GOT Flooding – WHO YOU Gonna Call?: Flooding issues in the Yolo County Flood Control and Water Conservation District

Recommendations 7

• R1
  Because of the critical need for ongoing training in all areas, the Elections Office should maintain documentation of all training classes and individual instruction that includes, at minimum: signatures of individuals attending with date and topic covered. CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center EXHIBIT C: Yolo County Sheriff’s Response to the 2019-20 Grand Jury, November 20, 2020 CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center EXHIBIT D: Press Release from the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office, March 13, 2020 Y olo C ountY S heriff’S o ffiCe 140 tonY Diaz Drive, WooDlanD, Ca 95776 (530) 668-5280 WWW.YoloCountYSheriff.Com tom a. lopez Press Release Sheriff ~ Coroner publiC aDminiStrator Subject: COVID-19 Preparedness Dale johnSon unDerSheriff Contact: Lieutenant Matthew Davis (530) 406-5395 aDminiStration (530) 668-5280 Date: March 13, 2020 finanCe perSonnel Civil In order to prevent the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Yolo County training Sheriff’s Office is taking steps to protect the health of staff, inmates, and the planning & reSearCh community. Cameron training faCilitY Effective immediately, and until further notice, all jail visitation will be (530) 668-5245 inmate eDuCation cancelled. Additionally, all public Live Scan fingerprinting is suspended until inmate programS further notice. inmate training Coroner’S SeCtion The Sheriff’s Office values visitation as an essential part of our jail operations, (530) 668-5292 but at this time the health and wellness of all those who work, live, and visit publiC aDminiStrator our campus must be protected. Legal and professional visits will continue as (530) 668-5280 scheduled. fielD oper ationS (530) 668-5280 We will continue to ensure the safety and security of the people who work in CommunitY reSourCeS Crime prevention our facilities, and the continuation of access to medical, and mental health inveStigationS services for the inmate population. marine patrol patrol SearCh & reSCue It is important to note that at this time there are no suspected or confirmed aero SquaDron cases of COVID-19 in the Yolo County Jail. CaDetS poSSe The Sheriff’s Office is prepared to address exposure to COVID-19 through reServeS StarS infection control practices already in place to prevent the spread of any communicable diseases. Our primary focus during this time is to: animal ServiCeS (530) 668-5287 • Prevent the spread of the disease leinberger Detention • Promptly identify and isolate patients with possible COVID-19 (530) 668-5254 • Care for patients with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 CorreCtionS • Initiate COVID-19 emergency procedures in the event of an escalating CommiSSarY inmate Work programS outbreak • Monitor and manage potential staff exposures monroe Detention (530) 668-5245 CorreCtionS Court ServiCeS fooD ServiCeS reCorDS tranSportation “Honored to Serve” CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center EXHIBIT E: Yolo County Sheriff’s December 6, 2021 Response to the 2021-22 Grand Jury CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center EXHIBIT F: Detention Division Policy Manual excerpt, May 15, 2020 YOLO COUNTY DETENTION DIVISION SHERIFF’S OFFICE POLICY MANUAL TITLE: Inmate Visiting S.O. NO.: T-300 EFFECTIVE DATE: 10/01/99 REVISION DATE: 05/31/02 12/15/09; 07/13/11; 03/26/14 10/16/15; 06/23/16; 11/23/16 05/15/20 POLICY: As of May 2020, Leinberger Center is closed and any reference to the facility in this policy is suspended until the new facility is opened. The Detention Division shall enable and encourage inmates to maintain relationships with family and friends through the visiting process. Visits are scheduled on a regular basis, limited only by the physical and personnel constraints of the facilities. Each facility shall maintain a visitors’ log and document all visiting in the Tiburon System. All visitors shall be required to show proper identification. Each inmate shall be permitted a minimum of two 30 minute visits each week unless circumstances dictate temporary suspension. The inmate may elect to use both visits on the same day, totaling one hour. The week period begins on Mondays and ends on Sunday. Visits for inmates at Monroe Center and Leinberger Center are by appointment. Visiting is normally limited to one visitor per inmate. Mother and Father may visit at the same time. Grandmother and Grandfather may visit at the same time. Visitors shall be subjected to security controls established by the Detention Division to prevent the introduction of contraband or weapons in the facilities. Visitors normally are not restricted to the number of inmates they may visit, unless the facility security is jeopardized by such visits. Jail staff will not listen to the conversations during visiting but may visually observe the visit. Visits at Monroe Center are subject to audio recording. Minors must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. Proof of legal guardianship must be provided upon request of jail staff. A Correctional Sergeant may make exceptions to the time allotted for visiting to grant additional time as indicated by special circumstances including, but not limited to the distance a visitor must travel to get to the jail or health problems of the visitor that limit the frequency of the visits. REFERENCES: Title 15, Section 1062 DEFINITIONS: Regular Visit: A non-contact visit between an inmate and family and friends. Contact Visit: A visit between an inmate and a non-inmate