San Diego County Grand Jury
• 2012-2013
Detention Facilities Report Adult Detention Facilities
⚠️ 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.
Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F5, F6, F7
Findings and Recommendations 6 findings
F01
SDCJ is a well run facility. Fact: Prior to AB109, inmates served sentences of a year or less in SDCJ. Post AB109 the longest sentence is 1,065 days.
No recommendations for this finding
F1
The electrical crowd control shields need to be repaired or replaced to protect both the staff and the inmates.
No recommendations for this finding
F02
AB109 has caused increased length of stay with increased daily resident population that will likely weaken the ability of existing sworn staff to manage the inmate population.
No recommendations for this finding
F03
Support staff will be needed to develop expanding programs. Fact: There is only one armory. This presents a problem due to the size of the facility.
No recommendations for this finding
F04
Response time with only one armory creates a safety issue for both staff and inmates. RECOMENDATIONS The 2012-2013 San Diego County Grand Jury recommends the San Diego County Sheriff: 13-46: Hire additional sworn staff to maintain staff to inmate ratio as anticipated inmate population increases. 13-47: Add additional classrooms by December 31, 2013 to facilitate the increase in inmate population and allow for more program offerings for longer-serving inmates. 13-48: Prepare a plan, by December 31, 2013, to add a second fully equipped armory at the other side of the facility to expedite response time in an emergency. FACILITY 8 The Grand Jury inspected Facility 8 (FAC 8) on September 7, 2012. FAC 8 is a medium security facility built in conjunction with the GBDF. It is a mirror image of the cell housing units found at GBDF. The County operates the 200-bed Facility, which is adjacent to a 1000-bed facility that is leased to a private operation Corrections Corporation of America (CCA). One of the housing units leased by CCA was returned to the County in 2006. Renovations to bring that housing unit up to County standards were begun immediately. The remaining leased housing units will be returned to the County in December of 2015. At that time, the Sheriff’s Department will be able to use all 1200 beds in this facility. The additional housing will require renovations plus the addition of more sworn and support staff. The Grand Jury found FAC 8 well maintained although stark in appearance. At the time of our visit, FAC 8 housed 200 inmates. Even though FAC 8 was designed for medium- 13 risk inmates, during the Grand Jury’s visit, we were told that high-risk inmates are incarcerated here. These high-risk inmates are kept isolated from the general population. At a daily sick call, nurses from GBDF provide for medical needs. A doctor and a psychiatrist are present once a week for sick call. Serious ailments and dental care are treated at GBDF. Meals are prepared at GBDF by the kitchen staff and delivered three times a day to FAC 8. There is a small landscaped yard where each inmate has the opportunity to receive two 30 minute supervised outdoor visits per week. The newly refurbished exercise yard allows for at least three hours per week of recreation/exercise for inmates. The recently redesigned multi-purpose room allows for drug dependency counseling, religious services, and educational programs. FACTS AND FINDINGS Fact: Facility 8 does not have a fully equipped armory.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
There is a small landscaped yard where each inmate has the opportunity to receive two 30 minute supervised outdoor visits per week. The newly refurbished exercise yard allows for at least three hours per week of recreation/exercise for inmates. The recently redesigned multi-purpose room allows for drug dependency counseling, religious services, and educational programs. FACTS AND FINDINGS Fact: Facility 8 does not have a fully equipped armory. Finding 01: The distance between Facility 8 and GBDF dictates the need for an armory located on-site.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
There is a small landscaped yard where each inmate has the opportunity to receive two 30 minute supervised outdoor visits per week. The newly refurbished exercise yard allows for at least three hours per week of recreation/exercise for inmates. The recently redesigned multi-purpose room allows for drug dependency counseling, religious services, and educational programs. FACTS AND FINDINGS Fact: Facility 8 does not have a fully equipped armory.
Additional Recommendations 19
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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13-38Page 5Hire additional sworn staff to maintain staff to inmate ratio as
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13-39Page 6Repair or purchase two electrical crowd control shields by
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13-40Page 8Acquire newer computers and software for the computer lab by
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13-41Page 10Prepare a plan and build additional classrooms by June 30, 2014 to
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13-42Page 10Hire additional teachers as programs expand.
