Stations Santa Barbara County Bill Brown Sheriff - Coroner Buellton Headquarters*

The new Cuyama Sheriff's Substation / Holding Facility cell is unable to get certified due to an incorrect installation of the cell door. Sheriff's Office Response: Disagree The holding cell was certified during a pre-opening inspection on July 13, 2023. Changing the door's swing direction, while considered a best practice to prevent barricading would be cost- prohibitive. Since all furnishings in the holding cell are bolted to the floor, any barricading of the door would be unlikely. The door's functionality does not impact operations, nor is it a regulatory requirement.

The Santa Barbara Superior Court Figueroa Building holding facility's metal cells in the entrance hallway are used only when overflow conditions require it. Sheriff's Office Response: Agree. The Sheriff's Office acknowledges that the holding cells referred to in this report are used primarily during overflow conditions. However, these cells also serve a critical role as temporary holding spaces to separate different classifications of incarcerated individuals and to isolate those who are actively disruptive or exhibiting inappropriate behavior that could pose a security risk to others in congregate areas. Before installing these holding cells, the Sheriff's Office thoroughly reviewed multiple options and ultimately adopted the current configuration. This configuration mirrors holding cells used by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR), which was determined to be the best solution for our specific needs.

The Santa Barbara Superior Court Figueroa Building holding facility's air quality in the basement facility is poor. <b>Sheriff's Office Response:</b> Disagree partially, with an explanation The Sheriff's Office partially disagrees with this finding and would like to provide further context. The Grand Jury's conclusion regarding poor air quality in the holding areas of the court's basement is based on anecdotal, self-observed evidence. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is a complex aspect requiring scientific measurement and analysis. While the Grand Jury noted the area as "warm and muggy," this observation alone does not definitively indicate poor air quality. Various factors such as ventilation efficiency, air circulation, indoor and outdoor particulate levels, environmental pollutants, ambient temperature, and humidity all contribute to the IAQ and must be scientifically evaluated. No scientific study is available to substantiate the claim of poor air quality in these facilities.