which permits informal communication in a supervised area. Contact visits normally require a Court Order and Sheriff’s Department approval. Professional Visit: A confidential contact or non-contact visit, depending on the circumstances, between an inmate and attorney or other officials such as law enforcement agents, doctors, and clergy. CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center Family Visits: A non-contact visit for the children, grandchildren, siblings, or children under guardianship under the age of 18 visiting an inmate. Court-Ordered Visits: A special visit for an inmate requested by a Superior Court Judge. Court Ordered visits are subject to approval of the Sheriff’s Department. Valid Identification: Valid identification is any current government issued identification card showing their name, date of birth, and shall contain their photograph. PROCEDURE: IMPORTANT Jail Visitors need to be checked in 30 minutes PRIOR to the visitation session time. Social visits are non-contact, conducted through a visit window using telephone handsets. Each facility has a visit schedule that specifies the days and times available for inmate social visits and are subject to change without notice. REQUIRED IDENTIFICATION Only those visitors with the following types of valid photo identification shall be allowed to visit inmates in the custody of the Sheriff: • Driver’s license • Federal, state, local government identification card (any state) • Military identification • Passport • U.S. Immigration identification (including visas) • Border crossing card issued by the United States Department of Justice • Current high school identification for children who do not possess a current California driver’s license or California I.D. card • Matricula Consular ID card issued after April 22, 2002 by the Consul General of Mexico A maximum of 3 visitors (including children) may visit an inmate at any one time. Minors must be accompanied by their parent or legal guardian. Visit Reservations When preparing to schedule a visit, please have the following information ready for all visitors. • Full name • Identification number • Date of birth • Current home address While we attempt to honor all visit reservations, visits may be changed or cancelled without notice. Also, changes in the inmate’s housing assignments may automatically cancel a scheduled visit. CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center Inmates have the right to refuse visits at any time. There is no expectation of privacy in a jail facility. Social visits may be monitored or recorded. Visitors who have been incarcerated within the past 60 days shall not be permitted to visit If you have previously been convicted of a felony and served time in state prison, you may not enter the grounds of a county jail without the permission of the Facility Commander. That permission should be obtained in writing before attempting to schedule a visit. Entry to the facility grounds without such permission is a felony (California Penal Code §4571). Visitors may be subject to a search of their person and belongings by deputies and are subject to warrant checks and arrest. Visitors must be 18 years or older to visit. Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Children may not be left unattended at any time. No smoking is allowed in any part of the Sheriff’s Office property. All visitors must dress in appropriate attire. Visitors who fail to comply with the dress code will be denied their visit. Visitors clothing must not refer to gang affiliation, display sexual or lewd comments or pictures, or have the potential for being offensive to others. Clothing must cover the upper torso and lower/mid body parts. Skirts must be at least to mid-thigh length. A sleeveless blouse is acceptable. Visitors are only allowed to visit with the inmate they signed up to visit. You may not change or trade inmates with another visitor. Once a visitor departs the visitation area, the visit with the inmate is terminated. Covertly communicating with an inmate by using notes, letters, hand gestures associated with gang affiliation, etc. is strictly prohibited and the visit may be terminated and the visitor barred from visiting in the future. Any visitor committing a criminal act anywhere on jail property is subject to arrest. Any visitor bringing illegal contraband into the visiting area is subject to arrest. Violation of any of the rules by a visitor may subject him/her to loss of visiting privileges. ï Nothing is to be brought into the facility except I.D. and a car key. CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center Hospital Visits Occasionally, inmates may be admitted to hospitals for medical treatment. Visits may be allowed for hospitalized inmates, subject to approval of the Jail Commander. Persons wishing to visit a hospitalized inmate must check at the appropriate facility and register for the visit. The Jail Commander will be consulted concerning the inmate’s suitability to have visitors. If the visit is approved, a visit pass will be issued, which can be taken to the hospital and presented to the assigned Deputy or Guard. In addition to normal visiting guidelines, the following rules apply to visits occurring in hospitals: ï All visits must conform to the hospital’s regular visiting hours and policies Only two visitors are allowed at a hospital visit for the duration of 30 minutes. ï Two visits per week are allowed, Sunday through Saturday. ï Inmates cannot receive items of any type from social visitors. ï Any deviation from the above rules requires Jail Commander approval. Media Access to Persons in Custody News media representatives have no greater right of access to detention facilities or inmates, than any other member of the public. A visit by news media personnel shall be considered a social visit, not a professional visit. Access to Courts & Counsel Inmates are entitled to confidential correspondence and consultation with the courts and legal counsel. Attorneys and other professionals of record can visit an inmate by presenting photo identification and a professional card. The visit is limited to a reasonable length of time, which is determined in part by facility operations and needs. Foreign citizens can have professional visits with consular staff from their country. Staff in all facilities within the Yolo County Sheriff's Detention Division reserve the right to terminate any visit if deemed necessary for security purposes. If this occurs, staff members will ask visitors to safely exit the facility. 1. Attorney Visits a. Pre- Arraignment Any Attorney wishing to visit an inmate shall be allowed a confidential contact visit, upon the inmate’s approval. b. Post-Arraignment § An attorney may visit an inmate if he or she has been named attorney of record by the court. CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center § The attorney of record in all criminal matters shall be given priority access to confidential visit rooms. All other attorney visits shall be accommodated on a space available basis. § An attorney, who is not the attorney of record, shall provide the following information, prior to visiting: o Declare that: § The attorney either by appointment by the court or at the inmate's request § Has been requested by a judge to interview a named inmate for purposes of possible appointment as counsel by the same court; provide the name of the Court § Is requesting to visit an inmate who may be a witness directly relevant to a legal process, purpose, or proceeding; provide Court Case number § Is seeking to interview a named inmate, at the request of the inmate, for the purpose of representation of the inmate in a legal process, for a legal purpose or in a legal proceeding. § Has been requested by a third party to consult with the inmate because the inmate cannot do so because of a medical condition, disability, or other circumstance. An attorney or any other visitor shall not accept or pass to an inmate any communication that is not specifically related to attorney/client relationship. All material to be passed between an inmate and an attorney such as books, legal pads, writing tools, etc., shall be viewed by the officer on duty and checked for contraband for security purposes. All items entering the facility are subject to search by security staff. In addition to confidential correspondence, inmates have access to unlimited collect telephone calls to their attorneys during their recreation time. The facility correctional staff can also provide the inmate with various in-house and community legal resources. Attorney Representatives: Attorney's assistants, law clerks, investigators, paralegals, or interpreters will not be permitted to visit until the sponsoring attorney receives notification that their request has been reviewed and approved. Each attorney's representative must obtain prior approval. Individuals who are acting as an attorney's representative, who had a previous social relationship with an inmate, will only be permitted to visit the inmate with the attorney present or during the inmate's regular social visiting hours. The attorney may conduct only one such visit at a time. Processing of attorneys will take precedent over social visitors. Professional visits between inmates and non-bar card holding individuals may be limited to the non-contact visiting area. 1. Attorneys may visit with as many clients as they require; however, legal visits are limited to one inmate at a time. 2. Personal Property: All of the attorney's legal material will be searched. Handbags, newspapers, magazines, cellular phones, tobacco, food items, and non-legal material are not allowed in the visiting room. Video recordings are permitted but must be viewed only in the visiting room and returned to the attorney or paralegal after viewing. 3. Legal Mail Deposit: If an attorney needs to provide legal documents for the inmate’s possession, the documents should be provided to the Correction Sergeant. Each item CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center deposited should be in an envelope labeled as Legal Mail and contain the attorney’s name and title, inmate’s name, register number, and return address. Note: inmates are limited to three pounds of paper goods in their cells. If the items provided exceed the limit, the items shall be broken down into smaller groups, by the attorney and label in the order that they wish their client to receive them. Please consider that legal documents are not the only paper goods inside an inmate’s cell. 4. Joint defense Counsel Meetings: Joint Defense Counsel Meetings (visits between verified co-defendants and their legal counsel) may only occur upon written consent and approval of the Facility Manager. 5. Foreign Attorneys: Foreign attorneys who are not licensed in a state or jurisdiction of the United States must provide verification of their status as a licensed attorney in good standing in a foreign jurisdiction. This is normally handled by contacting their respective Consulate’s office, which will provide official documentation to the United States Government. The Consulate or other verifying authority must forward the verification to the Yolo County Sheriff’s Detention Records Manager. Records staff will notify the Facility Manager of the verification. Once the status of the foreign attorney has been confirmed and before the initial visit, the Facility Manager will have the documentation placed into the inmate’s file. The attorneys will then be processed as legal visitors for future visits. 6. Official Visitors: U.S. Attorneys, law enforcement agents, military personnel conducting investigations, U.S. Court officials, U.S. Probation Officers, Consulate representatives, and staff from the Federal Public Defenders office will be permitted to visit upon presentation of appropriate identification. These individuals are required to clear electronic screening procedures and will be required to sign the appropriate log books. Any questions regarding the above officials will be directed to the Facility Manager during normal duty hours, and the on-call Jail Administrator after normal duty hours. 7. Special Non-Social Visits: Non-law enforcement personnel requesting to visit inmates must submit a written request in advance and receive written approval from the appropriate Facility Manager prior to entering the institution. These individuals include, but are not limited to: court appointed psychologist, medical personnel, Minister of Record, clergy, educational and religious volunteers, and representatives of the media. All such visits must be reviewed by the Facility Manager and approved by the Jail Commander or designee. a) Minister of Record: An inmate wanting to receive visits from his/her minister of record must submit a written request, blue card, to the Jail Commander. Upon approval, unit staff shall add the name and title (minister of record) to the inmate’s visitor list. b) An inmate may only have one minister of record on his/her visiting list at a time. The addition of the minister of record will not count against the total number of authorized regular visitors an inmate is allowed to have on his/her visiting list and will not count against the total number of social visits allowed. c) Clergy: Visits from clergy (other than the minister of record) will be in accordance with the general visitor procedures and will count against the total number of regular visits allowed. d) Ordinarily, clergy visits will not be accommodated unless requested by the inmate. However, the Jail Commander or designee may approve a visitation request initiated by the clergy if the inmate wishes to visit with the clergy. e) The Facility Manager may establish a limit to the number of minister of record and clergy visits an inmate receives each month, consistent with available resources. CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center However, during times of personal or family emergencies, an inmate will be authorized a visit from his/her minister of record. f) Visit Termination/Denial: The Shift or Booking Sergeant may terminate/deny a visit that is disruptive to the overall security or good order of the facility. This may involve conduct initiated by the inmate and/or visitor(s). The right to receive future visits may be denied or restricted as part of any administrative action following the incident. If the Shift or Booking Sergeant terminates a visit, they must inform the Facility Manager. g) Visitor Personal Property: Lockers are not available to store personal articles not allowed in the visiting room. Visitors will be required to place all personal articles and handbags in their vehicle prior to security screening. No bags of any kind will be permitted into the visiting room. The only exception will be infant care items including one pacifier and one baby blanket. h) Inmate Personal Property: Inmates will not be permitted to receive any item(s) from a visitor. i) Inmate Separatees: Inmates and their separatees, and families of separated inmates, will not be placed in the visiting room at the same time. Visitation for inmates with separation assignments will be processed on a first come first served basis. The remaining visitors will be processed as soon as the visiting room officer notifies the front lobby that the inmate and his/her visitors have departed. 12. Inmates Under Supervised Medical or Psychological Care: Inmates under supervised medical or psychological care and inmates who are being physically restrained or in negative pressure cell will not normally be permitted to visit. Circumstances may exist in which the Facility Manager, in conjunction with Health Services and/or Psychology Services, may determine that a visit is appropriate. The appropriate location of the visit will be determined by the consulting individuals. Inmates admitted to local hospitals for medical treatment may be permitted social visits with the approval of the Jail Commander. In instances where authorization has been granted, visitors will visit in accordance with the medical facility's schedule. Visitors will be limited to immediate family. j) 13. Loss of Visiting Privileges: Upon a finding of guilty for violating institution regulations, inmates may be subject to disciplinary sanctions as outlined by policy, i.e., loss of visiting privileges for a specified period of time. k) 14. Special Rules for Children: Visitors are responsible for their minor children. Children may not be disruptive in the waiting visiting room and should remain seated at all times with their parents/guardians. There is no play area available for children. ____________________________________ Detention Commander ________________ Date CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center EXHIBIT G: Screenshot of Yolo County Sheriff’s Office Web page concerning COVID-19, March 19, 2022 YOLO TIP LINE | | | | | YOLO ALERT Select Language Powered by TRANSLATE Search Yolo County Sheriff's Office HONORED TO SERVE HOME ABOUT SERVICES FORMS & FEES OUTREACH JOIN I WANT TO… CONTACT US COVID-19 Related Pages Crime Desk Check Here for YCSO COVID-19 Statistics COVID-19 The health, safety, and wellbeing of the incarcerated, our staff, and the public is of the Detention Facilities utmost importance to the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout the pandemic, the Inmate Commissary Sheriff’s Office has worked closely with Yolo County Health Officials and WellPath (corrections’ medical provider) to ensure we are employing the best practices within our Inmate Mail Policy facilities. We actively monitor the state of the pandemic and consistently update our Programs practices to ensure we are providing the safest environment feasible. The following is a Booking Statistics summary of our safety practices and protocols: Medical Screenings All inmates are medically screened on arrival. All inmate workers (those who travel throughout our facility) are medically screened daily. All staff members are medically screened prior to the start of each shift. In addition, any person (vendor, attorney, etc.) entering the jail is medically screened prior to entering the jail facility. If an incoming inmate does not meet the medical guidelines for admittance into the facility, the inmate is routed to the hospital for medical clearance. If the medical guidelines are not met by a staff member or vendor, they are also denied admittance to the facility. Testing All incoming inmates are tested for COVID-19. Any current inmate with COVID-19 symptoms or presenting with a complaint of sickness is tested for COVID-19. All staff entering the jail facility are tested for COVID-19 at least once weekly. Vaccinations COVID-19 vaccinations are available to anyone incarcerated desiring to be inoculated. The County of Yolo has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy which applies to all Sheriff’s Office staff. Decreased Movement / Physical Distancing Inmates are now housed in single cells as population allows. Housing pods have been reorganized to provide for 6-foot distances between chairs. Inmates are required to social distance and wear masks when out in general areas. Inmates are provided with literature regarding the importance of physical distancing. Staff members now distribute commissary rather than the vendor. Sanitation The jail has employed increased cleaning and sanitation measures. Hand sanitizer is provided to the inmate population. Mail is held for 24 hours prior to distribution. Preparation Isolation unit with up to 23 beds is utilized for any inmate Positive for COVID-19. An additional 26 beds have been prepared as an additional quarantine unit if necessary. Releases Upon release, inmates are provided with literature regarding available emergency housing. Contact Info ADDRESS: Yolo County Sheriff's Office EMERGENCY: 911 ANIMAL SERVICES: 530-668-5287 1 W 4 o 0 o T d o la n n y d D , i C az A D 9 r 5 i 7 v 7 e 6 NON-EMERGENCY: 530-666-8282 DETENTION (MAIN JAIL): 530-668-JAIL Get Directions ADMINISTRATION: 530-668-5280 CLICK FOR OTHER DIVISIONS ADMINISTRATION FAX: 530-668-5238 © 2022 Yolo County Sheriff’s Office | Woodland, CA YOU ONLY VOTE ONCE: Elections integrity in Yolo County YOU ONLY VOTE ONCE Elections integrity in Yolo County Published by the 2021-22 Grand Jury on May 27, 2022 ABSTRACT Yolo County continues to provide a secure and accurate voting process. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY Our U.S. democracy is supported by the active engagement of citizens during periodic voting processes. It is a public goal to have children and new citizens be aware of the importance of voting, and how such actions support the smooth transition of power from one individual to another over time. Public education and substantial media coverage are often used to ensure that the U.S. population is aware of the importance of voting and when key election dates will occur. Maintaining the integrity and accuracy of the voting process is necessary to maintain public confidence in this vital piece of the American democratic process. The U.S. Constitution empowers each state in the Union to run its own elections process. Voters may participate either in person on established election dates or through submitting mail-in-ballots to specified locations and during specified periods. In recent years, and perhaps in part fueled by the COVID-19 pandemic, mail-in ballot methods have increased by which voters submit their votes. The prior 2019-20 Yolo County Grand Jury (YCGJ) addressed the important issue of election security, concluding that: “…the quality, security, and transparency of work performed by the Yolo Elections Office met the requirements of California Election codes. Furthermore, the Yolo Elections Office ensured that the public had many opportunities to observe the election process in action by advertising those opportunities by way of multiple platforms. The office went beyond minimum requirements to increase voting opportunities for Vote by Mail drop-offs and same day voter registration. The Grand Jury also found that the Yolo Elections staff interfaced and trained with a variety of local, state, and federal election and security entities and organizations to improve County election security and cybersecurity.” Based on its findings from investigations during that term, the 2019-20 Yolo County Grand Jury recommended that a public-domain disaster response plan should be available for the Yolo Elections Office. As of April 13, 2022, we are still waiting for the County to implement this recommendation. YOU ONLY VOTE ONCE: Elections integrity in Yolo County After receiving a complaint alleging improprieties at our