Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2008-2009

Rountree Detention Center

8 pages
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Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F18, F19, F24, F25

Findings and Recommendations 28 findings

F1
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.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
Inmate visits in both facilities are well managed and beneficial to both the inmates and their families.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The maintenance and cleanliness of all areas of both facilities is good.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
There are a commendable variety of constructive activities and skill building classes for inmates although few are conducted by Spanish-speaking teachers.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Grand Jury recommends that the County Office of Education provide additional Spanish-speaking teachers or teacher’s aides for the skill-building classes. Response from Santa Cruz County Office of Education: HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED.
F5
Because the Rountree jail inmate populations are consistently under capacity, the facilities could be better utilized to relieve the overcrowding at the Main Jail.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff’s Office develop new strategies to house more of the County’s Main Jail population at the Rountree facilities.
F6
The staffing of the facilities is inadequate to properly oversee, protect, and transport the inmate population.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
It is recommended that the Sheriff’s Office and the Board of Supervisors locate funding for additional correctional officers, at least one per shift per facility, to assure the safety of staff and inmates. Response from the County: WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED. The current staffing meets State requirements for all shifts and are operated so as to assure the safety of staff and inmates. As noted in the Grand Jury report, both facilities operate an average of 20 to 40 percent below rated capacity.
F7
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.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
It is recommended that the Sheriff’s Office finish recruiting for the weekend nursing position.
F8
The video surveillance system has been noted to be inadequate in earlier Grand Jury reports, but it has still not been improved.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Grand Jury strongly recommends that the Sheriff’s Office provide a recording of all surveillance camera activity.
F9
Installation of fencing around the facility would prohibit the public from entering the facility without permission and would deter contraband from entering the facility.
Related Recommendations (2)
R7
The Grand Jury strongly recommends GSD go out to bid for the fencing project as soon as possible. Response from the County: HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED, BUT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FUTURE. The fencing project will be going to bid On October 7, 2008.
R8
The Grand Jury recommends the Sheriffs Department and the Board of Supervisors secure the necessary funds to install fencing around the remaining perimeter of both facilities. Response from the County: WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FUTURE. The recommendation will be implemented in FY ’08-09.
F10
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.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The Grand Jury strongly recommends GSD put the shower repair project out to bid as soon as possible. Response from the County: HAS NOT BEEN IMPLEMENTED, BUT WILL BE IMPLEMENTED IN THE FUTURE. Funds are currently allocated for additional plumbing upgrades, however, the fencing project is the priority project and may need additional funds that would supersede the plumbing/shower issues at this time. The Sheriff’s office will prioritize site needs within the existing allocation after bids are received on the fencing project.
F11 Page 2
Educational programs are offered in both the medium and minimum security facilities. The Watsonville/Aptos Adult Education program offers preparatory classes for the General Education Diploma (GED) and Adult Basic Education. Parent Education and substance abuse classes are also offered. A number of programs are provided by volunteer organizations, including Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous and church services. Response from the County Office of Education: PARTIALLY AGREES.
No recommendations for this finding
F12 Page 2
A medical unit serves both facilities. It includes private examination rooms and seems well equipped and well maintained. An experienced registered nurse is on duty eight hours a day, five days a week. If a problem arises, the staff can call the Main Jail medical staff. If necessary, the inmate will be transported to a nearby medical facility. The Sheriff’s Department recently received additional funding to add nursing hours on the weekend. They are currently recruiting for this position.
No recommendations for this finding
F13 Page 2
In keeping with the requirements of California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Section 1216 Management of Pharmaceuticals, inmates prescribed certain mental health medications cannot be housed at Rountree because of the lack of medical personnel to dispense doses on weekends. The recent approval of weekend nursing hours will allow for medication to be dispensed seven days per week.
No recommendations for this finding
F14 Page 2
