2019-2020 Law Enforcement Interim Report*

The size and scope of the Sheriffs' Office mission is daunting. The Office is required to patrol and secure an area of almost 1,450 square miles seven days a week and twenty four hours a day. With distance of 30 to 40 miles between communities, and only 50 patrol deputies, safe coverage of the County can be difficult to maintain.

Providing competitive salary and compensation packages is of paramount importance in order to prevent Mariposa County Law Enforcement Professionals from seeking employment in nearby counties which are able to offer better packages.

The current jail HVAC system is problematic and does not appear to serve its function well. The Adult Detention Facility is almost twenty five years old. As near as the Grand Jury can tell, research shows that there has never been a physical systems (plumbing, electrical and HVAC venting) audit or inspection done at the Facility. Given the high mineral content of Mariposa County water, and the age of the systems involved, it is past time for such a comprehensive inspection. However, that said, the inspection and repairs or retrofits likely to occur are well outside the jail's (and even the Sheriff's Office's) currently budgeted dollars. An audit (and the associated repairs) of a set of systems a quarter of a century old that have been the entire time in CONTINUOUS USE will require the County's help in order to mitigate what is a (we think) legitimate concern of a catastrophic infrastructure system failure at the jail - a Facility that, again, is in operation seven days a week, twenty four hours a day.

This Grand Jury recommends that funds be found from outside the Sheriff's budget, perhaps from a contingency fund, to conduct an inspection of the a physical systems (plumbing, electrical and HVAC venting) and the associated repairs and/or retrofits. REQUESTED RESPONSE Pursuant to Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05, the Grand Jury requests a response from the following governing body within 90 days: Mariposa County Board of Supervisors; Findings 1, 2, 3 and 4, and Recommendations 1, 2, 3 and 4 INVITED RESPONSE From the following within 90 days: Sheriff's Office; Findings 1, 2, 3 and 4, and Recommendations 1, 2, 3 and 4 Oversight: Mt. Bullion Conservation Camp #39 (State Facility): The Grand Jury is required by law to "inquire into the condition and management of the public jail, prison and detention facilities in the county", and is allowed access to do so by Section 921 of the California Penal Code. Public Jail, Detention and Prison Facilities in Mariposa County include the Mariposa County Adult Detention Facility, the county Juvenile Detention Facility, and the California State Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Mt. Bullion Fire Camp. On November 5, 2019 at 9:45 am /20 Law Enforcement Committee and other Grand Jurors met at the Mt. Bullion Conservation Camp #39, located at 5730 Mount Bullion Access Road, Mariposa, CA for an inspection tour. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) Lieutenant C. Aaron Dean and Cal Fire Captain David Irion gave the Grand Jury a tour through the Facility which started at 9:45 am and ended at approximately 12:38 pm. The Fire Camp was completed 1957, and was originally a California Youth Authority Facility. The Camp became an Adult Conservation Camp in about 2002/2003. Although the Facility is certainly not new, it appears to be in very good condition and well maintained, given its age. The Camp covers 18 to 20 acres, and is maintained by Cal Fire, though inmate services (i.e. food, medical, clothing, etc.) are provided by CDCR. Serious medical issues are dealt with at Sierra Conservation Center State Prison at Jamestown. The Facility has a capacity of just over 100 inmates as rated by the California Board of State and Community Corrections (CBSCC). There are sufficient beds, toilets, showers and eating facilities for that number. The Facility does have facilities to accommodate overflow and has done so in times of fire emergencies in the County. On November 5, 2019 there were about 75 inmates in custody. The facility requires some 25 inmates to operate the Camp (clerical, mechanical, cooking and other administrative staff). This left, on the date of our visit, 50 or so assigned to four separate firefighting crews. When at capacity, the Camp can field five crews, although recently the Camp has fielded only four crews. Dean and Irion explained that recent State legislation like Proposition 57 and Assembly Bill 109 have reduced the number of inmates that qualify for Camp service due to early inmate releases. Dean explained that when inmates enter the prison system at intake prisons like Deuel Vocational Institution or Wasco State Prison, inmates are screened for suitability for the Fire Camp Program. If they are suitable for the Program, then they are sent to prison training facilities like Sierra Conservation Center at Jamestown. Assuming the inmate succeeds in the rigorous training program and maintains a non-violent status, they are then sent to a Camp like Mt. Bullion. Irion explained that, while Cal Fire maintains the Mt. Bullion Camp, some Camps in the state are maintained by CDCR as well. There are two dormitory blocks for the inmates, one to accommodate inmate administrative staff, and one to accommodate the inmate fire crews. Care is taken to insure that inmates are getting along within their group setting. When problems arise officers are quick to resolve the issue in a number of ways, including, sometimes, by relocating offending individuals back to a state prison. There are a total of 9 CDCR Officers assigned to the Camp. This number includes one Lieutenant, one Sergeant, and 7 officers. The Camp also has Cal Fire personnel. Dean and Irion said that at one time, there were many trade savvy inmates rotating through the Camp, though they said that seems less often now. They said that the Fire Camp Program can and has produced fully trained firefighters who leave their incarceration and are hired by Cal Fire and other agencies. Dean said that inmates are happy to come to the Camp Program because they no longer have to deal with inmate politics, they receive payment for their work, and they eat better, have more freedom of movement and activity, and can learn marketable skills. Irion said that there are many Fire Camp Facilities in California, including two female camps and two youth (CYA) camps. He said that all of the Camps work all over the state as needed, and even some very limited service in Nevada. Dean and Irion said that a Strike Team travels in a two transport vehicles and is comprised of two crews, each of 10 to 15 inmates. Dean says though there have been a few escapes, or "walkaways" over the years (only two since 2011), the vast majority of escapees are recaptured quickly. An attempted escape results in the involved inmate(s) being immediately returned to prison without possibility of returning to a Camp. Dean said that although most shifts only have two officers on duty, and some only one, there is very little inmate on inmate violence, and what there is, is generally minor. He said the average length of stay is a little over a year. Dean mentioned that there is a hierarchy of sorts on the inmate fire crews; the most trusted inmate occupying a position called "Swamper", which serves as an aide to the crew's Cal Fire Captain, the "Drag" is the senior inmate in the transport portion of the truck, and has overall responsibility there. There are also specialty tasks, such as those that work on the saws or other equipment. When the crews are on a fire, they work 24 hours on, and 24 hours off. Irion said that when there are no fires to fight, the crews work on projects provided by the state (usually timber breaks) or on projects for the County or some non-profits such as churches. During the tour of the Camp, the Grand Jury saw the administrative area, the hobby shop, the three television rooms, a recreation room, both dormitories, and the dining facility, as well as much of the Camp grounds. The Grand Jury also learned of an additional educational program that can provide an inmate with a Drinking Water Operator Certificate. The inmates the Grand Jury encountered were polite and respectful, and appeared to be fully occupied. The Mt. Bullion Conservation Camp #39 appears to be well maintained in general, and well run and relatively secure. The officers encountered by the inspection team were extremely professional, and appeared to be well trained and well turned out. The MCCGJ would like to offer our thanks to Lieutenant Dean and Captain Irion for their kind consideration, and for a very detailed and informative tour. Findings: