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Extraído del Informe Consolidado

Esta investigación fue publicada originalmente como parte de un informe consolidado más amplio que contiene múltiples investigaciones. Consulte el PDF consolidado para ver el documento completo.

Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2007-2008

45. Inmates may mail and receive letters daily. They must pay their own postage, the exception being indigent inmates

Published: October 07, 2008 16 pages
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Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16, F17, F18, F19, F20, F21, F22, F23, F24, F25, F26, F27

Findings 11 findings

F1 Page 74
Booking. A more efficient booking process would reduce time officers unavailable to perform services in their own jurisdictions.
F2 Page 74
Staffing. Although hourly welfare checks are being performed, and shift supervisors routinely check to ensure rounds are being done, other activities such as cell searches are being delayed due to lack of staff.
F3 Page 74
Operations. The General Services Department should respond to complaints about and perform maintenance of the HVAC system in a more timely manner.
F4 Page 74
Operations. Some shower areas are in need of immediate repair and many need to be kept in better sanitary condition.
F5 Page 74
Inmate Services. The kitchen was originally built to accommodate 90 inmates. It needs to be enlarged and updated to serve the state-rated capacity of 311 inmates.
F6 Page 74
Medical Services. An additional exam room is needed for speedier delivery of medical services.
F7 Page 74
Medical Services. Because of the lack of alternative facilities, mentally ill inmates on a 5150 hold are kept in solitary confinement in the medical unit for long periods of time. The Main Jail is not licensed to provide ongoing care for this type of inmate. Main Jail 2007–2008 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report
F8 Page 75
Overcrowding. Inmate overpopulation has led to reduced usability of common areas and inmates locked in their cells for longer periods.
F9 Page 75
Overcrowding. Even though the current population exceeds the state-rated capacity, the Sheriff’s Office, along with the Probation Department, has made substantial progress in reducing the number of inmates.
F10 Page 75
Overcrowding. The crowding problem strains the facility’s infrastructure and the staff’s ability to deliver services to the inmates. Because of the facility’s age and deteriorating condition and the impact of inmate overpopulation, increased maintenance will be needed in the future.
F28 Page 81
makes no distinction between Regional Occupational Program classes and Watsonville Adult Education classes. They are operated by two distinct entities. Watsonville Adult Education is a Pajaro Valley Unified School District function and the Regional Occupational Program is a County Office of Education function. ROP can offer only Career Technical Education courses under California Education Code. By law, ROP does not offer skill-building classes. All classes at Rountree, with the exception of Auto Body and Computer Applications are under the jurisdiction of Watsonville Adult Education. Of the two ROP instructors at the facility, the Auto Body instructor is a native Spanish- speaker. The Computer Applications instructor is semi-fluent in speaking and fully fluent in understanding Spanish. All ROP teachers are trained in Sheltered Instruction under the requirements of the State of California as part of their credential process. ROP does not employ teachers’ aides. ROP will, of course, make every effort to provide instruction in dual languages. 29. Minimum security inmates can walk away from the facility, and it happens about four times a year. Those who walk away are generally rearrested within 24 hours. They are then likely to be held at the Main Jail for the remainder of their sentences, and new charges can result. 30. Due to the lack of fencing around the facility, Rountree has had problems with unauthorized persons entering the grounds. This has enabled contraband to be dropped off in the parking lot area which can be picked up by inmates working in the area and brought into the facility. The Grand Jury has been informed the Sheriff’s office has secured $72,000 to install fencing around the front of the facility. The automatic gates into the facility would be controlled from the control Rountree 71 2007–2008 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report room located in the medium security section of Rountree. The Sheriff’s Office is waiting for the General Services Department (GSD) to put this project out to bid. Response from the County: AGREES. 31. Exercise and recreational options are adequate and include basketball, weight lifting, horseshoes, volleyball, baseball, soccer and ping pong. 32. The County has provided $48,000 in funding to repair and replace the shower posts, flooring and support walls at the Jail Farm. This was reported to be a problem in the Environmental Health Report. Funding has been secured for this project. Rountree staff is still awaiting GSD to put the project out to bid. Conclusions 1. Correctional officers and civilian workers at Rountree Detention Center appear to be respectful of inmate rights, experienced in dealing with inmates, and well trained in security procedures. 2. Inmate visits in both facilities are well managed and beneficial to both the inmates and their families. 3. The maintenance and cleanliness of all areas of both facilities is good. 4. There are a commendable variety of constructive activities and skill building classes for inmates although few are conducted by Spanish-speaking teachers. 5. Because the Rountree jail inmate populations are consistently under capacity, the facilities could be better utilized to relieve the overcrowding at the Main Jail. 6. The staffing of the facilities is inadequate to properly oversee, protect, and transport the inmate population. 7. Onsite medical care is currently available 40 hours a week. The newly approved nursing weekend hours are needed to assure that medical problems are properly assessed and expeditiously treated. This weekend coverage will allow qualified inmates who need mental health maintenance medications to be transferred from the Main Jail to Rountree. 8. The video surveillance system has been noted to be inadequate in earlier Grand Jury reports, but it has still not been improved. 9. Installation of fencing around the facility would prohibit the public from entering the facility without permission and would deter contraband from entering the facility. 10. The Grand Jury agrees with the Environmental Health Report that the shower posts, flooring and support walls at the Jail Farm are in need of repair and replacement.

Recommendations 11