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Extracted from Consolidated Report
This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.
Score: +2
(6/3/4)
Orange County Grand Jury
• 2020-2021
Orange County Sheriff’s Department Evidence Booking Issue – Has it Been Resolved?
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings 5 findings
F1
Page 47
The OCDA and OCPD question whether current OCSD policies and procedures related
F2
Page 47
An audit of OCSD department reports submitted from March 2018 forward has not been
F3
Page 47
There is no documentation confirming that OCSD lieutenants perform evidence booking agencies to respond to the Findings and
F4
Page 47
Lack of system integration between Remedy and FBR necessitates duplicate data entry
F5
Page 47
A tour of the Property/Evidence Central Booking Facility is no longer included during within 60 days to the presiding judge of the superior court, with an information copy sent to the
Recommendations 2
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R1Page 47Conduct an independent third-party audit of OCSD department reports submitted from
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R4Page 47Reintroduce a tour of the OCSD Property/Evidence Central Booking facility within
Agency Responses 3
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.
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OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF
August 04, 2021
•
5 pages
• 5 responses
•
Score: 0
(+2, 1, -2)
View Details ▾
5 responses to findings and recommendations
F1
Mental health training for law enforcement officers in Orange County exceeds the State's requirements, resulting in law enforcement applying these skills to better evaluate and handle mental health calls for service. Response: Agrees with finding. The Sheriff's Department requires all deputies to complete advanced officer training in the area of mental health, homelessness and health care, known as Crisis Intervention Training. Deputies who are assigned to the Behavioral Health Bureau are requir...
Response: Disagree Partially
Score: 0
There is a security risk at the Theo Lacy Facility where it is separated from the vacant Orange County Animal Shelter facility by a chain link fence. <b>Response:</b> Partially agrees with finding. The fence separating the Theo Lacy Facility from the vacant Animal Shelter is a double fence (essentially two layers of fencing) with razor wire atop both fences. The area adjacent to the fence is a restricted area, utilized only by lower security inmates who are monitored and do not pose a significant escape risk. While there is currently no security risk at this site, if the vacant Orange County A...
F2
Law enforcement agencies in Orange County have developed unique ways to deal with mental health calls in their communities based on their particular needs and budgets, enabling law enforcement to better serve their communities. Response: Agrees with finding. The Orange County Sheriff's Department has created a Behavioral Health Bureau in both Custody and Patrol Operations. In both a custody setting and the community, these bureaus have enhanced the department's ability to respond to those in men...
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agrees with finding. An additional physical barrier at the front desk located in the Theo Lacy Facility lobby would enhance security for OCSD personnel.
F4.
Lack of mandatory COVID testing for jail personnel creates a high risk of infection to inmates and others. <b>Response:</b> Disagrees with findings.
The department follows CDC guidelines and has put several protocols in place to protect the jail population against COVID-19.
F5.
Due to the lack of trained OCSD personnel, the Intake and Release Center's scanning device is not used consistently to prevent contraband from entering the fac...
F3
Law enforcement collaboration with County PERT clinicians and Be Well mobile response units has been an effective tool when responding to mental health calls for service. Response: Agrees with finding. The Orange County Sheriff's Department works regularly with PERT Clinicians and the OC HCA's Outreach and Engagement Team. This partnership has been critical to successfully addressing mental health calls for service.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agrees with finding. An additional physical barrier at the front desk located in the Theo Lacy Facility lobby would enhance security for OCSD personnel.
F4.
Lack of mandatory COVID testing for jail personnel creates a high risk of infection to inmates and others. <b>Response:</b> Disagrees with findings.
The department follows CDC guidelines and has put several protocols in place to protect the jail population against COVID-19.
F5.
Due to the lack of trained OCSD personnel, the Intake and Release Center's scanning device is not used consistently to prevent contraband from entering the fac...
F4
People with mental illness respond more positively to "soft uniformed" police personnel, which can be effective in de-escalating situations. Response: Partially agrees with finding More important than the uniform is the type of personnel who responds to a mental health crisis. The Sheriff's Department operates under the premise that the first person from the government that someone in a mental health crisis encounters should not have a badge and a gun. This is the reason the department participa...
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Lack of mandatory COVID testing for jail personnel creates a high risk of infection to inmates and others. <b>Response:</b> Disagrees with findings.
The department follows CDC guidelines and has put several protocols in place to protect the jail population against COVID-19.
F5
Providing follow-up case management is not only necessary but critical for the wellbeing of people experiencing mental health issues. Response: Agrees with finding Case management follow-up is an important part of the work being done by the Sheriff's Behavioral Health Bureau and OC HCA outreach workers. ORANGE COUNTYSHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Mental Health Advocacy CHERI nealtCARE AGENC In 2021, the Orange County Sheriff's Department established a Behavioral established to support current inmates Heal...
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
Due to the lack of trained OCSD personnel, the Intake and Release Center's scanning device is not used consistently to prevent contraband from entering the facility. <b>Response:</b> Disagrees with finding The ability to use the scanning device is not a result of insufficient training. The availability of staff can at times impact the use of the scanning device.
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OFFICE OF THE SHERIFF
July 14, 2021
•
4 pages
• 4 responses
•
Score: -1
(+1, 1, -2)
View Details ▾
4 responses to findings and recommendations
F2
Law enforcement agencies in Orange County have developed unique ways to deal with mental health calls in their communities based on their particular needs and budgets, enabling law enforcement to better serve their communities. Response: Agrees with finding. The Orange County Sheriff's Department has created a Behavioral Health Bureau in both Custody and Patrol Operations. In both a custody setting and the community, these bureaus have enhanced the department's ability to respond to those in men...
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
An audit of OCSD department reports submitted from March 2018 forward has not been conducted to confirm that current OCSD policies and procedures regarding evidence booking and reporting are being followed. <b>Response:</b> Disagrees with finding. Several mechanisms are in place to ensure policies regarding evidence booking and reporting are being followed. Monthly checks, supervisory approval, and improved procedures provide real time oversight of the evidence booking system.
F3
Law enforcement collaboration with County PERT clinicians and Be Well mobile response units has been an effective tool when responding to mental health calls for service. Response: Agrees with finding. The Orange County Sheriff's Department works regularly with PERT Clinicians and the OC HCA's Outreach and Engagement Team. This partnership has been critical to successfully addressing mental health calls for service.
Response: Disagree
Score: -1
There is no documentation confirming that OCSD lieutenants perform evidence booking spot audits consistently across all divisions, resulting in limited management accountability and weak internal controls. <b>Response:</b> Disagrees with finding. Both management accountability and internal controls are strong. It is the expectation that managers ensure personnel are performing their duties. The policies, procedures, and report mechanisms in place provide managers with the tools necessary to perform this critical oversight. For example, Policy 802.2.1 Property Booking Procedure states: After al...
F4
People with mental illness respond more positively to "soft uniformed" police personnel, which can be effective in de-escalating situations. Response: Partially agrees with finding More important than the uniform is the type of personnel who responds to a mental health crisis. The Sheriff's Department operates under the premise that the first person from the government that someone in a mental health crisis encounters should not have a badge and a gun. This is the reason the department participa...
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Lack of system integration between Remedy and FBR necessitates duplicate data entry and reliance on manual oversight to reconcile the DR# and evidence list between the two systems. <b>Response:</b> Agrees with finding. The current Remedy and FBR systems are not digitally integrated, but the current procedures in place ensures proper data entry and oversight.
F5
Providing follow-up case management is not only necessary but critical for the wellbeing of people experiencing mental health issues. Response: Agrees with finding Case management follow-up is an important part of the work being done by the Sheriff's Behavioral Health Bureau and OC HCA outreach workers. ORANGE COUNTYSHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT Mental Health Advocacy CHERI nealtCARE AGENC In 2021, the Orange County Sheriff's Department established a Behavioral established to support current inmates Heal...
Response: Disagree Partially
Score: 0
A tour of the Property/Evidence Central Booking Facility is no longer included during deputy training. This limits their understanding of the overall chain of custody process. <b>Response:</b> Partially agrees with finding. It is correct that physical tour of the Property/Evidence Central Booking Facility was not part of deputy training. There is substantial training on chain of custody processes and this is not limited by the absence of a physical tour. <b>RECOMMENDATIONS:</b>
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Orange County Sheriff’s Department Evidence Booking Issue - Has it Been Resolved? 5/24/21
August 10, 2021
•
4 pages
• 5 responses
•
Score: +3
(+3, 1, 0)
View Details ▾
5 responses to findings and recommendations
F1
State, national, and international guidelines are not adequately addressed in the County’s Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Plan (see Appendix 1).
Response: Agree
Score: +1
<b>Agrees with the finding</b> for reasons explained below: The Sheriff's Department uses an automated evidence booking system known as Remedy which records when an item of evidence was collected, who booked it and when it was booked. According to the Grand Jury's report, "All items are booked separately into the Remedy system. Each item is packaged with a securely attached evidence tag and bar code label identifying the item. The Evidence Case Items Report (Evidence List) is generated as a PDF file, and later attached to the department report." (P. 6, referencing Figure 5.) The Grand Jury goe...
R1
EMC and OCHCA to update the EOP and DORA Pandemic Influenza Plans respectively, to match international, state and CDC plans within one year from the date of this report. (F1)
Response: Requires Analysis
Scheduled: within 180 days
Score: 0
.
Conduct an independent third-party audit of OCSD department reports submitted from March 2018 forward, to be performed by either the Orange County Office on Independent Review or the Orange County Internal Auditor within 180 days from the date of publication of this report. (F1, F2) Response: The recommendation requires further analysis. The Orange County Office of Independent Review (OIR) is currently conducting an investigation of instances prior to March 2018 in which evidence gathered by the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) was not booked, despite department reports that attest...
F2
Orange County Emergency Operations Plan’s classification of a pandemic as being “Unlikely” has caused the OCHCA to be underprepared for the current pandemic.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agrees with Finding
F4.
Lack of system integration between Remedy and FBR necessitates duplicate data entry and reliance on manual oversight to reconcile the DR# and evidence list between the two systems. Defers to OCSD. Response:
F5.
A tour of the Property/Evidence Central Booking Facility is no longer included during deputy training. This limits their understanding of the overall chain of custody process. Defers to OCSD. Response:
RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESPONSES:
R1.
Conduct an independent third-party audit of OCSD department reports submitted from March 2018 forward, to be performed by...
F4
The OCHCA's budget was not allocated relative to the likelihood of pandemic planning and preparation.
Response: Agree
Score: +1
Agrees with Finding
F4.
F5
The OCHCA has not established comprehensive community-based task forces that facilitate and support health care institutions in Orange County.
Response: Unknown
Score: 0
RECOMMENDATIONS AND RESPONSES:
R1.
Conduct an independent third-party audit of OCSD department reports submitted from March 2018 forward, to be performed by either the Orange County Office on Independent Review or the Orange County Internal Auditor within 180 days from the date of publication of this report. (F1, F2) Response: The recommendation requires further analysis. The Orange County Office of Independent Review (OIR) is currently conducting an investigation of instances prior to March 2018 in which evidence gathered by the Orange County Sheriff's Department (OCSD) was not booked, desp...