County Elections Office in 2020, the 2021-22 Yolo County Grand Jury decided to investigate our county elections process and evaluate its integrity. This time, the 2021-22 YCGJ was pleased to find that our County carried out its electoral duties with award-winning dedication, professionalism, and meticulous adherence to state and federal guidelines during the timeline alleged in the complaint. We have found no evidence of inappropriate behavior by any member of the County Elections Office and can therefore only make a general commendation regarding the integrity of our voting system. The purpose of the remainder of this report is to consider the outstanding issues raised by the previous grand jury, such as the request for a public viewing of a disaster response plan, even in advance of a county-wide department-by-department plan. APPROACH The 2021-22 Yolo County Grand Jury conducted this investigation through a number of parallel strategies including: conducting interviews of Yolo County employees; collection of citizens’ reports of election monitoring; conducting unannounced site visit to the Elections Office; reviewing of newspapers and online news media; and reviewing of publicly accessible county, state, and federal websites and guidelines.
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  - The Yolo County Board of Supervisors should allocate funding for implementation of an online system for making visiting appointments (to be implemented by Dec. 31, 2020, with evidence of planning by Oct. 31, 2018)
• R3
  - The Yolo County Board of Supervisors should allocate funding for implementation of a video visiting system (to be implemented by Dec. 31, 2020, with evidence of planning by Oct. 31, 2018) The Yolo County Sheriff’s Office responded in May 2018 that the “recommendation requires further analysis” and in July 2018 the Board of Supervisors invited the Sheriff to apply for funding for an online system under an “IT Innovation Fund”. The 2019-20 Grand Jury again wrote to the Sheriff’s Office on January 23, 2020 to request an update on this inquiry. The Sheriff’s Office replied on February 4, 2020 stating the Sheriff’s Office had purchased a “Jail Management System (JMS)” that “is scheduled to go live at the end of 2020” and it is “therefore expected that scheduling for visitation will be an option for family and friends of inmates in 2021” (Exhibit B). In the same February 4, 2020 response, and concerning video conference visitations, the Sheriff’s Office responded that “while the Detention Center is not currently equipped to handle videoconference visitations, this is a technology that will be included with the upcoming jail expansion”. The Sheriff’s Office further stated that the system would be completed in phases so that “inmates would not lose any privileges” and concluded by stating “we anticipate the conversion project to be completed within the next 6 months barring any major setbacks.” The schedule described meant completion by roughly August 2020. The Sheriff’s Office on November 20, 2020 further responded to the 2019-20 Grand Jury that the JMS would “go-live” in March of 2021 (Exhibit C). The Sheriff’s Office stated the visitation scheduling and video visitation would be delayed since the module required to implement them would require a different contractor as the JMS contractor was exiting the inmate telecommunications industry. The Sheriff’s Office stated in this November 20, 2020 response that neither recommendation has been implemented “but will be implemented in the future, within a year”. According to the Sheriff’s Office timeline, this system should have been available by November 2021, nearly 15 months after the initial August 2020 pledge. The Sheriff’s Office has not revised their February 4, 2020 statement that “inmates would not lose any privileges”, even though the Sheriff’s Office has terminated all social visitation by press release of March 13, 2020 (Exhibit D). CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center The 2021-22 Grand Jury wrote to the Sheriff’s Office on October 15, 2021, calling for a status update by December 30, 2021. On December 6, 2021, the Sheriff’s response included the following (Exhibit E): “The expected implementation date of our new Jail Management System (JMS) has been pushed back to the end of April 2022. The reasons for this postponement include continuing headwinds cause by pandemic induced staffing challenges, the vendor’s inability to complete data conversion, and Records Management System/JMS integration testing that found significant errors. For GTL to begin video visitation and online visitation scheduling, an interface between the JMS and GTL software must be active and correct. The Sheriff’s Office has chosen not to invest in a costly interface with the current JMS because it will become obsolete in less than a year. A new interface has been developed and tested between GTL and the new JMS and will be ready at inception.” The Sheriff’s Office response of December 6, 2021 did not explicitly state any date for implementation of social visitation (live or virtual). The grand jury was later informed through the investigative process that implementation of the JMS would not necessarily result in simultaneous visitation resumption. This latest development places the visitation appointment system and video visitation system behind schedule and with no estimate for when to expect these systems to be available for use. Again, no mention is made of the March 2020 termination of all social visitation. The termination of live visits and failure to implement video visits effectively ended all family and friend visitation at the MDC.
