Score: +2 (3/5/1)
Monterey County Grand Jury • 2016-2017

Conceptual Elevation 2 Level County of Monterey Jail Housing Addition Elevation View Conceptual Design Housing, Entry

14 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 12 findings

F1
The jail, with approximately 45% of its 900 inmates dealing with mental illness is, by default, serving as a de facto mental health facility.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
The Board of Supervisors should study the other existing models of integrated mental health facilities within the jail. Examples are: Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties.
R4
The Monterey County Behavioral Health Agency’s services should be integrated with the jail, rather than contracting out those duties to CFMG. Request for Response: Pursuant to Penal Code section 933.05, the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury requests the following to respond to the Findings and Recommendations as follows:
F2
Although health and safety standards in the jail are now being addressed to comply with the Hernandez Settlement, the MCCGJ is concerned that the mental health issues are still not adequately addressed.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The failure of the responsible county agencies, prior to the Hernandez Settlement, to properly address serious problems at the jail, ultimately cost the county $4.8 million: one- half paid by the county and one-half paid by CFMG. This money could have been better spent elsewhere.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
There are no publicly funded mental health facilities in Monterey County except for Natividad Medical Center.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should fund the building of a new mental health care facility or study the use of available properties in the county that could be repurposed for mental health facilities. For example: • The soon to be vacant portion of the current jail • The soon to be vacant Youth Center 5 Supervisor Parker, Coast Weekly, April 20, 2017, reference “Phoning it in” 50 • The Stockade on the former Ft. Ord and other vacant or underutilized local buildings
F5
Natividad Medical Center, with only 22 beds dedicated to mental health, is the only facility in the county that has lock-down capability. This number is woefully short of what is needed to provide barely adequate care for the mentally ill in Monterey County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should fund the building of a new mental health care facility or study the use of available properties in the county that could be repurposed for mental health facilities. For example: • The soon to be vacant portion of the current jail • The soon to be vacant Youth Center 5 Supervisor Parker, Coast Weekly, April 20, 2017, reference “Phoning it in” 50 • The Stockade on the former Ft. Ord and other vacant or underutilized local buildings
F6
An $80 million addition has been approved for the Monterey County Jail. With the new 586 bed annex, approximately 400 spaces, or 22,610 square feet, will be now vacant at the old jail.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
The planning process for this new construction began over ten years ago. At that time, the emphasis was on overcrowding and not on mental health issues. The MCCGJ has not seen or found revised plans to reflect this change in priorities. 49
No recommendations for this finding
F8
It would appear that Monterey County’s Behavioral Health Agency’s expertise would benefit those needing mental health care in the jail.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Monterey County Behavioral Health Agency’s services should be integrated with the jail, rather than contracting out those duties to CFMG. Request for Response: Pursuant to Penal Code section 933.05, the Monterey County Civil Grand Jury requests the following to respond to the Findings and Recommendations as follows:
F9
A significant number of state hospitals were closed under the Reagan administration. This severely restricted the access of our county’s inmates to the remaining state mental health facilities. The Monterey County Jail became the de facto mental health facility. Inmates, suffering from mental illness, did and can wait months and even longer before being transferred to a state hospital and receive treatment. This is cruel and inhumane.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Board of Supervisors should continue to provide funding for county agencies to participate in statewide initiatives, which deal with incarcerated patients with mental health issues. Examples are: “Jail Based Restoration of Competency”6 or the “Stepping Up Initiative”.7
F10
Historically, the responsibility of the jail was the detention of inmates, not to attempt to provide mental health care.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Board of Supervisors should study the other existing models of integrated mental health facilities within the jail. Examples are: Los Angeles and Santa Clara counties.
F11
There is a great need for a stand-alone mental health facility in our county.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should fund the building of a new mental health care facility or study the use of available properties in the county that could be repurposed for mental health facilities. For example: • The soon to be vacant portion of the current jail • The soon to be vacant Youth Center 5 Supervisor Parker, Coast Weekly, April 20, 2017, reference “Phoning it in” 50 • The Stockade on the former Ft. Ord and other vacant or underutilized local buildings
F12
The County, without plans to address this mental health crisis in our jails, should be prepared for additional class actions cases and significant fines. To quote Supervisor Parker, when asking for a visitation option in the new jail addition: “We need to deal with this now, before it becomes a major community, logistical and budgetary problem.”5 The same comment is true for the County’s need for mental health services. Recommendations:
No recommendations for this finding

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.