There is one automated external defibrillator (AED) in each facility. All correctional officers are trained in first aid, cardio-pulmonary resuscitation (CPR), and AED use as a part of their initial training. They also attend a refresher course annually.
No recommendations for this finding
F15 Page 2
All visitors must be approved in advance. Only six people per inmate, including children, are on an inmate’s approved visitor list during any 90-day period. Every 90 days, the inmates may submit new visitor lists for approval.
No recommendations for this finding
F16 Page 2
Telephones are available to all inmates. They can use prepaid phone cards to make a call. They can also make collect calls as long as the party being called has posted a deposit with the phone service provider.
No recommendations for this finding
F17 Page 2
The Environmental Health Report dated July 10, 2007 indicated the plumbing and condition of the floors, coving, and lower walls of the showers “are deteriorated” in the minimu0m security facility. The Grand Jury members noted these conditions on their visit. Response from the County: AGREES. Medium Security Findings 18. The medium security facility is designed with two direct-supervision housing units. Half the facility was opened in May of 1996, and the other half was opened in February 1999. The rated capacity is 96 inmates and the maximum capacity is 110. On September 10, 2007, the population was 73; of those, 33 were classified as “White,” 37 as “Hispanic,” and three as “Black.” 19. There are five correctional officers on duty per 12-hour shift at the medium security facility, except between 11 pm and 7 am when there are four. The number of onsite officers may be fewer during any given shift when officers are needed to transport inmates. Such circumstances occur daily when inmates are transported to or from court in Watsonville or Santa Cruz, or when there is a need for offsite medical care. Response from Santa Cruz County Office of Education: PARTIALLY AGREES. The Santa Cruz County Office of Education provides occupational training classes to both medium and minimum security inmates as agreed upon by Rountree administration and the Regional Occupational Program. Classes offered vary, sometimes from year-to- year as they are available from Regional Occupational Program (ROP) and as requested by Rountree administration. Last year, two courses were no longer provided at the request of Rountree. The County Office of Education ROP provides occupational training programs only.
No recommendations for this finding
F20 Page 3
One officer is stationed in a secured area and controls all doors and gates. This area also has surveillance cameras monitoring inmate detention areas. No record is kept of the surveillance videos.
No recommendations for this finding
F21 Page 3
Medium security inmates attend classes located in the two classrooms behind the control room area of the facility. These classrooms hold about 20 inmates at a time. In addition to the educational programs previously mentioned and offered for both medium and minimum security inmates, the following classes are offered exclusively to medium security inmates: English as a Second Language (ESL) and domestic violence prevention classes.
No recommendations for this finding
F22 Page 3
Medium security inmates can be visited Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays, during one of the four hour-long periods between 8:30 am and 2:00 pm. Visits are via telephone through glass. Two adults or one adult with two juveniles are allowed to visit an inmate at a time. There are four cubicles available for the visits.
No recommendations for this finding
F23 Page 3
Contained within each unit is an exercise yard with equipment such as pull-up bars and a basketball hoop. Minimum Security Findings 24. The minimum security facility, often referred to as the “Jail Farm,” was first opened in 1970. The board rated capacity is 162 inmates with a maximum capacity of 250. The population on inspection day was 99. They were categorized as 60 “White,” 34 “Hispanic,” four “Black” and one “Other.” 25. There are three officers on duty during the day shift and two during the night shift. The shifts are 12 hours long. As with medium security, there may be fewer staff onsite when officers are needed to transport inmates from one place to another. Response from the County: AGREES.
No recommendations for this finding
F26 Page 3
There are surveillance cameras monitoring inmate detention areas. No video record is kept of the surveillance.
No recommendations for this finding
F27 Page 3
Visiting is allowed for minimum security inmates on Sundays from 12:45 pm to 2:45 pm. These are contact visits in a large fenced grassy area adjacent to the minimum facility. On rainy days, visits are held in the dining hall. All six approved visitors may visit each visiting day.
No recommendations for this finding
F28
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 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.
No recommendations for this finding
F29 Page 4
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.
No recommendations for this finding
F30 Page 4
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 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.
No recommendations for this finding
F31 Page 4
Exercise and recreational options are adequate and include basketball, weight lifting, horseshoes, volleyball, baseball, soccer and ping pong.
No recommendations for this finding
F32 Page 4
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.
No recommendations for this finding

Conclusions 10

No Responses Found 2

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

County of Santa Cruz Agency
Santa Cruz County County