• R4
  The Sheriff’s Office should update the grand jury on the progress of implementation of the promised video visitation system
• R5
  The Sheriff’s Office should update the grand jury and the public on the status of the contracts fulfilling the Jail Management System and Video Visitation System by September 1, 2022. REQUIRED RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code sections 933 and 933.05, the Grand Jury requests responses from the Yolo County Sheriff Findings F-1, F-2, F-3, F-4, and Recommendations R-1, R-2, R-3, R-4, and R-5. CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center EXHIBIT A: Excerpt from 2017-18 Grand Jury Report ( ) FINDINGS
• R6
  Official Visitors: U.S. Attorneys, law enforcement agents, military personnel conducting investigations, U.S. Court officials, U.S. Probation Officers, Consulate representatives, and staff from the Federal Public Defenders office will be permitted to visit upon presentation of appropriate identification. These individuals are required to clear electronic screening procedures and will be required to sign the appropriate log books. Any questions regarding the above officials will be directed to the Facility Manager during normal duty hours, and the on-call Jail Administrator after normal duty hours.
• R7
  Special Non-Social Visits: Non-law enforcement personnel requesting to visit inmates must submit a written request in advance and receive written approval from the appropriate Facility Manager prior to entering the institution. These individuals include, but are not limited to: court appointed psychologist, medical personnel, Minister of Record, clergy, educational and religious volunteers, and representatives of the media. All such visits must be reviewed by the Facility Manager and approved by the Jail Commander or designee. a) Minister of Record: An inmate wanting to receive visits from his/her minister of record must submit a written request, blue card, to the Jail Commander. Upon approval, unit staff shall add the name and title (minister of record) to the inmate’s visitor list. b) An inmate may only have one minister of record on his/her visiting list at a time. The addition of the minister of record will not count against the total number of authorized regular visitors an inmate is allowed to have on his/her visiting list and will not count against the total number of social visits allowed. c) Clergy: Visits from clergy (other than the minister of record) will be in accordance with the general visitor procedures and will count against the total number of regular visits allowed. d) Ordinarily, clergy visits will not be accommodated unless requested by the inmate. However, the Jail Commander or designee may approve a visitation request initiated by the clergy if the inmate wishes to visit with the clergy. e) The Facility Manager may establish a limit to the number of minister of record and clergy visits an inmate receives each month, consistent with available resources. CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center However, during times of personal or family emergencies, an inmate will be authorized a visit from his/her minister of record. f) Visit Termination/Denial: The Shift or Booking Sergeant may terminate/deny a visit that is disruptive to the overall security or good order of the facility. This may involve conduct initiated by the inmate and/or visitor(s). The right to receive future visits may be denied or restricted as part of any administrative action following the incident. If the Shift or Booking Sergeant terminates a visit, they must inform the Facility Manager. g) Visitor Personal Property: Lockers are not available to store personal articles not allowed in the visiting room. Visitors will be required to place all personal articles and handbags in their vehicle prior to security screening. No bags of any kind will be permitted into the visiting room. The only exception will be infant care items including one pacifier and one baby blanket. h) Inmate Personal Property: Inmates will not be permitted to receive any item(s) from a visitor. i) Inmate Separatees: Inmates and their separatees, and families of separated inmates, will not be placed in the visiting room at the same time. Visitation for inmates with separation assignments will be processed on a first come first served basis. The remaining visitors will be processed as soon as the visiting room officer notifies the front lobby that the inmate and his/her visitors have departed. 