Napa County Grand Jury
• 2012-2013
2012-2013 Grand Jury Final Report: Napa County Sheriff/Coroner
⚠️ 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 9 findings
F1
The Sheriff’s Office has a flexible policy of rotating sworn officers through various duty positions to provide cross-training and enrich the experiences of deputies.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Coroner’s Division immediately begin a program of entering data from the old system of typewritten index cards into the current computerized system.
F2
The Coroner’s office performs autopsies for surrounding counties on an as-needed basis and bills those counties for services. 15
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The NSO seek assistance, as appropriate, from the BOS, the Napa County Executive Office, and/or County Counsel to secure an agreement with a third party credit/debit card merchant service to allow the NSO to accept credit and debit cards for payment of fees and services and pass related costs to the customer.
F3
The Coroner’s office and autopsy facilities, eight years after being built, are still considered state-of-the-art.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The NSO, County IT and the NSO budget analyst work together to develop a cost- benefit analysis for a secure server with state-of-the-art software to store, index, manage and retrieve crime-scene photographs that are now routinely stored on CDs.
F4
The Coroner’s office staff uses a typewritten index card for each Coroner’s case which is redundant with the computerized system currently in use.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The NSO develop full documentation of policy and procedures for the collection and preservation of DNA evidence. This documentation should include the currently used standard operation procedures for handling DNA evidence.
F5
The Records section is unable to accept credit/debit card payment for fees associated with LiveScan services, copies of reports, or other services to the public.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
That no later than December 31, 2013, the NSO and District Attorney’s office develop a joint policy and procedure which effectively obtains and enforces proper court orders for appropriate destruction of evidence in NSO custody in cases either fully adjudicated, dismissed or beyond the statute of limitations.
F6
The Evidence Laboratory currently stores all crime scene photographs taken by deputies on CDs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
That within the 2013-2014 fiscal year the NSO hire a part-time or extra-help person to fully staff the Property (Evidence) Room.
F7
The Grand Jury found that the NSO has no written standard operating procedure that appropriately describes the proper manner of collection and preservation of DNA.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
The Property (Evidence) Room becomes overloaded periodically and court orders for destruction of evidence related to closed or dismissed cases have been impeded due to a lack of coordinated inter-departmental procedure.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
The Property (Evidence) Room is understaffed and is currently utilizing a person from the Evidence Laboratory to fill the gap in staffing.
No recommendations for this finding
Additional Recommendations 1
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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R16Commendation 17 Request for Responses 17 Appendices Attached 2 NAPA COUNTY GRAND JURY P.O. BOX 5397 NAPA, CALIFORNIA 94581 May 20, 2013 The Honorable Mark S. Boessenecker Supervising Judge Superior Court of the State of California County of Napa 825 Brown Street Napa, California 94559 Re: 2012-2013 Grand Jury Final Report: Napa County Sheriff/Coroner Dear Judge Boessenecker, Pursuant of Section 933 (a) of the California Penal Code, the 2012-2013 Napa County Grand Jury submits its report on the Napa County Sheriff/Coroner Services Division. Our investigation of this subject was conducted in a manner consistent with the California Penal Code, this Court's Charge, and the historic role of the Grand Jury, to pursue the interests of the residents of Napa County. This is a fifth in a series of final reports we will be issuing during our term. I would like to acknowledge the good work and dedication of the Napa County Grand Jurors as demonstrated in this report. Respectfully submitted, Victor J. Connell Foreperson NAPA COUNTY GRAND JURY P.O. BOX 5397 NAPA, CALIFORNIA 94581 May 20, 2013 To the Residents of Napa County: Our fifth Grand Jury Final Report is on the Napa County Sheriff/Coroner. The Napa County Office of County Counsel has reviewed this final report. The Napa County Superior Court Presiding Judge, pursuant to California Penal Code Section 933(a), has found that this report complies with California Penal code Part 2 Title 4. Copies of this report are available for review in the Napa City-County Library and online at www.napa.courts.ca.gov (follow the link to the Grand Jury). We hope you find this report informative. It is an honor and privilege to serve you during our 2012-2013 Grand Jury term. Respectfully submitted, The NAPA COUNTY SHERIFF/CORONER SERVICES OPERATIONS
Commendations 3
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CM1 Page 17The Grand Jury wishes to commend the Sheriff of Napa County and his supervisors who collectively maintain a culture of support, mentoring and cross- training of deputies, enriching the experience of both sworn and civilian staff members and supporting staff with opportunities for professional development. Staff attitudes reflect good leadership and the Grand Jury observed an excellent level of morale, pride in service and personal responsibility among the staff. REQUEST FOR RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal code section 933.05, the grand jury requests responses as follows: From the following governing bodies:
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CM2 Page 17Napa County Sheriff’s Office: All Recommendations R1 through R6.
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CM3 Page 17Napa County District Attorney: R5. APPENDICES ATTACHED: APPENDIX A Napa County Sheriff’s Office 2011 Year-End Report, page 14. APPENDIX B The Napa County Budget Performance Measurement Report, Fiscal Year 2011/2012, pages 187 to 195. APPENDIX C Napa County Adopted Budget, Fiscal Year 2012/2013, pages A112 through A117. APPENDIX D Napa County Sheriff’s Office 2011 Year-End Report, page 29. 17
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Napa County District Attorney
Elected County Office
Napa County Sheriff
Elected County Office