Score: +1 (1/0/0)
Mendocino County Grand Jury • 2007-2008

Free!!!, Get Your Ged Here!!! a Report on the: Mendocino County Jail, Holding Cells and Sheriff’s Evidence Room June

Published: June 18, 2008 9 pages
View Original PDF

Findings and Recommendations 63 findings

F1
The present staff consists of: • 1 Captain • 2 Lieutenants • 8 Sergeants • 44 Correctional Officers, with 2 additional unfilled positions • 5 Sheriff Booking Technicians • 1 Inmate Services Program Coordinator • 1 Kitchen Manager, and 2 Cooks • 1 Laundry Supervisor • 1 Account Clerk II • 1 Officer Assistant II, who manages the inmates funds.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Eight staff members are bilingual. Correctional Officers work 12-hour shifts, with a minimum of eight officers per shift.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The capacity of the MCJ is 305 inmates. In 2007 the average inmate population was 268. In January 2007 the population was 236, and in October 2007 the population was 294.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
Building 1 holds the booking area, holding cells, and sally port.1 The recent renovation of Building 1 included replacement of the sally port, and the addition of three more holding and security cells, which comply with both the ADA (Americans with Disability Act) and Title 24 (State guidelines on construction of jails). Construction included an interview room, a non-contact attorney room, and an open-air sally port.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
The Mendocino County General Services Agency assigned one full-time maintenance person to the jail, due to continuing maintenance problems. Last year’s Grand Jury reported two full-time maintenance personnel were assigned to the jail.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
Inmate housing consists of seven units for males and two separate units for females. Temporary beds are placed in the common area when the capacity is exceeded.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Security cameras monitor the doors and common areas.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
The cells are either single, double, triple occupancy, or barracks style.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
All inmates are allowed exercise privileges, but inmates in “lock-down,” are only allowed out of their cells 30 minutes per day.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
Inmates are segregated based on history and type of crime committed, previous incarceration, gang affiliations and violent tendencies. A sally port is a secure area used to move prisoners between a vehicle and the jail.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
Coveralls are color coded to easily identify inmate types. Green is for sentenced inmates, orange is for un-sentenced inmates, white is for protective custody inmates, and red is for administrative segregation inmates (ADSEG—violent or high risk).
No recommendations for this finding
F12
Inmates who exhibit good behavior may work while in jail. Opportunities include the kitchen, laundry, garden, and “work crew.” The “work crew” provides labor anywhere in the county, and is supervised by correctional officers.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
The kitchen staff prepares 270 to 300 meals three times a day. Breakfast is prepared the night before and served in the morning. A supervisor and two cooks oversee and direct inmate labor. Inmates eat meals in their housing units.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
The kitchen facilities and food storage areas were observed to be clean and sanitary.
No recommendations for this finding
F15
A registered dietician oversees and approves the menu, which is prepared by the kitchen manager. The menu is rotated monthly.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
Special diets are prepared for inmates with special needs.
No recommendations for this finding
F17
Kitchen personnel and inmate helpers were observed to be clean. They were dressed in white and wore gloves and hair nets.
No recommendations for this finding
F18
Food vendors bid on contracts to supply food. The contract might not go to the low bidder because of quality concerns.
No recommendations for this finding
F19
The garden is certified organic, overseen by a professional horticulturalist, and the produce is either used in the kitchen or donated to various community service providers.
No recommendations for this finding
F20
The laundry facility is adequate for the inmate population. Trip hazards were observed in the laundry room and on the sidewalk outside the entrance.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
Mendocino County General Services Agency repair the laundry room floor and the sidewalk outside the laundry room entrance; (Finding 20)
F21
The air in the booking area was hot and stifling. Staff responded to questions regarding the poor air quality, saying that the heat and air conditioning system is inefficient and temperatures vary widely from room to room.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
General Services Agency investigate the ventilation system at MCJ in Building 1 and make necessary changes to ensure adequate air flow and quality and to stabilize the unequal temperature from room to room; (Finding 21)