12. Inmates Under Supervised Medical or Psychological Care: Inmates under supervised medical or psychological care and inmates who are being physically restrained or in negative pressure cell will not normally be permitted to visit. Circumstances may exist in which the Facility Manager, in conjunction with Health Services and/or Psychology Services, may determine that a visit is appropriate. The appropriate location of the visit will be determined by the consulting individuals. Inmates admitted to local hospitals for medical treatment may be permitted social visits with the approval of the Jail Commander. In instances where authorization has been granted, visitors will visit in accordance with the medical facility's schedule. Visitors will be limited to immediate family. j) 13. Loss of Visiting Privileges: Upon a finding of guilty for violating institution regulations, inmates may be subject to disciplinary sanctions as outlined by policy, i.e., loss of visiting privileges for a specified period of time. k) 14. Special Rules for Children: Visitors are responsible for their minor children. Children may not be disruptive in the waiting visiting room and should remain seated at all times with their parents/guardians. There is no play area available for children. ____________________________________ Detention Commander ________________ Date CANCELLED: Visitation policies at the Monroe Detention Center EXHIBIT G: Screenshot of Yolo County Sheriff’s Office Web page concerning COVID-19, March 19, 2022 YOLO TIP LINE | | | | | YOLO ALERT Select Language Powered by TRANSLATE Search Yolo County Sheriff's Office HONORED TO SERVE HOME ABOUT SERVICES FORMS & FEES OUTREACH JOIN I WANT TO… CONTACT US COVID-19 Related Pages Crime Desk Check Here for YCSO COVID-19 Statistics COVID-19 The health, safety, and wellbeing of the incarcerated, our staff, and the public is of the Detention Facilities utmost importance to the Yolo County Sheriff’s Office. Throughout the pandemic, the Inmate Commissary Sheriff’s Office has worked closely with Yolo County Health Officials and WellPath (corrections’ medical provider) to ensure we are employing the best practices within our Inmate Mail Policy facilities. We actively monitor the state of the pandemic and consistently update our Programs practices to ensure we are providing the safest environment feasible. The following is a Booking Statistics summary of our safety practices and protocols: Medical Screenings All inmates are medically screened on arrival. All inmate workers (those who travel throughout our facility) are medically screened daily. All staff members are medically screened prior to the start of each shift. In addition, any person (vendor, attorney, etc.) entering the jail is medically screened prior to entering the jail facility. If an incoming inmate does not meet the medical guidelines for admittance into the facility, the inmate is routed to the hospital for medical clearance. If the medical guidelines are not met by a staff member or vendor, they are also denied admittance to the facility. Testing All incoming inmates are tested for COVID-19. Any current inmate with COVID-19 symptoms or presenting with a complaint of sickness is tested for COVID-19. All staff entering the jail facility are tested for COVID-19 at least once weekly. Vaccinations COVID-19 vaccinations are available to anyone incarcerated desiring to be inoculated. The County of Yolo has implemented a mandatory vaccination policy which applies to all Sheriff’s Office staff. Decreased Movement / Physical Distancing Inmates are now housed in single cells as population allows. Housing pods have been reorganized to provide for 6-foot distances between chairs. Inmates are required to social distance and wear masks when out in general areas. Inmates are provided with literature regarding the importance of physical distancing. Staff members now distribute commissary rather than the vendor. Sanitation The jail has employed increased cleaning and sanitation measures. Hand sanitizer is provided to the inmate population. Mail is held for 24 hours prior to distribution. Preparation Isolation unit with up to 23 beds is utilized for any inmate Positive for COVID-19. An additional 26 beds have been prepared as an additional quarantine unit if necessary. Releases Upon release, inmates are provided with literature regarding available emergency housing. Contact Info ADDRESS: Yolo County Sheriff's Office EMERGENCY: 911 ANIMAL SERVICES: 530-668-5287 1 W 4 o 0 o T d o la n n y d D , i C az A D 9 r 5 i 7 v 7 e 6 NON-EMERGENCY: 530-666-8282 DETENTION (MAIN JAIL): 530-668-JAIL Get Directions ADMINISTRATION: 530-668-5280 CLICK FOR OTHER DIVISIONS ADMINISTRATION FAX: 530-668-5238 © 2022 Yolo County Sheriff’s Office | Woodland, CA YOU ONLY VOTE ONCE: Elections integrity in Yolo County YOU ONLY VOTE ONCE Elections integrity in Yolo County Published by the 2021-22 Grand Jury on May 27, 2022 ABSTRACT Yolo County continues to provide a secure and accurate voting process.