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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
San Bernardino County Grand Jury
• 2022-2023
San Bernardino County Municipal Jails
⚠️ 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 57 findings
F1
Page 167
The Grand Jury met three sworn officers and the civilian jail manager.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Page 167
The jail is in the basement of the Fontana Police station. The grounds observed were well-kept and clean.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Page 167
The building is made of concrete.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Page 167
The exterior of the police department looked well-maintained during the visit.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Page 167
The walls in the jail cells contained some graffiti and the paint was peeling in at least one of the cells. The windows were in good condition with no visible cracks. The air vents and plumbing in the cells were in excellent working order on the day of the visit.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
Page 167
The Grand Jury observed that cleaning fluids and chemicals were placed in two holding cells and locked.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Page 167
The entrance from the sally port has several lockers available for officers to use prior to their entry into the jail. The sally port is a secured area situated between an outside area and an area inside a jail or prison. A sally port allows officers to make a 2-step controlled 148 San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 13
No recommendations for this finding
F8
Page 168
The hallways were clear during the visit.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
Page 168
Holding areas (cells) have access to drinking water and a toilet. Each cell has a faucet and a toilet. The faucet has a hot and cold dial. The water shoots up from the faucet like a fountain and can be used for drinking water. The toilets were in good working order.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
Page 168
There were fifteen individual cells. Nine cells are available for use. The rest were used for storage. The holding cells can hold up to two detainees if necessary.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
Page 168
Beds are metal single off the floor. Mattresses were seen in a separate cell, and could be provided when needed.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
Page 168
The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) indicated that Type 1 facilities such as municipal jails undergo annual and biennial inspections to ensure safety from fire, environmental and structural problems. The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) conducts a biennial inspection of the facilities pursuant to Penal Code § 6031 and WIC § 209 to determine compliance with the minimum standards for local detention facilities.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
Page 168
The Grand Jury observed a list of rules for detainees posted on a wall about phone use.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
Page 168
Fontana police provided the Grand Jury with a form showing that when they perform medical screenings of detainees, there are a series of 15 questions that include their health history, prescribed medications (including psychiatric), and current state of being. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 14 USE OF CELLS/ROOMS FOR DETAINEES
No recommendations for this finding
F15
Page 169
The Fontana jail accommodates adult detainees.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
Page 169
One cell is available for adult handicapped detainees.
No recommendations for this finding
F17
Page 169
There were no detainees in the cells when visited.
No recommendations for this finding
F18
Page 169
Each holding cell had a telephone available for use.
No recommendations for this finding
F19
Page 169
Local calls are free and long-distance calls can be made “collect.”
No recommendations for this finding
F20
Page 169
Staff supervises detainees with audio-equipped closed-circuit cameras for monitoring.
No recommendations for this finding
F21
Page 169
There is a cuffing rail in the intake area and the cell area. A cuffing rail is a long wooden or steel pole cemented into a wall that an detainee can be handcuffed to for safe and secure controlled movement. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 15
No recommendations for this finding
F22
Page 170
There was one male and one female staff member in the holding cell area.
No recommendations for this finding
F23
Page 170
In the detainee holding area, the walls were dirty and needed cleaning. The floors were clean. The toilet and sink in the cells were checked and were in working condition. However, one toilet needed a thorough cleaning.
No recommendations for this finding
F24
Page 170
Grand Jurors observed cleaning fluids and chemicals labeled and stored in a separate room away from detainees.
No recommendations for this finding
F25
Page 170
No detainees were being held in the three holding cells and lavatory, so the doors were open for free and convenient examination of the cells.
No recommendations for this finding
F26
Page 170
Detainees have access to drinking water and a toilet.
No recommendations for this finding
F27
Page 168
The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) indicated that Type 1 facilities such as municipal jails undergo annual and biennial inspections to ensure safety from fire, environmental and structural problems. The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) conducts a biennial inspection of the facilities pursuant to Penal Code § 6031 and WIC § 209 to determine compliance with the minimum standards for local detention facilities. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 16
No recommendations for this finding
F28
Page 171
Detainees are booked when they are brought to the jail.
No recommendations for this finding
F29
Page 168
The Grand Jury observed a list of rules for detainees posted on a wall about phone use. USE OF CELLS/ROOMS FOR DETAINEES
No recommendations for this finding
F30
Page 171
The Ontario jail accommodates adult detainees, as well as juveniles (ages 12-17).
