Stanislaus County Grand Jury
• 2005-2006
Stanislaus County Commissary Grand Jury Case # 06-30
⚠️ 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 5 findings
F1
Stanislaus County, San Joaquin County and Deuel Vocational Institute have established a commissary/canteen consistent with the California Penal code.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Prices for commissary/canteen items are set by the Sheriff / Director of the correctional facility. 4
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Prices of commissary/canteen items are set according to the particular county or state policy. These policies and procedures differ between (1) Stanislaus County and San Joaquin County, and (2) Stanislaus County and DVI. • In Stanislaus County, the Custodial Account Clerk (CAC) oversees all of the jail store purchases4 and “prices charged in the store will be established by the CAC and approved by the IWFC. Adjustments will be made periodically to keep pace with inflation.” 5 In SJCJ, the Material Specialist is responsible for pricing items which may be priced at 40% above cost.6 While there is no percentage above cost stated in Stanislaus county policy and procedures, there is no significant difference in the process of pricing commissary items between this county and SJCJ. The CGJ found that there is also no significant difference between the prices of commissary items in the two counties, which are of similar size and within the same geographic region. • When comparing Stanislaus County commissary price lists and procedures to those of DVI, overall DVI procedures result in prices that are set lower. The DVI Prison Canteen Managers (PCMs) maintain an overall 65% average mark-up but may still have the option to set different mark-ups on non-contract selling price items.7 Although there are minimal differences in pricing DVI canteen items versus county commissary items, DVI canteen items were found to be priced lower than Stanislaus County commissary items.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
The list of commissary items differ from county to county, county to state, and facility to facility.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Both state and county correctional facilities operate an IWF. CONCLUSION
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 3
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CL1According to sworn testimony with respect to the IWF, and review of budgets and revenue statements,5 the CGJ found that the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department is in compliance with state law. Stanislaus County has utilized IWF money to maintain commissary operations and to provide inmate programs such as vocational, educational and rehabilitation programs.
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CL2According to sworn testimony, state correctional facilities like DVI have greater buying power than county facilities and therefore are able to set canteen prices lower than commissary prices. 4 Id. 5 Id. at p. 27. 6 SJCJ Pricing Procedure, dated 07/08/05. 7 Preliminary Inmate Services Allotments for the Fiscal Year 2005/06 at p. 1.
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CL3According to sworn testimony, commissary prices and commissary item availability may be impacted by factors such as the prison population, the cultural diversity of the inmates and the geographic location of the facility. After considering the price differences between items sold in Stanislaus County correctional facilities and items sold in DVI, the CGJ found that the Stanislaus County commissary prices were not unreasonable.
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Stanislaus County Sheriff
Elected County Office