📋
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.

Placer County Grand Jury • 2014-2015

Placer County Grand Jury 2014-2015 Final Report Investigation Methods

Published: June 26, 2015 11 pages
View PDF View Full Original

Findings 21 findings

F1 Page 42
Long-term placement for child victims of sex trafficking in Placer County is problematic.
F2 Page 42
An advocate, who has worked with victims for 15 years, uses stringent software to test for boundaries and sexual propensities (Diana Screening) in potential safe houses for victims. This advocate says that the use of this more extensive software could improve the probability of human trafficking victims to find a safe home. - 38 - -2015 Final Report
F3 Page 43
In ten months, and as of the time of this interview, one facility had turned away 79 victims due to lack of beds.
F4 Page 43
Child victims are usually sent out of their local area for their own safety.
F5 Page 43
Law enforcement commented that monetary fines on massage parlors are not severe enough to stop the rotation of female victims. When law enforcement questions these females, they frequently have scripted answers (“just visiting from out of town, staying with a friend”, etc.) When law enforcement conducts follow-up investigations on the same businesses within a short period of time, those employees have moved on to new locations. New female employees have the same scripted responses to questions.
F6 Page 43
Law enforcement has much less control or power to protect adult victims since they are over 18, and unless charged with a crime, they can’t hold them.
F7 Page 43
Establishment of state-wide tracking systems for victims already identified by law enforcement is necessary. Conclusion Although Placer County does have instances of human trafficking, it is not on the scale of larger areas within California. The Grand Jury would like to commend Placer County Children’s System of Care and its partners in developing the CSEC task force. Although CSEC is a new task force, their research, services, and partnerships with other county services appear promising. Continued training for all County officials working with families is crucial for CSEC to fully realize its potential to identify risky situations, enforce the extensive laws already in place and to best assess and fulfill the needs of the victims. - 39 - -2015 Final Report
F8 Page 50
Smart phones have blurred the lines between cell-phone and technology use policies.
F9 Page 50
Management oversight and monitoring of technology usage is an evolving challenge.
F10 Page 50
The extent of personal computer and tablet usage varies with the number of employees.
F11 Page 50
Management approach and policies on technology vary. Contracting, Bidding and Purchasing Policies Facts • Contracting and bidding practices vary but conform to state laws, regulations and appeared adequate. - 46 - -2015 Final Report Findings
F12 Page 51
All entities have adequate policies on contracting and bidding. Management and Administration of Policies Facts • Training policies and practices, both initial and recurring, vary. • All operational policies apply to elected officials as well as employees. • Not all policies were current and in writing. • Not all policies were organized and indexed. • Only Placer County has internal auditors on staff. • Roseville does not have an internal auditor but is considering adding this role. • Colfax has a policy and a complaint form for whistleblower reports. All others rely on Federal Law protecting whistleblowers but do not have a policy or form for written whistleblower reports. Findings
F13 Page 51
Policies are not being updated in a timely fashion.
F14 Page 51
Some, but not all, policies identified the original date of issue or date of review.
F15 Page 51
Issuance dates, recurring reviews and approvals of operational policies were only completed by Placer County, Colfax and Roseville. Other entities revised policies on an “as necessary” basis.
F16 Page 51
Complete standardized numbered policies were only available from Placer County and Roseville.
F17 Page 51
Initial training on operational policies is completed for newly elected officials and new employees in a variety of ways.
F18 Page 51
Recurring training policies can be improved.
F19 Page 51
Management of technology innovations requires an inter-disciplinary approach.
F20 Page 51
On-going internal auditing serves to monitor internal controls and minimize non- compliance and abuse. The addition of internal auditors would be valuable for the larger cities.
F21 Page 51
Providing forms for employees to submit whistleblower reports in writing would be of value. - 47 -

Recommendations 3