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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.

Trinity County Grand Jury • 1998-1999

Trinity County Sheriff's Detention Facility

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⚠️ 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 58

911 System The Sheriff dispatch room at the front of the jail wing is the hub of the 911 alert network for the county. The absence of uniform county wide addressing has ham- pered prompt and accurate response to emergency calls for law enforcement, fire and medical assistance. The current county wide addressing project using the Global Positioning system (GPS) will resolve many ex- isting problems. The project is very nearly ready for implementation.

F2 Page 58

Staffing Because one position continues unfunded, operations during the graveyard shift sometimes violate Sheriff’s Department policy and risk compromising officer safe- guards. Two officers are on duty but one handles 911/ dispatch: if a situation arises within the cell area, the second officer may have to respond alone.

F3 Page 58

Use and Space Some spaces inside the jail are not used in ways they were designed for: a rear oversight station (described by the Sheriff as “redundant”) is used for storage, an exer- cise yard is unused and a dining room is not used for dining (though it is used for other activities) At the same time booking, oversight and the 911/dis- patch communications center are all clotted together in the confined front space of the jail wing, raising stress levels for all personnel.

F4 Page 58

In-House Operations The jail continues to efficiently handle food service, laun- dry and health care in-house. The whole facility is at- tractively clean, neat and squared away. Moreover, the Sheriff’s Department has been innova- tive in generating income from the jail facility by such means as inmate crews working for Cal Trans and County Buildings and Grounds, reimbursement from the state for costs of housing state parolees, and reimburse- ment of jail costs by inmates who can afford it.

Recommendations 4

R1
Page 58

The Grand Jury recommends that the addressing sys- tem be implemented as quickly as possible.
R2
Page 58

The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Super- visors fund the fifteenth jail position before an incident occurs.
R3
Page 58

The 911/dispatch communications center has outgrown its space at the front of the jail wing and needs to move. Then jail booking and oversight can expand into the space.
R4
Page 58

See Conclusion. CONCLUSION: The jail staff should be commended for maintaining pro- fessional standards in the Trinity County Detention Fa- cility against considerable odds. These people deserve support and relief from a task that stresses them all to the limits of human endurance. DAY RESPONSE REQUESTED FROM: Trinity County Sheriff, Board Of Supervisors. Response from the Trinity County Sheriff April 6, 1999 To: The Trinity County Grand Jury From: Sheriff Paul Schmidt Re: Grand Jury report Sheriff’s Detention Facility I would first like to thank the members of the Judicial Committee for their hard work and dedication. Consid- erable time and effort went into their review of the op- erations at the Detention Facility and preparation of this report. RECOMMENDATION NUMBER 1 : The Grand Jury recommends that the addressing sys- tem be implemented as quickly as possible. RESPONSE: I concur. Addressing will be integrated into our system as quickly as possible, when completed. RECOMMENDATION NUMBER 2 : The Grand Jury recommends that the Board of Super- visors fund the fifteenth jail position before an incident occurs. RESPONSE: I concur. Over the last two (2) years, we have been able to fund two (2) of the three (3) positions that were cut by the Board, three (3) years ago, with innovative jail programs such as Sheriffs Work Alternative Programs, Cal Trans; and housing state parolees. We are also charg- ing inmates for a portion of the cost of their incarcera- tion. I would hope that next year the Board could see it’s way clear to fund the last of the three (3) positions, that had been cut. RECOMMENDATION NUMBER 3: The 911/dispatch communications center has outgrown its space at the front of the jail wing and needs to move. Then jail and booking can expand into the space. RESPONSE: I concur. I had planned to move the 911 center and dispatch into the redundant jail dispatch facility. How- ever, we are in the process of researching the separation of correctional duties and dispatch and moving the dis- patch center to a different location. If the plan is not feasible we will again look into the inhouse move. Concerning jail spaces not being used for the purpose which they are designed for. The excercise yard not being used. The area in question was never intended to be used as an exercise area. It was designed for pickup and deliv- ery of items to the kitchen and is used by inmates on trustee status working in the kitchen, for their break area. The dining area is primarily used for meetings and train- ing. We have found delivery of meals to individual cell blocks to be a more secure method of serving inmates and does not require feeding in shifts and movement of large groups of inmates. If the jail dining area were to be used for maximum security or non sentenced inmates, the doors would need to be locked and a sprinkler sys- tem installed. At this time, the doors have crash bars for emergency exits in case of fire. CONCLUSION: I would like to thank the Grand Jury for their in-depth report and recognition of the challenges faced by our employees and commend our staff for the tremendous job that they do. Response of the Board of Supervisors May 4, 1999 Jerry Boosinger Trinity County Grand Jury P.O. Box 1258 Weaverville, CA 96093 RE: Jury Judicial Committee Final Report Trinity County Sheriff’s Detention Facility Dear Foreperson: The Trinity County Board of Supervisors acknowledges receipt of the above referenced report and finds the fol- lowing: