Solano County Grand Jury • 2023-2024

Assessment of Sheriff’s Custody Division Operations July 3, 2023

Published: July 03, 2023 7 pages
View Original PDF

Findings and Recommendations 3 findings

F1
– The bed rate calculation ,which include custody expenses used by the Sheriff’s Custody Division, has increased from $178/day in 2017 to $382/day in 2022. Budget patterns and metrics do not reflect steps being taken to reduce custody expenses.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1A
– The County continue re-evaluating operations to assess how to control costs with a currently declining inmate population, including consulting with other jurisdictions and reviewing best practices and efficiencies achieved in other counties.
R1B
– The County needs to develop a plan to reduce the number of Custody Officers through attrition, including retirements, a hiring freeze, expanding duties, and increased training and promotions to deputy positions.
F2
– The County Custody Division is not taking advantage of opportunities to internally address some of the diverging trends with respect to detainee management such as leasing bed space, better use of the Rourk facility, etc.
Related Recommendations (4)
R2A
– The County revisit leasing available detention facility beds to other jurisdictions. Leasing bed space can improve facility occupancy and workload metrics that have minimum staffing requirements.
R2B
– The County explore expansion of high demand community services vocational classes at Rourk. Classes could include hospitality training, landscape services, tree trimming, truck driver training, pest control, food service certification and cooking. Create class lengths that are commensurate with detainee retention.
R2C
– When the type of detainees allows, the County reinstate food services by inmates.
R2D
– Evaluate the use of new technology, including video and body cameras, website visitations, and other information technology updates, to generate cost saving efficiencies and improve safety for officers and inmates.
F3
– Custody Division occupancy rate continues to decline. They are not efficiently addressing how to incorporate advances in detainment policies and changes in state laws.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
– Custody Division evaluate alternate use of their facilities for less restrictive alternatives. Consider an electronic monitoring center, increase work furlough programs, and the use of less restrictive community-based Adult Residential Facilities or transitional housing. COMMENTS The County’s budget officer should continue to take an active role helping correctional administrators overcome obstacles that make it difficult to reallocate dollars to community-based treatments.

Comments 1