Facility given their limited resources.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
There is a lack of mental health providers willing to work for the County Department of Health and Human Services. 14
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Department of Health and Human Services develop a more comprehensive, modern, aggressive, and nationwide recruitment and hiring plan for permanent psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and clinicians who focus on the mentally ill population in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. This action should be completed by January 15, 2020. (F2, F3, F4, F5)
F3
Humboldt County Correctional Facility staff are hindered in their tasks by the inability of the Department of Health and Human Services to recruit and retain permanent clinical staff.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Department of Health and Human Services develop a more comprehensive, modern, aggressive, and nationwide recruitment and hiring plan for permanent psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and clinicians who focus on the mentally ill population in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. This action should be completed by January 15, 2020. (F2, F3, F4, F5)
F4
The amount of time the Psychiatrist provides direct patient care to inmates per week is inadequate.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Department of Health and Human Services develop a more comprehensive, modern, aggressive, and nationwide recruitment and hiring plan for permanent psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and clinicians who focus on the mentally ill population in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. This action should be completed by January 15, 2020. (F2, F3, F4, F5)
R2
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Department of Health and Human Services have a psychiatrist assigned to the Humboldt County Correctional Facility 40 hours per week. This action should be completed by January 15, 2020. (F4)
F5
The amount of time mental health clinicians are available in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility is insufficient.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Department of Health and Human Services develop a more comprehensive, modern, aggressive, and nationwide recruitment and hiring plan for permanent psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and clinicians who focus on the mentally ill population in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. This action should be completed by January 15, 2020. (F2, F3, F4, F5)
F6
Department of Health and Human Services and Humboldt County Correctional Facility mental health staff are negatively impacted by a lack of dedicated therapeutic environments and counseling to provide care as required by law.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Department of Health and Human Services seek funding to provide physical space and professionals for specialized clinics, substance abuse programs, and increased therapeutic counseling inside the Humboldt County Correctional Facility. This action should be completed by January 15, 2020. (F6)
F7
There is a lack of direction to clinical staff about who has the legal authority to prescribe treatment orders for inmates in need of mental health treatment.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Department of Health and Human Services ensure that all treatment orders are followed and carried out as prescribed by legally authorized personnel and that those policies and procedures recommended in R4 are current and follow the State law to limit the County’s legal liability. This action should be completed by October 1, 2019. (F7)
F8
The lack of written policies and procedures concerning the care of mentally ill inmates at Humboldt County Correctional Facility inhibits the ability to provide quality mental health care.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Department of Health and Human Services Director of Mental Health Services shall ensure that written policies and procedures regarding the care of mentally ill inmates in the Humboldt County Correctional Facility be developed and distributed with appropriate training to all staff. This action should be completed by October 1, 2019. (F8)
F9
Difficulty in differentiating between drug induced behavior and mental health issues can lead to treatment errors.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Department of Health and Human Services provide additional training to law enforcement and correctional staff to better identify the differences between drug induced and mental health issues. This action should be completed by October 1, 2019. (F9, F13)
F10
There is a lack of agreement of the roles and responsibilities between the Patient’s Rights Advocate and the Department of Health and Human Services Mental Health Administration.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends that Department of Health and Human Services write and implement policies and procedures regarding legally defined rights of mentally ill inmates. This action should be completed by October 1, 2019. (F10)
F11
There are few long-term mental health plans in place for dealing with inmates serving extended sentences.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Department of Health and Human Services implement the new California Department of State Hospitals Diversion Program as it applies to Assembly Bill 1810 and the mentally ill. This action should be completed by January 15, 2020. (F11)
F12
The inmate mental health transition plan for ongoing care after discharge from the Humboldt County Correctional Facility is incomplete.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Department of Health and Human Services complete and implement the mental health transition plan that is currently being developed for after inmate release. This action should be completed by October 1, 2019. (F12) 16
F13
The legal 5150 implementation in both the Humboldt County Correctional Facility and Sempervirens is at times in dispute amongst Department of Health and Human Services staff and local law enforcement agencies.
Related Recommendations (3)
R6
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Department of Health and Human Services provide additional training to law enforcement and correctional staff to better identify the differences between drug induced and mental health issues. This action should be completed by October 1, 2019. (F9, F13)
R10
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the legalities of the 5150 protocols and processes be reviewed and studied by all local law enforcement agencies in the County. This action should be completed by October 1, 2019. (F13)
R11
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends the Department of Health and Human Services and the Humboldt County Correctional Facility improve the implementation of the 5150 process by requiring and providing specific training to all local law enforcement agencies and the Humboldt County Correctional Facility staff to ensure compliance with the law. This action should be completed by January 15, 2020. (F13)
F14
There is a lack of sufficient Department of Health and Human Services administrative involvement in the treatment and care of mentally ill inmates in Humboldt County Correctional Facility.
Related Recommendations (1)
R12
The Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury recommends Department of Health and Human Services make mental health services within the Humboldt County Correctional Facility a higher priority. This action should be completed by October 1, 2019 (F14)
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Humboldt County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office