Marin County Grand Jury
• 2016-2017
Marin County Jail Education No One Should Be Barred Report Date: June 5, 2017
⚠️ 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 11 findings
F1
Marin County Jail provides no assessment to determine an inmate’s educational levels and needs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The MCOE should review educational programs in other jail facilities to develop an improved curriculum in the Marin County Jail.
F2
There is an initial question about an inmate’s educational level upon booking into the Marin County Jail, but this information is not shared with the MCOE teachers.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Jail should facilitate implementation of the programs developed by MCOE.
F3
MCOE and jail staff have little contact and coordination regarding the academic program.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The MCOE should evaluate the academic program at the County Jail to determine whether inmates are making progress toward obtaining their GED or HiSet tests.
F4
Marin County Jail’s academic program is funded exclusively by the MCOE general fund.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Marin County Jail and MCOE should hold regularly scheduled meetings.
F5
The County of Marin’s AB 109 budget provides no funding for the MCOE jail education programs even though education is expressly mentioned in the AB 109 realignment program. No request for funding has been made by MCOE from the AB 109 budget.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The MCOE should apply for additional funding for the jail’s educational program.
F6
Eighty percent of the incarcerated population are high school dropouts.20
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
MCOE and Marin County Jail should work together to increase the hours of teacher contact time with inmates.
F7
The MCOE has not developed a definitive curriculum for the Marin County Jail academic program.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The Jail should forward each inmate's level of education to the MCOE teachers. Lynch, Matthew Ed.D. “High School Dropout Rates: Causes and Costs.” Huffington Post. May 2014. Interview with MCOE staff
F8
The MCOE does not provide inmates with a written description of the academic program.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Each inmate booked into the Jail without a high school diploma, should be assessed within two weeks to ascertain their reading and math levels.
F9
The MCOE operates the academic program year-round but there is no GED or HiSET testing during the summer months.21
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
Each inmate without a high school diploma, GED or HiSet certificate should be given an individual instructional program to work toward obtaining a certificate of completion.
F10
There is a need for electronic tablets in addition to computer software programs for reading and math.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
A joint technology committee should be formed between the Jail and MCOE so that new devices can be researched before purchase.
F11
The only jail vocational programs are the culinary, baking, and food handlers programs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
The vocational program should teach computer skills and basic applications such as Microsoft Office, Google Documents, etc., as many jobs now require these as basic skills for employment. Many programs are available in electronic tablet form and should be considered for jail use.
Additional Recommendations 2
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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R12GED or HiSET testing should be available year round.
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R13The Jail and MCOE should develop literature about the courses available in the MCOE’s academic program and make them available for all inmates.
Conclusions 1
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CL1The Grand Jury researched the educational opportunities in both jails and prisons in the Bay Area. Although direct comparisons cannot be drawn from institutions that are different in size and resources, the MCOE and the Marin County Jail could utilize and adapt many of the good ideas the Grand Jury found. The officials at MCOE and the Marin County Jail are unaware of the educational programs that are being implemented in other penal institutions. They are not actively trying to improve the programs within the Marin County Jail. Their attitude is this is what we have had for years and it is good enough. The Grand Jury found abundant evidence of the power of basic education and its importance to the inmate population. In addition, MCOE has not pursued additional funds to finance the education program at the Marin County Jail. The AB 109 money in the Community Corrections Partnership, State Education Department (which funds other County Jails) and a Charter School option are all possibilities worth investigating. 16 Interview with San Quentin staff 17 Interview with Five Keys staff 18 Interview with MCOE staff 19 Interview with Marin County Jail staff June 5, 2017 Marin County Civil Grand Jury Page 15 of 27 Marin County Jail Education