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13-43Page 10Purchase and install a new video camera system to cover the blind
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13-44Page 10Hire additional sworn staff to maintain staff to inmate ratio as
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13-45Page 11Add fencing and additional surveillance cameras to the delivery area
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13-46Page 13Hire additional sworn staff to maintain staff to inmate ratio as
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13-47Page 13Add additional classrooms by December 31, 2013 to facilitate the
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13-48Page 13Prepare a plan, by December 31, 2013, to add a second fully equipped
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13-49Page 14Provide a fully equipped armory by December 31, 2013 for the
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13-50Page 18Prepare a plan to provide a teleconferencing program by
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13-51Page 20Expedite the delivery and installation of a doublewide mobile home to
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13-52Page 22Resurface the blacktop area used for outdoor activities immediately
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13-53Page 23Prepare a plan to repaint buildings inside and outside by
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13-54Page 23Resurface blacktop areas by October 31, 2013 in regard to safety
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13-55Page 24Prepare a plan to replace textbooks, refinish desks, repaint classroom
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13-56Page 25Locate a larger classroom and acquire more computers by
Commendations 1
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CM1The 2012-2013 San Diego County Grand Jury commends the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department on the construction currently under way for the new Facility. It is well planned and when opened will serve our County well. EAST MESA DETENTION FACILITY The Grand Jury inspected East Mesa Detention Facility (EMDF) on September 14, 2012. EMDF is a low-to medium-security detention facility operating with a sworn staff of 70 with six positions currently open. On the day we inspected this facility, with a BSCC rating of 360, there were 504 inmates incarcerated. Of these 504 inmates, 254 work in the kitchen, laundry facility, on the grounds crew, in the print shop and the Central Food Kitchen that prepares the food for all County detention facilities. Grounds are immaculate, beautifully landscaped, and maintained by Inmate Workers on the landscape crew. All the Inmate Workers make fifty cents a day, and usually spend it in the commissary. EMDF has a video camera system that is outdated and does not zoom in on specific areas. They need additional cameras to ensure coverage in every area of the facility. Recently they added a new position of Re-Entry Coordinator to the staff. This person ensures that inmates receive the training and counseling needed to prepare inmates for re- entry into the community. EMDF also has a parole officer stationed at the facility to assist inmates with information they will need upon release. There are classrooms at the facility for GED and other training programs resulting in a certificate. Currently there are not enough classrooms but there are plans to add more in the next two years when additional buildings are completed. 8 SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2012-2013 (filed May 13, 2013) Visitors come to an open patio area where there are picnic tables with wooden coverings for shade. The inmate sits on one side of the table with the visitor on the other. Initially, the inmate may give a brief hug to their visitor with no further contact allowed until it is time to depart. If a small child visits, he/she is allowed to sit on the table in front of the inmate. Work Inmate Workers are allowed two visits per week that are one hour in length while all other inmates allowed two visits per week, 30 minutes in duration. Meals are served at 5am, 10am, and 4pm. All inmates have 15 minutes to consume their food, but this is not strictly enforced. Posted signs remind inmates not to talk during their meals. Usual inmate privileges are offered, contingent upon complying with the facility rules. The work Inmate Workers are allowed more benefits than other inmates such as additional outside yard time, contact visits, and recreational time. Outdoor activities such as basketball, a walk/run trail, and exercise bars are available with two deputies monitoring the activities. When Dormitory D was visited, there was a group of inmates watching television. Several inmates were in their bunks resting, and others were in a separate room for additional activities. EMDF inspects dormitories once a week and the dormitory that is determined to be the cleanest chooses television programming for the entire facility for the following week. EMDF currently has one drug-detection dog and will be receiving three more dogs when they finish their training. Although EMDF will kennel the dogs, any of the other facilities, including George Bailey Detention Facility and Facility 8, can use the dogs. The print shop is a very impressive operation. Business cards for County employees are made in this print shop, as well as award plaques. The shop is very clean and both staff and inmates who work there appear to be very proud of it. Grossmont Union High School District instructors train inmates who work in the print shop. The inmates can work toward receiving certification on the various print machines. When an inmate is released, he can take these skills and certificates to help obtain employment. If an inmate re-offends and comes back to East Mesa, he is not allowed back in the print shop. It is a privilege to work in this shop. An overview was given on the automated procedures for receiving laundry coming into the facility, going into the washers, dryers, folding area and finally leaving for detention facilities throughout the County. Inmates at the laundry facility wash as much as 8,000 to 10,000 pounds of clothing, bedding and towels daily. This facility does the laundry for most of the County detention centers; however, Las Colinas has their own laundry facility for female inmates. Inmate Workers in both facilities do the washing, drying, and folding. Inmates who receive training in this area can earn certification from Grossmont Adult School, which is helpful in obtaining employment when they are released. They also earn fifty cents a day. When the laundry is finished, inmates put it in large containers on wheels and it is delivered to each detention facility. 9 SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2012-2013 (filed May 13, 2013) EMDF is able to provide more rehabilitative and vocational programs than other detention facilities. Due to the programs located at this facility, inmates can earn a GED, certificates in construction trades, printing press operation, computer graphics, Serve Safe certificates ( formally called food handler certificates), and industrial laundry machine operation. The Grossmont Union High School District administrates and provides teachers for most of these programs. FACTS AND FINDINGS Fact: EMDF needs additional teachers to assist with the expanding classroom offerings. Fact: Current staffing is inadequate to cover additional inmate population. Fact: There are only two classrooms in each building at present. Finding 01: Additional classrooms are needed to facilitate the number of inmates and to allow for more program offerings. Fact: Current video cameras do not cover all areas of the facility adequately. Finding 02: To protect staff and inmates, EMDF needs updated video cameras.