Mandated Annual Inspection Iris Garrett Juvenile Correctional Complex

Commendations 5

• CM1 Page 29
  The 2012-2013 Merced County Civil Grand Jury found the complex to be very clean, maintained and well managed. DISCLAIMER Grand Jury reports are based on documentary evidence and the testimony of sworn or admonished witnesses, not on conjecture or opinion. However, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing such evidence except upon the specific approval of the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, or another judge appointed by the Presiding Judge (Penal Code Sections 911, 924.1(a) and 929). Similarly, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing the identity of witnesses except upon an order of the court for narrowly defined purposes (Penal Code Sections 924.2 and 929). 21
• CM2 Page 30
  MANDATED INSPECTION MERCED COUNTY SHERIFF’S DEPARTMENT MAIN JAIL FACILITY SUMMARY The 2012-2013 Merced County Civil Grand Jury found that this facility was clean and well-functioning and the staff conducted operations in a professional and efficient manner. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND The 2012-2013 Merced County Civil Grand Jury toured the Sheriff’s Department Main Jail facility located at 700 W. 22nd Street, Merced, CA as mandated by California Penal Code, Section 919(b).
• CM3 Page 39
  The 2012-2013 Merced County Civil Grand Jury recognizes the ongoing efforts of this agency to enhance and upgrade systems for increased efficiency. The Sheriff’s Department and the Coroner's Office should be commended for a job well done. DISCLAIMER Grand Jury reports are based on documentary evidence and the testimony of sworn or admonished witnesses, not on conjecture or opinion. However, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing such evidence except upon the specific approval of the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court, or another judge appointed by the Presiding Judge (Penal Code Sections 911, 924.1(a) and 929). Similarly, the Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing the identity of witnesses except upon an order of the court for narrowly defined purposes (Penal Code Sections 924.2 and 929). This report was issued by the Grand Jury with the exception of one member who was recused due to a potential conflict of interest. That juror was excluded from all parts of the investigation, including deliberations and the making and acceptance of this report. 31
• CM4 Page 40
  MERCED COUNTY 9-1-1 PROGRAM SUMMARY The 2012-2013 Merced County Civil Grand Jury found that the County of Merced spent $351,783 in 2007 on a reverse 9-1-1 system that was never operational. The recently purchased Everbridge Emergency Notification System (ENS) requires individuals to register cell phones. Over a four month time period approximately 1,500 people in Merced County registered. The ENS can be upgraded to implement geographically targeted messaging for approximately $2,000 annually. This would make current campaigns for individual registration unnecessary and obsolete. Responders sometimes find themselves in locations where their radio systems and/or cell phones do not have an adequate signal. Budget cuts have reduced the number of dispatchers and responders while Assembly Bill (AB)109 Public Safety and Realignment Act has increased the number of criminals on the street. The Civil Grand Jury recommends that the County should upgrade the ENS to send messages to residents’ mobile phones within proximity of an emergency event, and ensure that public money is spent on services that serve the needs of the citizens of Merced County. The Civil Grand Jury further recommends addressing issues with inadequate emergency responder radio systems and increasing responder and dispatch staff as budget allows. INTRODUCTION/BACKGROUND The 2012-2013 Merced County Civil Grand Jury decided to investigate and ensure that the 9-1-1 emergency systems and management in Merced County are adequately serving county citizens. The Civil Grand Jury was made aware of an incident where citizens had dialed 9-1-1 only to be transferred back and forth between two separate jurisdictions, neither believing they were the ones responsible to take the phone call. Merced County’s 9-1-1 systems haven’t been fully looked at by the Civil Grand Jury since before 2007. We focused on the following: emergency notification services and first responder radio systems. It was the general consensus of the law enforcement personnel interviewed that AB109 and fewer emergency responders have negatively impacted the crime rate and 9- 1-1 call response time. The Merced County Sheriff’s Department maintains correctional facilities and operates correctional programs, while responding to calls and protecting the residents of Merced County. Other law enforcement jurisdictions that serve solely in Merced County are the police departments of Merced, Atwater, Los Banos, Livingston, Dos Palos, Gustine, and University of California Merced. The Merced County Office of Emergency Services (OES) provides preparedness before, and coordination during, large-scale emergencies and disasters. OES coordinates with partner agencies including the six incorporated cities within the county, special districts, and key private agencies in providing planning, response, recovery and mitigation 32
• CM5 Page 41
  activities as a result of disaster related incidents. OES is in charge of implementing the ENS.

Observations 1

• OB1 Page 41
  During this investigation, the Civil Grand Jury inspected and observed 9-1-1 responders and dispatch locations in various Merced County jurisdictions. INTERVIEWS The Civil Grand Jury interviewed numerous individuals, including a police chief, a fire battalion chief, an OES Director of Administration, a previous Merced County dispatch supervisor, and current County dispatch supervisor. The Civil Grand Jury asked questions of various 9-1-1 responders and ranking staff on our observation tours. In addition, the Civil Grand Jury received information from County contacts for the Everbridge system, along with information from the Auditor’s Office.

No Responses Found 1

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.