Yolo County Detention – What Can Be Improved?

Recommendations 15

• R1

  Page 156
  By October 1, 2019, Notices of Placement should include explanations of the status of their immigration cases, what must be done to be released from the JDF, and the steps youth must take to be stepped down to another facility or released. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: This recommendation requires further analysis and coordination with ORR as implementation may entail modification to ORR policy. The Notice of Placement in a Restrictive Setting form is completed in accordance with the ORR Manual of Procedure and notes the reason for initial or continued placement in a restrictive setting, as determined by the ORR Federal Field Specialist. Case managers assigned to work with each youth routinely educate youth on the requirements for placement at less-restrictive settings and youth's attorneys, as well as their case managers, provide updates on the status of their immigration cases as new information becomes available. Striving to Make a Difference: Responses to the 2018-2019 Yolo County Grand Jury Report
• R2

  Page 157
  By January 1, 2020, the JDF should convene an independent interdisciplinary task force composed of educational experts to determine how to improve educational opportunities at the JDF including: how to provide culturally competent education, concrete strategies for addressing the wide range of education levels, and providing age appropriate reading material in the youths’ primary languages. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted. Yolo County Office of Education (YCOE) Alternative Education staff have been involved in on-going culturally- responsive curriculum and classroom professional development designed to provide differentiated instruction for all students. YCOE Alternative Education staff meet weekly and utilize many community agencies and stakeholders to achieve these goals. Additionally, site administration from YCOE utilize a professional development steering committee comprised of several community members and education services professionals.
• R3

  Page 157
  By October 1, 2019, the JDF should allow youth who are not charged with criminal offenses to make private and unrecorded phone calls. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: This recommendation requires further analysis. While current practices meet standards set forth by the Flores Settlement, the Probation Department is not opposed to evaluating ways to maximize youth privacy while maintaining their safety.
• R4

  Page 157
  By January 1, 2020, the JDF should update both its Youth Handbook and policies and procedures manual to state that youth have the right to communicate with family and others through an internet-based videoconferencing system. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: The recommendation requires further analysis. The Probation Department is vested in facilitating family reunification and will explore internet-based videoconferencing systems and other means of providing access to technology to augment traditional phone calls and on- site visiting hours.
• R5

  Page 157
  By October 1, 2019, the JDF should conduct activities outside whenever possible to allow youth more outdoor time and outside recreational time should be added to existing incentive programs. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: This recommendation was initiated in March 2019 and implementation is ongoing. The JDF conducts activities outside of the living unit whenever possible. The Probation Department will Striving to Make a Difference: Responses to the 2018-2019 Yolo County Grand Jury Report continue to evaluate ways to maximize opportunities for youth to enjoy activities outdoors.
• R6

  Page 158
  By January 1, 2020, the Board of Supervisors should study the possibility of limiting or eliminating the use of pepper spray in the JDF as have other states and the County of Los Angeles. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: The recommendation requires further analysis. In accordance with the position of the Chief Probation Officers of California (CPOC), the Probation Department will continue to closely monitor the appropriateness of any use of pepper spray and evaluate the necessity of maintaining this tool while a related statewide study is conducted.
• R7

  Page 158
  By January 1, 2020, an independent behavioral therapist trained in de- escalating potentially violent outbursts should be stationed in pods during waking hours to help resolve situations before use of force appears necessary and thus reduce stress and injuries to both staff and youth. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: This recommendation will not be implemented as its goal is already being adequately addressed. Behavioral health staff trained in de-escalation have a frequent presence in the living units during waking hours. Additionally, all detention staff are trained in the Crisis Prevention Institute's Nonviolent Crisis Intervention model and are equipped to respond to escalating situations. Additional training in de-escalation techniques is provided as it becomes available so that staff are current and competent in the most effective responses to potentially violent outbursts and behaviors. Emotional and physical safety of staff and youth is of paramount importance and is always at the forefront of our training program.
• R8

