Placer County Grand Jury 2021-2022 Final Report

is left behind, shows the dedication of all those involved in the educational field. While technology is available to livestream neighborhood classes for students who must quarantine or for those students who might desire to attend neighborhood school classes via livestreaming, funding is not available to support the continuation of this type of teaching method. Average Daily Attendance funding is only allotted to RecomInmdeepennddaentito Sntusd y students and those that have “butts-in-seats.” The grand jury recommends that: NCoonpe.i eTshe sree anrte tnoo: r ecommendations. Gayle Garbolino-Mojica Placer County Superintendent of Schools Placer County Office of Education 360 Nevada Street Auburn, CA 95603 88 Placer County Jails and Holding Facilities Annual Inspection Report 2021-2022 89 -2022 Summary Placer County Grand Jury conducted required inspections at the seven Placer County jails and holding facilities in Roseville, Rocklin, Auburn, and Tahoe City between the months of July and November 2021. The grand jury found these facilities to be secure, orderly, and well-run. Glossary Bill Santucci Justice Center: Located in Roseville, it includes the South Placer Adult Correctional Facility, Placer County Minimum Security Facility, Howard G. Gibson CBoSuCrCt:h ouse, Placer County Probation Department, and Placer County Coroner’s Office. DetainBeoea: rd of State and Community Corrections Holding FaAcnilyi tpye orsro Cne dlletained in a lockup, regardless of adjudication status. : A cell in a police station or courthouse in which an inmate is held tIenmmpaotrea: rily, pending charge, trial, or sentencing. Jail A person confined to an institution such as a prison or hospital. : A confinement facility of a federal, state, or local law enforcement agency whose pProidmsa: ry use is to hold persons pending adjudication of criminal charges. Smaller, separate, and self-contained housing units known as pods or modules are designed to hold sixteen to sixty inmates and ar e arranged around exercise yards or support facilities in a decentralized campus pattern. A small number of prison officers, sSoamllye tPimorets a single officer, supervise each pod. Backgro:u An sdec ure, controlled entry way to an enclosure. California Penal Code § 925 mandates that the grand jury shall investigate and report on the ope rations, accounts, and records of the officers, departments, or functions of the county. Penal Code § 919(b) specifically mandates the grand jury to inspect jails within the Mcouenthtyo. dology The grand jury visited each facility, interviewed staff, and observed inmates in housing, work, and activity areas. One member of the grand jury was fully recused from the investigation. 91 . Placer County Main Jail (PCMJ) in Auburn (October 25, 2021) 2. South Placer Adult Correctional Facility (SPACF) in Roseville (October 22, 2021) Holdin3g. FaScoiulitthi ePsl:a cer Minimum Security Facility (SPMSF) in Roseville (October 22, 2021) 1. Howard G. Gibson Courthouse holding cells in Roseville (November 9, 2021) 2. Historic Courthouse in Auburn (August 30, 2021) 3. Placer County Sheriff’s Substation in Tahoe City - Burton Creek (September 28, 2021) 4. Rocklin Police Department Holding Cells (July 30, 2021) Discussion Placer County Main Jail The grand jury inspected the Placer County Main Jail located at the Placer County Government Center in North Auburn. Jail staff escorted the team through the facility and provided needed information. This facility, managed and operated by PCSO, was built in 1985 for 108 inmates and has since been Photo Credit: Joe Sledge expanded twice, once in the 1990s and once in the 2000s. The capacity now is about 380 although that number is fluid given the current COVID-19 pandemic and the needs of individual inmates. Much of the operation of the main jail and the programs offered match the operations and programs in the South Placer facilities. Those commonalities in procedures and programs are:• • Booking procedures • Types of cells • Visitation policies • Medical evaluation and continual COVID-19 testing COVID-19 responses (about 15% of Auburn inmates are vaccinated according to • staff) Incentives to vaccinate 92 data for inclusion on the county COVID-19 dashboard. The grand jury observed inspirational messages painted on the walls of the main corridor saying things such as, “Change your thoughts and you change the world.” Meals are prepared at the SPACF facility and transported to the PCMJ. Meals are reheated in Auburn and are then dispensed to inmates who eat in their pods. Important to management of the Placer County jails is the implementation of AB109 (Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011). The grand jury learned that AB109 has had a profound impact on county jails. Auburn staff reports two major effects. First, inmates with less serious felonies have been transferred to county jails from state prisons. This has affected the make-up of local jail populations as well as the environment of the jail. The second effect has been the release from custody of inmates with lesser offenses and time remaining on their sentences. According to jail staff there are almost no low-level inmates in the Placer County jails. The decision on whom to release is based on the classification system of inmates and time remaining to be served. Inmates are classified upon entry into the system. According to staff, those inmates who have been moved from state prison facilities would prefer to return to the state prisons rather than spend their time in Placer County jails. Staff further 93 days per year. Correctional staff work twelve-hour shifts, seven to seven, four days on and three days off, subject to an alternating schedule. Current staffing is generally twelve to eighteen deputies, depending on available personnel, correctional officers, and support staff. Coverage at night is considerably lower. All training, such as first aid and automated external defibrillator (AED), is up to date. Construction for both facilities was completed in 2015. The population, at the time of this inspection, consisted of 332 male inmates at the SPACF and 120 male and female inmates, which is maximum capacity, at the SPMCF. Female inmates (other than minimum security) are housed in the PCMJ in Auburn. The public counter area, located inside the main entrance, provides access to the inmate visiting area. Inmates are allowed up to two visits, for a maximum of one hour per week for family members or other authorized contacts. The visits are through video equipment with no physical contact possible. Additional video visits are available for a fee. Attorney visits and mental health visits are unlimited and conducted elsewhere within the facility. 94 , some arrestees are released without cash bail and are given a Promise to Appear in Lieu of Bail citation. There are also staff facilities for meetings, shift changes, exercise, and locker rooms. All are clean, neat, and well organized. The grand jury inspected the intake area, booking area, visitor video area, kitchen, and laundry facilities. The medical services unit, the medium and high security detention pods, and the recreational areas were inspected during the same visit. In the booking area, the grand jury observed several workstations for doing intake interviews, medical screening, fingerprinting, and sobriety evaluations. Arrestees are brought into the facility through a sally port. The arresting officer processes paperwork and notifies the correctional staff, medical staff, and Central Control that a new inmate has arrived. Part of the intake process includes a complete body search by using a full body scanner. Body cavity searches are also conducted as deemed necessary. There are many signs in the intake area explaining procedures, for example, “Arresting Officers Do Not Remove Handcuffs.” Once inmates have been evaluated, tested for COVID-19, and assessed, they are turned over to correctional personnel. For low level crimes, some arrestees qualify for either a Promise to Appear in Lieu of Bail citation or cash bail and are released. Arraignments are held within two days, except during weekends when arraignments can be done over the phone. Inmates are assessed based on gender, classification of past criminal convictions, prior assaults on inmates and staff, behavior or psychological problems, escape risk, prison history, and those requiring protective custody. The assessment results determine where the inmate will be housed. New arrivals are not placed with those close to release. Inmates are then issued color coded jumpsuits. Jumpsuits, footwear, underwear, and bedding are all issued to inmates by the clothing department. There is a weekly schedule for exchanging soiled clothing and bedding. When holding cells are vacated, they are cleaned by inmates from the minimum-security facility. If problems are noted during medical screening, inmates may be sent to a local hospital for further evaluation. Detainees who are extremely intoxicated due to alcohol or drugs, or suffering from significant behavioral health issues, are housed in special sobriety or mental health appropriate cells. Every fifteen minutes, staff physically check on inmates occupying cells in the medical and psychiatric observation area. Inmates on suicide watch are under constant staff observation. The staff is particularly proud of the medical and dental wing which has cells for inmates, exam rooms, dental facilities, and negative pressure rooms reducing disease transmission. The medical unit also administers the Jail Based Competency Treatment Program which is aimed at preparing inmates with mental health problems for court proceedings. The permanent housing facilities are divided into pods, which can hold either thirty or sixty individuals based on configuration. Pods are self-contained with a recreation area and communal television. Inmates are issued a radio receiver with headphones for listening to television and radio, and communicating with staff, thus reducing noise within the pod. There are also showers, a commissary kiosk, attorney rooms, monitors for video visits, classrooms, and common areas. Each pod contains cells which hold one or two inmates. Library services, meal delivery, and minor medical attention are also included in the pods. Video communication equipment is available, allowing inmates to communicate with approved contacts on the outside. Inmates share tablets which are used for various functions such as ordering commissary items, filing complaints, and remote education. There is no general internet access through these tablets. All meals for Placer County adult and juvenile detention facilities, as well as some community-based charities, are prepared at the SPACF and delivered to the correctional facilities. Meals are prepared in the cook-chill method, allowing for the transport of prepared food to be reheated at the offsite facilities. Attention is paid to individual dietary requirements, such as religious or medical needs. Another program the Sheriff’s department provides to inmates is educational instruction, administered by the Placer School for Adults. These educational opportunities are held via distance learning or educational packets. Inmates can partake of lessons or programs such as anger management, life skills, parenting, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, employment seeking skills, GED, math, and reading. Inmates receive one day off their sentences for every eight days of participation in the educational programs. This same formula is used to encourage inmates to work within the facility including laundry operations, facility cleaning, food preparation, and other chores. To access the Howard G. Gibson Courthouse, inmates are escorted using a tunnel that connects the courthouse to the jail. The courthouse and the jail both contain holding cells that have heavy doors, benches, toilets, and cameras. Inmates remain in these holding cells for only a short amount of time while awaiting court appearances. This area consists of several one or two person cells plus a few group cells that can hold up to thirty inmates. Male and female inmates are held in separate cells. The entire area is under video surveillance except for the toilets. At the time of the grand jury inspection, the tunnel linking the jail with the courthouse was closed due to flooding. Until repairs are c omplete, inmates are transported by van from the jail to the courthouse. Jail Based Competency Treatment Program is a partnership between the California Department of State Hospitals, Placer County Sheriff's Office, and the county contracted medical provider to restore competency to Penal Code § 1368 offenders deemed incompetent to stand trial. 96