F22
Inmates with medical needs are identified at the sally port before they are booked.
No recommendations for this finding
F23
Mendocino County contracts with California Forensic Medical Group to provide medical care at the jail. The medical center staff at the MCJ comprises: a general practitioner working two days a week, one part-time dentist, one health service administrator registered nurse, who is the program manager, one sick call registered nurse, one full-time administrative assistant, and two licensed vocational nurses.
No recommendations for this finding
F24
Mental Health Branch uses Mendocino County general funds to provide one part-time psychiatrist and one full-time psychiatric registered nurse to the jail.
No recommendations for this finding
F25
Mental Health, in conjunction with the Sheriff’s Department, applied and received a Department of Justice federal grant for one full-time person to institute the “Bridge Program”.
Related Recommendations (2)
R4
Mendocino County Mental Health Branch and Sheriff’s Department re-apply for a Federal Grant from the Department of Justice for one full-time person to continue the “Bridge” program; (Findings 25, 26)
R5
Mendocino County Board of Supervisors fund one full-time person for the “Bridge” program, if no grant can be obtained; (Findings 25, 26)
F26
The “Bridge Program” entails the sharing of personal medical information between the jail and the Mental Health Branch. To participate, an inmate must sign the “Permission to Share Personal Medical Information and Records” form.
No recommendations for this finding
F27
In 2007, the psychiatrist made 1,385 visits and the mental health nurse made 4,184 visits. Distributing medicine is not counted as a visit.
No recommendations for this finding
F28
The jail population has a higher frequency of medical and mental problems than the general population; thus requiring extensive medical and mental health services. Data indicate the following communicable diseases: one positive test for tuberculosis, 23 cases of sexually transmitted diseases, 10 cases of lice or scabies, and 63 cases of drug resistant staphylococcus.
No recommendations for this finding
F29
Abuse of alcohol and other drugs was cited as the primary reason for medical services required by incoming MCJ inmates.
No recommendations for this finding
F30
Medical staff stated that the closure of Mental Health’s Psychiatric Health Facility in 2000 has caused an increase in the number of persons with mental disorders who are incarcerated.
No recommendations for this finding
F31
There is a Work Furlough Program in which the inmates leave the jail for their jobs in the morning and return to jail after the workday is over. This provides an opportunity for the inmates to receive work experience and it reduces the number of inmates at the jail site during the day.
No recommendations for this finding
F32
The Work Release Program administered by the Probation Department reduces jail population by having adult offenders serve their sentence while remaining in the community.
No recommendations for this finding
F33
The Home Detention Program allows an individual to stay at home wearing an electronic monitoring ankle bracelet. The inmate must pay a daily fee to participate.
No recommendations for this finding
F34
An Incentive Program, through an agreement with the Superior Court Judge and the Sheriff’s Office, encourages an inmate to obtain a General Education Diploma (GED) and/or a Life Skills Program Certificate, which will reduce their sentence by five days for each achievement.
No recommendations for this finding
F35
A library is available with books donated by Mendocino Book Store, Ukiah’s Friends of the Library and private donors.
No recommendations for this finding
F36
A law library is provided in Building 1 to ensure all inmates have full access to legal information, as prescribed by law. Access requires good behavior and an appointment is necessary.
No recommendations for this finding
F37
Computers and tapes are available in the education center. There is no internet access.
No recommendations for this finding
F38
Programs include Adult School, Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous and Life Skills. Counseling and religious services are also available. Participation is voluntary.
No recommendations for this finding
F39
The Mendocino County Office of Education provides adult education classes with an emphasis on obtaining a GED.
No recommendations for this finding
F40
Correspondence courses are available for un-sentenced inmates and inmates who cannot leave their housing units. Evidence Room
No recommendations for this finding
F41
The Grand Jury visited the evidence room August 28, 2007. The Mendocino County Sheriff’s Office central evidence facility, located in Ukiah, is the depository for most evidence collected from crime scenes.
No recommendations for this finding
F42
Budgeted staff consists of one and one-half positions.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Board of Supervisors budget for one additional position for the evidence room; (Findings 42, 46, 48)
F43