  Page 158
  By January 1, 2020, the JDF should provide youth with therapists independent of ORR to enable youth to speak freely about their problems and obtain counsel without fear that normal teenage emotional problems are criminalized and used as justification for continued confinement. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: We are unable to implement this recommendation due to the very nature of the ORR program. ORR is the legal guardian of all undocumented youth and ORR provides consent for and oversight of all services in the same manner as any guardian. Of note, behavioral health services are provided by Yolo County clinical staff; they are not direct employees of ORR. Additionally, youth do not remain in secure placement due to their emotional problems; rather, only youth who continue to present a danger to others, based on clinical assessment, remain in secure placement in order to ensure the safety of all youth. Striving to Make a Difference: Responses to the 2018-2019 Yolo County Grand Jury Report
• R9

  Page 159
  By October 1, 2019, the JDF should provide youth with a means for anonymously submitting complaints independent of detention officers, including by computer. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: The recommendation requires further analysis. The Probation Department is committed to affording youth various avenues to submit complaints and will further consider ways to facilitate an anonymous process.
• R10

  Page 159
  By January 1, 2020, the JDF should enact procedures to mandate attendance of behavioral therapists during post use-of-force incidents to allow feedback at a critical time when they could coach detention officers on potentially better methods to de-escalate such situations. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: The recommendation was implemented in March 2019. The Probation Department is currently updating its Policies and Procedures Manual to reflect this mandate.
• R11

  Page 159
  By January 1, 2020, the Board of Supervisors should convene an independent interdisciplinary group to ensure youths’ privacy and to improve environmental conditions at the JDF. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: This recommendation will be implemented utilizing the existing Juvenile Justice Commission, comprised of members of the public with varying interests and areas of expertise who are appointed by the Court with the mission to inquire into the administration of the juvenile court law in Yolo County and to assist in efforts toward prevention and reduction of juvenile delinquency, as required by law.
• R12

  Page 159
  By January 1, 2020, the Probation Department should consider posting its policy and procedures manual and the JDF’s Youth Handbook on the Yolo County website. The County should thereafter keep updated versions on the website, and provide a means for the public to freely offer suggestions for improvement. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: The recommendation requires further analysis. While the Probation Department is committed to transparency, it is also committed to maintaining the security of the institution and will consider additional measures while ensuring this balance.
• R13

  Page 159
  By January 1, 2020, Yolo County should provide a procedure that allows non- ORR related health workers access to youth for mental health treatment, Striving to Make a Difference: Responses to the 2018-2019 Yolo County Grand Jury Report which allows youth to freely discuss their problems without fear that their medical condition is criminalized. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: The recommendation will not be implemented. Under no circumstances are youth's medical conditions criminalized, and as such, no outside intervention is called for in this matter.
• R14

  Page 160
  By January 1, 2020, Yolo County should allow access to ORR youth by its medical advisory committee, the Yolo County Health Council, to ensure youth are being properly treated. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: This recommendation requires further analysis. While this is not the purview of the Yolo County Health Council, the Yolo County Health & Human Services Agency (HHSA) is playing an increasingly active role in oversite (sic) of ORR mental and medical health services. HHSA contracts with a third party provider to conduct chart reviews and provide recommendations for improvement. HHSA has also increased oversite (sic) via the Quality Assurance Committee Meeting process by instituting a mechanism to respond to concerns from partners regarding quality of care. This recommendation will be further analyzed in collaboration with the Public Health Officer and HHSA.
• R15

  Page 160
  Because few local and ORR youths are being detained in the JDF, and one pod is empty, it should be considered for use as the transitional adult facility proposed by the probation department to enable continued funding of the JDF by the ORR. Response from Yolo County Board of Supervisors: The recommendation requires further analysis. Utilizing the vacant living unit for a transition age program is being considered by the Probation Department and County stakeholders, however, implementation of a transitional age program in the facility is an issue fully independent of the matter of continuing the ORR program in Yolo County.