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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.
Fresno County Grand Jury
• 2001-2002
pathologist. These counties are Los Angeles, Santa Clara, San Diego, San
⚠️ 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 4 findings
F1
Page 42
Been convicted of three or more separate offenses.
F2
Page 42
Served previous confinement periods.
F3
Page 42
Been boot camp failures.
F4
A conviction for a violent offense. Any one of the above precludes acceptance to the Boot Camp Program. L. The Probation Department met with the surrounding community to address the issue of the Delta Program. M. The State of California requires a minimum of one staff member for each fifteen cadets. N. As a result of a proposed reduction of 50 beds and 11 permanent staff positions in the 2001/2002 county budget, vacant positions were left unfilled. Subsequently the County Board of Supervisors voted against the reduction. This left Elkhorn with 30% of its staff positions unfilled. The remaining staff worked extensive overtime to maintain the State required staffing patterns. O. The recidivism rate (re-arrest and conviction on a new misdemeanor or felony offense) for many boot camps throughout the country is estimated at 50%. The March 2002 Probation Department report noted that the recidivism rate for cadets successfully completing the Fresno County Boot Camp Program was 14% for regular Boot Camp cadets and 18% for cadets completing the Delta Program. P. There are no females housed at the Elkhorn Boot Camp. The County of Fresno has an agreement with Madera County to house 10 females at their Boot Camp facility. Q. The majority of cadets (approximately 80%) at Elkhorn come from the City of Fresno. R. The City of Fresno funds Elkhorn at the rate of one million dollars per 33 year, which represents approximately 25% of the yearly costs to operate Elkhorn. This funding commitment of the City of Fresno is scheduled to expire (sunset) in December 2004. S. The County Probation Department has volunteer programs; few meet the unique needs of Elkhorn. T. The Director of Elkhorn Correctional Facility retired in April of 2002. U. The Director’s position has been filled with a temporary appointment.
Recommendations 8
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R47Page 41The new director of Elkhorn Correctional Facility continue the current philosophy and maintain the established programs that have been successful.
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R48Page 41Fresno County continue to fund and maintain the present high level of services at Elkhorn Correctional Facility.
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R49Page 41The City of Fresno continue to fund the Elkhorn Correctional Facility at no less than the current rate of one million dollars per year and eliminate the December 2004 sunset date.
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R50Page 41Fresno County Personnel Department establish a system to streamline the hiring process of Group Counselors prior to background checks.
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R51Page 41The Probation Department expedite the background investigations procedures.
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R52Page 41The Probation Department actively promote in the community the need for volunteers with vocational skills including agricultural expertise, providing a broader farming experience for the cadets.
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R53Page 41The Chief Probation Officer continue monitoring the recidivism rates and statistics on cadet performance in aftercare programs.
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R54Page 41Future Fresno County Grand Juries continue to monitor the activities at the Elkhorn Correctional Facility, the on-site Heintz School, and the off- site Forward Bound Academy at Teilman School. 35