No recommendations for this finding
F31
Page 171
The facility has the capacity to hold up to 44 detainees.
No recommendations for this finding
F32
Page 171
The jail has six (6) holding cells that can accommodate a capacity of up to 26 detainees. A sobering cell can hold up to eight (8) detainees. Another cell was designated to hold up to six (6) female detainees. One cell is available for adult handicapped detainees. The other three cells can each hold up to three detainees.
No recommendations for this finding
F33
Page 171
The jail has a separate section of cells for juveniles. Those cells have the capacity to accommodate up to 16 juveniles.
No recommendations for this finding
F34
Page 171
There is a phone in the hallway outside of the cells.
No recommendations for this finding
F35
Page 169
Local calls are free and long-distance calls can be made “collect.”
No recommendations for this finding
F36
Page 171
Staff supervises detainees at the jail with a closed-circuit camera system with audio recording for monitoring.
No recommendations for this finding
F37
Page 169
There is a cuffing rail in the intake area and the cell area. A cuffing rail is a long wooden or steel pole cemented into a wall that a detainee can be handcuffed to for safe and secure controlled movement. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 17
No recommendations for this finding
F38
Page 172
Lockers were observed where officers store their weapons before they enter the sally port area of the jail. The sally port is a secured area situated between an outside area and an area inside a jail or prison. A sally port allows officers to make a 2-step controlled entry to a jail or prison to deter, defend, and delay unwanted entry (or exit). San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 18
No recommendations for this finding
F39
Page 173
Walls were in excellent condition without any visible marks. They appeared to have been recently painted. The floors were clean.
No recommendations for this finding
F40
Page 173
The toilet and sink in the lavatory holding cell area were checked and were in working condition.
No recommendations for this finding
F41
Page 173
Each holding cell was designed to hold an individual detainee.
No recommendations for this finding
F42
Page 173
Hallways were clear. No detainees were present during the walkthrough. Therefore, the doors were open for free and convenient examination of the cells.
No recommendations for this finding
F43
Page 173
Each cell had a toilet, sink and drinking water. One toilet needed cleaning as there was a dark brown ring around the toilet at the water level and the seat was dirty.
No recommendations for this finding
F44
Page 173
Detainees’ beds had a plastic unit-construction built-in bench along the back side of the cell.
No recommendations for this finding
F45
Page 173
Bedding and blankets were observed in a storage room.
No recommendations for this finding
F46
Page 168
The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) indicated that Type 1 facilities such as municipal jails undergo annual and biennial inspections to ensure safety from fire, environmental and structural problems. The Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) conducts a biennial inspection of the facilities pursuant to 154 San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 19
No recommendations for this finding
F47
Page 174
The Grand Jury was provided a copy of the screening form they use to classify new detainees when they are brought to the jail. The screening assesses their health and mobility, arrest history, violence history, escape history, gang association or involvement, and victimization and abusiveness history.
No recommendations for this finding
F48
Page 168
The Grand Jury observed a list of rules for detainees posted on a wall about phone use. USE OF CELLS/ROOMS FOR DETAINEES
No recommendations for this finding
F49
Page 174
The facility can hold up to 12 detainees at a time, four in each of the three cells they have.
No recommendations for this finding
F50
Page 174
The jail accommodates adult detainees (age 18 and older).
No recommendations for this finding
F51
Page 169
One cell is available for adult handicapped detainees.
No recommendations for this finding
F52
Page 174
The holding cells had a combined toilet, sink, and fountain.
No recommendations for this finding
F53
Page 174
A phone is in the hallway outside of the detainee’s cell.
No recommendations for this finding
F54
Page 169
Local calls are free and long-distance calls can be made “collect.”
No recommendations for this finding
F55
Page 171
Staff supervises detainees at the jail with a closed-circuit camera system with audio recording for monitoring.
No recommendations for this finding
F56
Page 174
A bank of weapon lockers is located outside of the holding cell area. San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report 20
No recommendations for this finding
F57
Page 169
There is a cuffing rail in the intake area and the cell area. A cuffing rail is a long wooden or steel pole cemented into a wall that a detainee can be handcuffed to for safe and secure controlled movement. This Page Left Intentionally Blank 156 San Bernardino County Grand Jury Final Report
No recommendations for this finding