Mendocino County Grand Jury • 2006-2007

Mendocino County Jail, Courthouse Holding Cells and Sheriff’s Evidence Room May 24, 2007

Published: May 24, 2007 3 pages
Ver PDF original

Findings and Recommendations 30 findings

F1
The MCJ present staff consists of 49 personnel: • one Captain; • three Sergeants; • eight Corporals; • 37 Correctional Officers; • five Sheriff Booking Technicians; • one Inmate Services Clerk who co-ordinates programs; • one Kitchen Manager and two cooks; • one Custodial Supervisor, who manages the laundry; • an Accounting Specialist for the commissary and inmate money accounts; • one Office Assistant II, who manages the jail records; • and three retired Officers who transport inmates to court, and do other duties as required. Eight of the staff are bilingual in Spanish.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The capacity of the Mendocino County jail is 305 inmates. At the time of the initial Grand Jury visit the population was 210 inmates. Temporary beds are available for those occasions when the jail’s capacity is exceeded.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
The Probation Department administers a program which reduces jail population by having adult offenders serve their sentence while remaining in the community, under the supervision of the probation department.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
In 2006, one case of tuberculosis, 22 cases of sexually transmitted disease, and 46 cases of drug resistant staphylococcus were identified. There were 1,428 visits by the psychiatrist, 4,834 visits by the mental health nurse, and 262 dental visits.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
The jail’s menu, which rotates monthly, is prepared by a registered dietician.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
Housing for male inmates consists of seven “units”.
No recommendations for this finding
F7
Women are housed separately, in two units.
No recommendations for this finding
F8
Educational resources are available for inmates seeking to obtain a GED.
No recommendations for this finding
F9
Programs which are available, include: • Addiction recovery programs, e.g. Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous; • Life skills; • Religious counseling.
No recommendations for this finding
F10
A law library is available to inmates. Access requires good behavior; an appointment is necessary.
No recommendations for this finding
F11
Inmates can send and receive mail. Incoming mail is opened and screened in front of the inmate and delivered the same day it is received. Outgoing mail is also screened.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
Inappropriate mail is held and given to the inmate upon release.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
A contracted phone company pays the Sheriff’s Office an annual guaranteed amount of $140,000 to be the service provider for the collect calls made from the jail. The money is used to support inmate services such as teachers, counseling, and exercise equipment.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
Inmates who exhibit good behavior may work while in jail. Work opportunities include the kitchen, garden, laundry, and the work crew. The “work crew” provides labor anywhere in the County under supervision by Correctional Officers.
No recommendations for this finding
F15
Inmates may have their sentence reduced for good behavior.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
Doors and common areas are monitored by security cameras.
No recommendations for this finding
F17
Correctional Officers work 12 hour shifts. There are a minimum of eight officers per shift.
No recommendations for this finding
F18
Because of continuing maintenance problems, the County General Services Agency has assigned two full time personnel to the MCJ.
No recommendations for this finding
F19
Most inmates are either directly or indirectly incarcerated as a result of drugs and/or alcohol.
No recommendations for this finding
F20
Cells are either single, double, or triple occupancy, or barracks style.
No recommendations for this finding
F21
Inmates in lockdown are allowed out of their cells 30 minutes per day.
No recommendations for this finding
F22
All inmates are allowed exercise privileges. Mendocino County Courthouse Holding Cells
No recommendations for this finding
F23
The four Courthouse Holding Cells, which are used to hold prisoners awaiting court hearings, were observed to be clean and in good working order. Mendocino County Sheriff’s Evidence Room
No recommendations for this finding
F24
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
F25
Budgeted staff consists of one and one-half positions.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
additional staff be provided for Evidence Room operations. (Findings 25, 27, 29) Comments The Grand Jury commends the staff of the Mendocino County Jail, and the General Services Agency, for the tremendous work they do in maintaining a safe and functional environment for the staff and inmates. Response Required Mendocino County Board of Supervisors (All Findings; All Recommendations) Mendocino County Chief Executive Officer (All Findings; All Recommendations) Mendocino County Sheriff (All Findings; All Recommendations)
F26
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
F27
Evidence Room personnel strictly control all evidence. This fulfills the need for a “Chain of Evidence” necessary for criminal prosecutions.
No recommendations for this finding
F28
Evidence at this facility must be maintained until, by court order, it can be disposed of; or is released by the District Attorney’s Office.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
funds be provided for the purchase of new refrigeration equipment to suit the Evidence Room requirement. (Findings 28, 30)
F29
Evidence Room operations, including purging and disposition of evidence, require greater staff time than is presently available.
No recommendations for this finding
F30
The Evidence Room requires refrigeration for certain evidence. At present, their refrigeration capacity is aging and insufficient.
No recommendations for this finding

Comments 1

Agency Responses 1

Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.

No Responses Found 2

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

Mendocino County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office
Mendocino County Sheriff Elected County Office