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Extraído del Informe Consolidado

Esta investigación fue publicada originalmente como parte de un informe consolidado más amplio que contiene múltiples investigaciones. Consulte el PDF consolidado para ver el documento completo.

Calaveras County Grand Jury • 2008-2009

Responses to Prior Grand Jury Reports

7 pages
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Findings 4 findings

F1 Page 27
The jail itself continues to be inadequate and obsolete due to the increase in crime and the age of the building. The jail was constructed in the early 1960’s to incarcerate an inmate population of 47. The crime rate of Calaveras County continues to grow at a rapid pace, with no expansion feasible within the existing jail structure. A court order mandates the capacity of the jail not to exceed 65 inmates. As a result, the sheriff frequently must initiate, and the inmates knowingly take advantage of, the early release program in order to make room for new prisoners. This becomes a public safety issue as some inmates bypass drug or other treatment programs because they will probably be released from jail early under the current system. This adult jail facility continues to be the only jail within the county serving the Sheriff’s Department, the City of Angels Police Department, as well as the local arrests initiated by the California Highway Patrol, Department of Fish and Game, and other State and Federal agencies as needed. 23
F2 Page 28
The Grand Jury found the conditions of confinement under Federal, State and local laws, for the most part, are being met. However, since inmate recreation is provided via the enclosed recreation yard, writing materials, television, and library books, monitoring these activities has resulted in the utilization of additional deputy support from the field to meet the compliance regulations. This provision of additional deputy support to maintain inmate control does negatively impact the police response in the community by having less law enforcement officers available. The outer perimeter of the jail continues to constitute a security and safety issue. There are no secure areas outside the jail where the inmates are moved between vehicles, the Court House or the jail itself.
F3 Page 28
Security and safety issues still exist due to the physical layout of the jail. Blind spots hamper officers from visible observations of inmate and staff movement in certain locations within the jail. Other locations would not provide an entrance or exit route in an emergency situation should a fire erupt or during an inmate related disturbance. Most doors are only 24 inches wide, which do not meet current California building codes. The jail has not been able to comply with the American Disabilities Act due to cost and restructuring of the building. One option mentioned was to turn the two (men and women) rest rooms in the front of the building into one for use by both men and women. Additional manpower is required to monitor inmates arrested for substance abuse offenses; this restricts staff from monitoring the remainder of the inmates. Supplies and storage items lined the hallways making it difficult to pass without obstruction.
F4 Page 28
On September 1, 2007 a rainstorm hit San Andreas causing a power outage. The jail is normally equipped with a back up generator to handle this type of emergency. On this occasion the lights flickered and the generator failed causing damages to and loss of major electronics and equipment. These damages included disabling the 911 emergency call system, which is housed within the jail building. Inspection by a Sacramento electrical corporation revealed that with the existing connections, the electrical system has the potential for over-heating and complete failure. The backup generator is antiquated and is not equipped with 24 protective devices to prevent it from shutting down when there are power irregularities. Damages are estimated at over $45, 000.00 to date.

Recommendations 3