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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.

Santa Cruz County Grand Jury • 2007-2008

Watsonville Public Library – Potential for Greatness

Published: January 26, 2009 15 pages
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Findings 30 findings

F1 Page 102
The facility is well maintained and clean.
F2 Page 102
The staff is professional, well trained, and knowledgeable performing day-to-day operations as well as skilled at interacting with inmates.
F3 Page 102
The inmate restraint system implemented approximately a year and a half ago has resulted in fewer escape attempts and violent incidents.
F4 Page 102
Moving drug court cases to the Main Jail has reduced the number of inmates transported and processed through the main courthouse and Court Holding.
F5 Page 102
Because the deputies in Court Holding have to maintain a high level of attention while handling potentially dangerous prisoners, rotating assignments in Court Holding seems to be beneficial. This procedure enables deputies to remain alert and fresh while gaining valuable experience.
F6 Page 102
Equipment for recording and storing video of holding cell activity would be useful for training and evidence gathering purposes.
F7 Page 104
Law enforcement officers are not allowed to bring their firearms into Court Holding; they must secure them in lock boxes in the sally port area.
F8 Page 104
Adult inmates are brought to Court Holding from other county detention facilities in a transport van. The van has three compartments to allow for separation of inmates according to classification, with a maximum capacity of 13 inmates. Juveniles are transported alone, either by a deputy in a squad car or in the van. Moving of inmates begins as early as 6:00 a.m. The van makes two round trips per day from the Main Jail and Rountree facilities. Because one van isn’t enough, Watsonville Court Holding relies on Santa Cruz vans to help transport the Court Holding inmates. Response from the County: AGREES. A sally port is an enclosed area secured by locked doors at each end, only one of which can be opened at any one time. Court Holding – Watsonville 2007–2008 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report
F9 Page 105
Transport vans carrying inmates enter the courthouse garage through a vehicle sally port. Within the secure area there is room for up to three vans.
F10 Page 105
Within the garage there is a ramp for disabled inmates to leave the van and enter the facility.
F11 Page 105
There are two separate pedestrian sally ports leading from the garage into the Court Holding area, one for officers and one for inmates.
F12 Page 105
Most detainees are brought to Court Holding in ankle and wrist restraints and remain in restraints until they are returned to their detention facility. Minimum-security inmates from the Rountree Detention Facility wear only ankle restraints.
F13 Page 105
As of April 7th ten officers staff the fully operational facility.
F14 Page 105
Court Holding is expected to handle an average of 24 inmates per day. The maximum capacity of the facility is 48 per day.
F15 Page 105
The six holding cells are designated for inmates with specific classifications: • General population • Females • Juveniles • Special needs (requiring wheel chair access) • Administrative segregation – Sureños • Administrative segregation – Norteños
F16 Page 105
Each holding cell has a door with a window, a sink, and a toilet. Unlike Santa Cruz Court Holding, inmates can flush the toilets from inside the cell.
F17 Page 105
Correctional Officers physically check all holding cells every 30 minutes, except the juvenile cell, which they check every 15 minutes.
F18 Page 105
The window to the holding cell designated for juveniles is covered by a metal plate to ensure sight and sound separation from the rest of the facility.
F19 Page 105
All cells are monitored by surveillance cameras. However, view of the toilet areas is blocked.
F20 Page 105
A decontamination shower is available should an inmate be pepper sprayed.
F21 Page 105
Audio communication buttons and red panic buttons are located throughout the Court Holding hallways, providing direct communication with the control room.
F22 Page 105
Two elevators provide direct access to the third floor courtrooms. One elevator accesses courtrooms A and B, the other C and D.
F23 Page 105
All inmates are escorted to court by a correctional officer. Inmates must stand facing the wall when in the elevator. Each elevator has video and audio surveillance, and a panic button, which if pressed causes the elevator to go to the first floor and the doors to open automatically.
F24 Page 105
There are instances when an officer such as a bailiff, who does carry a firearm while in court, wishes to enter Court Holding via an elevator from a courtroom. That officer must first secure the firearm in a locker located outside the courtrooms on the third floor. Court Holding – Watsonville 95 2007–2008 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury Final Report Conclusions
F25 Page 110
All inmates are counted at least every two hours to ensure no one is missing.
F26 Page 110
The facility is equipped with hobby, pool, and television rooms. Outdoor facilities include handball and basketball courts.
F27 Page 110
Visitors are allowed on Saturdays and Sundays. Staff must pre-approve all visitors, and inmates may have a maximum of eight approved visitors on file at one time.
F28 Page 110
Support programs are provided for the inmates by Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous, with meetings twice a week. Religious services are available three days a week, and counseling is provided every other week. A facilitator assists inmates as they prepare for release. Inmates may also work for their General Equivalency Diploma (GED) via courses available by mail.
F29 Page 110
Whenever there is a change of custody between Camp 45 and Cal Fire, it is performed with a careful process of photo ID verification.
F30 Page 110
The bus arrives every Tuesday to drop off new inmates and Wednesday to pick up any inmates leaving the camp. Conclusions

Recommendations 2