Santa Barbara County Grand Jury
• 2015-2016
• Agency Response
Response to:
Santa Barbara County Jail – Intake Screening Process
Received Aug 23 2016 Sherif Office o Santa Barbara County Bill Brown Stations Sheriff - Coroner Headquarters Buellton*
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 6 findings
F1
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff is using an antiquated paper system for maintaining inmate medical records at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail. Response to Finding 1: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
That the Santa Barbara County Sheriff implement a computerized medical record system for maintaining inmate medical records at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail.
F2
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff Staff, has not always followed procedures, policies, and protocols pertaining to the intake process of arrestees. Response to Finding 2: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding. <u>Recommendation 2:</u> That the Santa Barbara County Sheriff follow the established procedures, policies, and protocols pertaining to the intake process of arrestees. Response to Recommendation 2: The recommendation requires further analysis. In any complex process, such as the Intake Screening Process, there are numerous opportunities to deviate from standard protocol and practice. The Sheriff's Office recognizes this and continuously strives to identify failures and shortcomings of the many tasks performed. The report Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Response to the of 4 does not provide enough information concerning an alleged breach of protocol for the Sheriff's Office to investigate and fully evaluate the exact circumstances involved. The Sheriff's Office does not agree with the Grand Jury in its assumption that a single instance of failure to follow protocol indicates a systemic problem with the Intake Screening Process. The Sheriff's Office takes great strides to ensure staff members follow all established procedures, policies, and protocols designed to carry out the functions of the office. The Sheriff's Office also recognizes that it is a natural process for the procedures, policies, and protocols of any organization to continually evolve to keep pace with workload, staffing levels, and a myriad other factors.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
Page 2
That the Santa Barbara County Sheriff follow the established procedures, policies, and protocols pertaining to the intake process of arrestees. Response to Recommendation 2: The recommendation requires further analysis. In any complex process, such as the Intake Screening Process, there are numerous opportunities to deviate from standard protocol and practice. The Sheriff's Office recognizes this and continuously strives to identify failures and shortcomings of the many tasks performed. The report Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Response to the of 4 does not provide enough information concerning an alleged breach of protocol for the Sheriff's Office to investigate and fully evaluate the exact circumstances involved. The Sheriff's Office does not agree with the Grand Jury in its assumption that a single instance of failure to follow protocol indicates a systemic problem with the Intake Screening Process. The Sheriff's Office takes great strides to ensure staff members follow ail established procedures, policies, and protocols designed to carry out the functions of the office. The Sheriff's Office also recognizes that it is a natural process for the procedures, policies, and protocols of any organization to continually evolve to keep pace with workload, staffing levels, and a myriad other factors.
F3
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff does not have adequate oversight methods in place for ensuring Corizon Health staff are following their medical intake procedures at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail before the inmate is transferred to custody officers for classification. Response to Finding 3: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
That the Santa Barbara County Sheriff update Appendices A and B and add two signature blocks, one for medical clearance staff the other for the custody officer prior to classification at the Santa Barbara County Main Jail.
F4
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff medical intake prescreening questionnaire is now being conducted by Corizon Health registered nurses; however, the Medical Process Overview Chart does not reflect this. Response to Finding 4: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding. In reference to the Medical Process Overview Chart, the Grand Jury requested a copy of this flowchart prior to the change of RN's conducting medical intake screening of arrestees entering the Jail (see Appendix F). The Sheriff's Office communicated this intake change to the Grand Jury and did not receive a request for an updated flowchart. This flowchart is a Sheriff's Office generated chart and is used for informal purposes. It has been updated and can be found in Appendix G.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
That the Santa Barbara County Sheriff continue to use Corizon Health registered nurses to conduct all medical intake screening of arrestees entering the Jail and include this provision in all future contracts and in the Medical Process Overview Chart.
F5
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Custody Operations Policy and Procedures Manual regarding the intake process needs revision. Response to Finding 5: The Sheriff's Office disagrees with the finding. As stated in the Grand Jury Report "Santa Barbara County Jail, Intake Screening Process," these procedures are not outlined in the Receiving Screening Process (see Appendix H). These protocols are only referenced in the Custody Operations Policy and Procedures Manual, Section 303, Use of Sobering/Observation Cell. However, Appendix H is a Corizon generated form used in the contract for informational purposes. This form is not related to Custody Operations Policy and Procedures, Section 303, Use of Sobering/Observation Cell. Therefore, a Policy and Procedures update is not required.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
That the Santa Barbara County Sheriff update the Custody Operations Policy and Procedures Manual to reflect the new changes being implemented to the intake process. Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Response to the of 4
F6
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff staff has not always confirmed arrestees were medically cleared by Corizon Health staff prior to classification and placement into the Jail population. Response to Finding 6: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
That the Santa Barbara County Sheriff initiate a procedure to ensure that all medical intake procedures are properly completed prior to classification and that inmate classification not be allowed to occur without verification of the completion of medical evaluation and clearance.
Comments 1
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CO1If a condition is Based upon RN assessment, Medical picks If the routine, urgent, and emergent discovered, up requests at inmate needs are reviewed. then further least twice needs to be evaluation will Emergent needs are daily. They are seen, they immediately met and the triaged for are seen and occur. other needs are scheduled for a response is urgent follow-up appropriately. emergent generated. needs. Within 3 days Within 3 days Within 3 days SICK CALL Within 3 days Doctor, Practioner, and Nurse (RN) ·RN: 24/7 as needed Practioner: (5) times/week (3) times/week Doctor: If an inmate If in stock, usually within 12 hours. requires medication, If ordered, usually within 3 days. they are given medication. Medication Pass Sheriff's Response to Grand Jury 2015-2016 Report - "Santa Barbara County Jail, Intake Screening Process" Appendices A - H APPENDIX H 30 1 Receiving Screening Process If an unconscious or Inmate arrives at seriously injured person enters the facility, the the facility person will be referred immediately for medical attention Current illnesses and health problems including those specific to females. Screening of other health problems designated by the responsible physician. Behavioral observation, including state of consciousness and mental status. Medications taken and special health requirements. 1 Preliminary Hotation of body deformities, trauma markings, bruises, lesions, eye 1 Screening Form movement, jaundice. is completed Condition of skin, including rashes and infestations. 1 Disposition, if applicable. 1 Document referral of prisoners to qualified medical personnel for 1 emergency treatment. Hotation of personal physician and any medical needs. 1 Assessment of suicidal risk. Medical Screening Forms are completed Medical MD Review TB Tests Medical Review
Observations 5
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OB1Documentation of current illness
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OB2o Behavior, including state of All new Screening tests for Inmates must be and health problems consciousness, mental admissions/ tuberculosis for all medically cleared including mental dental and status, appearance, conduct, screening charts inmates housed before they are communicable diseases. tremors, sweating. are to be reviewed longer than sent to general o Medications taken and special
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OB3and signed by the seventy-two (72) population. health requirements. trauma, markings, ease of Medical Doctor hours
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OB4within forty-eight movement including types, methods,
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OB5(48) hours. amount frequency, date/time orifices, including rashes and of last use and history of infestations, needle marks, problems related to or other indications of drug stoppage. abuse. o For females, a history of gynecological problems and pregnancies. Sheriff's Response to Grand Jury 2015-2016 Report - "Santa Barbara County Jail, Intake Screening Process" Appendices A - H
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.