This facility also processes evidence such as fingerprints, shoe prints, tire treads, etc. Some evidence is sent for testing to outside facilities.
No recommendations for this finding
F44
Evidence room personnel strictly control all evidence. This fulfills the need to maintain the “chain of evidence” necessary for criminal prosecutions.
No recommendations for this finding
F45
All records of evidence are kept by hand on paper.
Related Recommendations (2)
R7
Board of Supervisors budget funds for a bar coding system for the Sheriff’s main evidence room; (Finding 45)
R9
Mendocino County Sheriff investigate the use of asset forfeiture funds for the bar coding system, refrigerator/freezer replacement and a generator for back- up power. (Findings 45, 48, 49). Comments The Mendocino County Jail is not a great place to be, but the facility offers many programs that may make an inmate less likely to return. Especially notable, is the encouragement by staff that inmates utilize the opportunity to achieve academic and life skills. These programs may reduce recidivism. The correctional officers and their staff are maintaining a safe and functional environment for the staff and inmates. The MCJ operates under the same minimal budget as other County departments.
F46
Purging of evidence is a laborious task. Evidence may not be disposed of until there is final disposition of a case, which means the inmate must complete their sentence. Determining when the final disposition has taken place requires intensive investigation by the Evidence Clerk.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Mendocino County District Attorney’s office notify the Sheriff’s main evidence room when there is final disposition of a case; (Findings 46-48)
F47
Depending on what it is and how it was obtained, items held at this facility must be kept until the court orders its disposal or it is released by the District Attorney.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Mendocino County District Attorney’s office notify the Sheriff’s main evidence room when there is final disposition of a case; (Findings 46-48)
F48
Evidence room operations, including purging and disposition of evidence, require greater staff time than is presently available.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Mendocino County District Attorney’s office notify the Sheriff’s main evidence room when there is final disposition of a case; (Findings 46-48)
F49
The evidence room requires refrigeration for certain evidence. At present, the refrigeration and freezer units are aging and the capacity is insufficient.
No recommendations for this finding
F50
There is no generator to maintain electricity for refrigeration in case of power outage.
No recommendations for this finding
F51
Staff and others state that the odor from marijuana stored in the evidence room is pungent and the ventilation system is insufficient to clear the odor from the facility. Stored marijuana may mold and can cause respiratory illness.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
General Services Agency improve air quality and ventilation in the evidence room; (Finding 51)
F52
There are no fireproof containers for files, 911 tapes, fingerprint cards, or other flammable evidence.
No recommendations for this finding
F53
Evidence in dismissed cases can be returned to the owner. A court order is required to return certain evidence, such as marijuana, weapons, or any evidence obtained by search warrant. Mendocino County Courthouse Holdings Cells
No recommendations for this finding
F54
On May 13, 2008, the Grand Jury visited the four Courthouse holding cells used to hold prisoners awaiting court hearings. They were found to be clean and in good working order.
No recommendations for this finding
F55
One cell has a privacy screen between the toilet and sink for female inmates.
No recommendations for this finding
F56
Each cell is equipped with a fire sprinkler.
No recommendations for this finding
F57
Prisoners who are transported and held must be kept separate according to the color designation of their coveralls.
No recommendations for this finding
F58
When there is a jury trial, the presiding judge may order that the inmate wear street clothes, rather than jail colored coveralls. A prisoner changes from the colored coveralls to street clothes at the jail.
No recommendations for this finding
F59
There is an attorney-inmate interview room in the holding cell area.
No recommendations for this finding
F60
All prisoners are transported by correctional officers, who are mostly working on overtime. There must be more than one officer if there are five or more general population inmates being transported.
No recommendations for this finding
F61
Prisoners are usually in the holdings cells for about 30 minutes before their court hearing, although they may remain there longer.
No recommendations for this finding
F62
A small area in the ceiling at the end of the hall in the holding cell facility is deteriorating.
No recommendations for this finding
F63
Mirrors are used to monitor the hall area, but direct visual observation of inmates is required at least twice every half hour. The correctional officer cannot leave the holding cell area while inmates are present.
No recommendations for this finding

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