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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.
Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2023-2024
HAS NOT YET Been Implemented but Will BE in the Future –
⚠️ 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 and Recommendations 16 findings
F1
Page 82
The failure of Wellpath, the medical provider contracted by the Sheriff to provide data from required Health Service Audits, has adversely affected inmate health and resulted in poor health care and lack of pharmaceutical services for inmates.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
Page 82
By the end of calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff instruct Wellpath to begin the Health Service Audits. (F1)
R2
Page 82
By the end of calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff instruct Wellpath to improve the medical discharge processes for better continuity of care. (F1, F2)
F2
Page 82
The failure of Wellpath to implement a comprehensive discharge plan causes inmates to be released without community connection to medical treatment and medication.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
Page 82
By the end of calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff instruct Wellpath to improve the medical discharge processes for better continuity of care. (F1, F2)
R8
The Grand Jury recommends that the DPW formalize its policy of abandoning pavement restoration on very poor and failed Local roads into a publicly available document in order to inform affected property owners and prospective buyers by December 31, 2024. (F2, F3, F4, F7, F9) __ HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED – summarize what has been done __ HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE – summarize what will be done and the timeframe __ REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS – explain the scope and timeframe (not to exceed six months) _X_ WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED – explain why Required response explanation, summary, and timeframe: Abandoning pavement restoration on very poor and failed local roads is not and never was a policy of Public Works. A better funded pavement management program could result in more frequent road treatments throughout the unincorporated County. 2023-2024 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 45 Grand Jury Grand Jury Road Report re LAFCO Response Joe Serrano Thu, Aug 8, 2024 at 9:30 AM To: "Katherine.Hansen@santacruzcourt.org" , "grandjury@scgrandjury.org" Cc: Francisco Estrada Good Morning Honorable Katherine Hansen, As requested, LAFCO has reviewed and provide comments to the latest Grand Jury Report titled “Santa Cruz County Local Roads: A smooth path through paradise or a hell of a road?” Attached you will find our response letter, which was approved by LAFCO during yesterday’s Commission meeting. The following link also directs you to the August 7th staff report for your records: https://santacruzlafco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/6c.0- Grand-Jury-Response-Staff-Report_Hyperlinked.pdf Let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you. -Joe Joe A. Serrano Executive Officer Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County 701 Ocean Street, Room 318-D, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Email: joe@santacruzlafco.org Phone: (831) 454-2055 8-8-24 LAFCO Response Letter (Adopted Version).pdf 224K 46 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury LAFCO Response Letter (Grand Jury Report) August 8, 2024
F3
Page 82
The failure of the Sheriff”s jail staff to properly address inmates' mental illness crises has caused mentally disabled inmates to be held in Safety Cells for excessively long periods.
Related Recommendations (2)
R3
Page 82
By the end of calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff retrain staff about the proper use of Safety Cells according to Title 15 section 1055 and the Sheriff’s policy and procedures manual. (F3, F4, F5)
R8
The Grand Jury recommends that the DPW formalize its policy of abandoning pavement restoration on very poor and failed Local roads into a publicly available document in order to inform affected property owners and prospective buyers by December 31, 2024. (F2, F3, F4, F7, F9) __ HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED – summarize what has been done __ HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE – summarize what will be done and the timeframe __ REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS – explain the scope and timeframe (not to exceed six months) _X_ WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED – explain why Required response explanation, summary, and timeframe: Abandoning pavement restoration on very poor and failed local roads is not and never was a policy of Public Works. A better funded pavement management program could result in more frequent road treatments throughout the unincorporated County. 2023-2024 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 45 Grand Jury Grand Jury Road Report re LAFCO Response Joe Serrano Thu, Aug 8, 2024 at 9:30 AM To: "Katherine.Hansen@santacruzcourt.org" , "grandjury@scgrandjury.org" Cc: Francisco Estrada Good Morning Honorable Katherine Hansen, As requested, LAFCO has reviewed and provide comments to the latest Grand Jury Report titled “Santa Cruz County Local Roads: A smooth path through paradise or a hell of a road?” Attached you will find our response letter, which was approved by LAFCO during yesterday’s Commission meeting. The following link also directs you to the August 7th staff report for your records: https://santacruzlafco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/6c.0- Grand-Jury-Response-Staff-Report_Hyperlinked.pdf Let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you. -Joe Joe A. Serrano Executive Officer Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County 701 Ocean Street, Room 318-D, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Email: joe@santacruzlafco.org Phone: (831) 454-2055 8-8-24 LAFCO Response Letter (Adopted Version).pdf 224K 46 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury LAFCO Response Letter (Grand Jury Report) August 8, 2024
F4
Page 82
The improper use of Safety Cells by the Sheriff’s jail staff to isolate inmates who are greatly in need of mental health care and/or have made suicidal statements causes a violation of required procedure.
Related Recommendations (2)
R3
Page 82
By the end of calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff retrain staff about the proper use of Safety Cells according to Title 15 section 1055 and the Sheriff’s policy and procedures manual. (F3, F4, F5)
R8
The Grand Jury recommends that the DPW formalize its policy of abandoning pavement restoration on very poor and failed Local roads into a publicly available document in order to inform affected property owners and prospective buyers by December 31, 2024. (F2, F3, F4, F7, F9) __ HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED – summarize what has been done __ HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE – summarize what will be done and the timeframe __ REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS – explain the scope and timeframe (not to exceed six months) _X_ WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED – explain why Required response explanation, summary, and timeframe: Abandoning pavement restoration on very poor and failed local roads is not and never was a policy of Public Works. A better funded pavement management program could result in more frequent road treatments throughout the unincorporated County. 2023-2024 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 45 Grand Jury Grand Jury Road Report re LAFCO Response Joe Serrano Thu, Aug 8, 2024 at 9:30 AM To: "Katherine.Hansen@santacruzcourt.org" , "grandjury@scgrandjury.org" Cc: Francisco Estrada Good Morning Honorable Katherine Hansen, As requested, LAFCO has reviewed and provide comments to the latest Grand Jury Report titled “Santa Cruz County Local Roads: A smooth path through paradise or a hell of a road?” Attached you will find our response letter, which was approved by LAFCO during yesterday’s Commission meeting. The following link also directs you to the August 7th staff report for your records: https://santacruzlafco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/6c.0- Grand-Jury-Response-Staff-Report_Hyperlinked.pdf Let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you. -Joe Joe A. Serrano Executive Officer Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County 701 Ocean Street, Room 318-D, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Email: joe@santacruzlafco.org Phone: (831) 454-2055 8-8-24 LAFCO Response Letter (Adopted Version).pdf 224K 46 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury LAFCO Response Letter (Grand Jury Report) August 8, 2024
F5
Page 82
The use of Safety Cells for punishment has resulted in violations of Title 15 section 1055 and the Sheriff’s Policy and Procedures Manual policy 516.2. This may expose the Sheriff’s department to lawsuits.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 82
By the end of calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff retrain staff about the proper use of Safety Cells according to Title 15 section 1055 and the Sheriff’s policy and procedures manual. (F3, F4, F5)
F6
Page 82
The practice of excluding mentally ill patients from 5150 hold and transfer until discharge results in a violation of both Title 15 and Sheriff’s Policies and Procedures manual policy 516.2.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Page 82
By the end of calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff retrain staff with the proper use of a 5150 hold and the transfer of inmates to a mental health facility according to Title 15 and the Sheriff’s policy and procedures manual. (F6) We Can Do Better With Our Jails! published June 11, 2024 2023-2024 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 73
F7
Page 83
The failure of Jail administrators to transfer inmates with suicidal ideation or in a mental health crisis to an out-of-county LPS facility adversely impacts inmate mental health care.
Related Recommendations (2)
R5
Page 83
By the end of the calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff train staff on how to transfer suicidal inmates to an LPS facility for mental health care. (F7)
R8
The Grand Jury recommends that the DPW formalize its policy of abandoning pavement restoration on very poor and failed Local roads into a publicly available document in order to inform affected property owners and prospective buyers by December 31, 2024. (F2, F3, F4, F7, F9) __ HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED – summarize what has been done __ HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE – summarize what will be done and the timeframe __ REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS – explain the scope and timeframe (not to exceed six months) _X_ WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED – explain why Required response explanation, summary, and timeframe: Abandoning pavement restoration on very poor and failed local roads is not and never was a policy of Public Works. A better funded pavement management program could result in more frequent road treatments throughout the unincorporated County. 2023-2024 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 45 Grand Jury Grand Jury Road Report re LAFCO Response Joe Serrano Thu, Aug 8, 2024 at 9:30 AM To: "Katherine.Hansen@santacruzcourt.org" , "grandjury@scgrandjury.org" Cc: Francisco Estrada Good Morning Honorable Katherine Hansen, As requested, LAFCO has reviewed and provide comments to the latest Grand Jury Report titled “Santa Cruz County Local Roads: A smooth path through paradise or a hell of a road?” Attached you will find our response letter, which was approved by LAFCO during yesterday’s Commission meeting. The following link also directs you to the August 7th staff report for your records: https://santacruzlafco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/6c.0- Grand-Jury-Response-Staff-Report_Hyperlinked.pdf Let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you. -Joe Joe A. Serrano Executive Officer Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County 701 Ocean Street, Room 318-D, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Email: joe@santacruzlafco.org Phone: (831) 454-2055 8-8-24 LAFCO Response Letter (Adopted Version).pdf 224K 46 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury LAFCO Response Letter (Grand Jury Report) August 8, 2024
F8
Page 83
The failure of the Crisis Intervention Team to issue a 5150 hold and transfer before an inmate is discharged adversely impacts inmate mental health care.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Page 83
By the end of calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff direct the CIT team to not withhold a 5150 hold and make a transfer until release because this is not proper or best practice for inmates in need of mental health care. (F8)
F9
Page 83
The practice of placement in Administrative Separation (solitary confinement) causes inmates to suffer mental health problems including, but not limited to, anxiety, insomnia, paranoia, aggression, and depression.
Related Recommendations (2)
R7
Page 83
By the end of calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff develop a plan to transfer all inmates in mental health crises to LPS facilities and budget the extra cost of transferring patients out of the county. (F9, F10) Group 2: Better Jail Conditions, Rehabilitation and Reentry Preparation
R8
The Grand Jury recommends that the DPW formalize its policy of abandoning pavement restoration on very poor and failed Local roads into a publicly available document in order to inform affected property owners and prospective buyers by December 31, 2024. (F2, F3, F4, F7, F9) __ HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED – summarize what has been done __ HAS NOT YET BEEN IMPLEMENTED BUT WILL BE IN THE FUTURE – summarize what will be done and the timeframe __ REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS – explain the scope and timeframe (not to exceed six months) _X_ WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED – explain why Required response explanation, summary, and timeframe: Abandoning pavement restoration on very poor and failed local roads is not and never was a policy of Public Works. A better funded pavement management program could result in more frequent road treatments throughout the unincorporated County. 2023-2024 Consolidated Final Report with Responses 45 Grand Jury Grand Jury Road Report re LAFCO Response Joe Serrano Thu, Aug 8, 2024 at 9:30 AM To: "Katherine.Hansen@santacruzcourt.org" , "grandjury@scgrandjury.org" Cc: Francisco Estrada Good Morning Honorable Katherine Hansen, As requested, LAFCO has reviewed and provide comments to the latest Grand Jury Report titled “Santa Cruz County Local Roads: A smooth path through paradise or a hell of a road?” Attached you will find our response letter, which was approved by LAFCO during yesterday’s Commission meeting. The following link also directs you to the August 7th staff report for your records: https://santacruzlafco.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/6c.0- Grand-Jury-Response-Staff-Report_Hyperlinked.pdf Let me know if you have any additional questions. Thank you. -Joe Joe A. Serrano Executive Officer Local Agency Formation Commission of Santa Cruz County 701 Ocean Street, Room 318-D, Santa Cruz, CA 95060 Email: joe@santacruzlafco.org Phone: (831) 454-2055 8-8-24 LAFCO Response Letter (Adopted Version).pdf 224K 46 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury LAFCO Response Letter (Grand Jury Report) August 8, 2024
F10
Page 83
The failure of Jail administrators to transfer Inmates who are suffering from mental health crises symptoms to an LPS Facility adversely impacts inmate mental health care.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Page 83
By the end of calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff develop a plan to transfer all inmates in mental health crises to LPS facilities and budget the extra cost of transferring patients out of the county. (F9, F10) Group 2: Better Jail Conditions, Rehabilitation and Reentry Preparation
F11
Page 83
Opening the closed unit at Rountree and increasing the number of re-entry programs would result in better conditions for inmates and less stress for the correctional officers.
No recommendations for this finding
F12
Page 83
Increasing the number of programs that focus on rehabilitation, education, and restorative justice to prepare for reentry would show positive improvement to public safety and a reduction in recidivism for reentering inmates.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
Page 83
By the end of calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff develop a comprehensive plan to increase the number of programs that steer inmates towards reentry into the community with new job skills development, education, work release and transitional programs. (F12) We Can Do Better With Our Jails! published June 11, 2024 74 Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury
F13
Page 84
Jail programs like “Stepping Up” steers the mentally ill to community-based mental health care, reducing the number of mentally ill inmates in jail.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
Page 84
By the end of fiscal year 2024-2025, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff develop a plan to implement more Jail diversion programs (like Stepping Up) that steer the Mentally Ill away from jail and to the help they need. (F13)
F14
Page 84
The current practice of reviewing inmate classification monthly is too long of an interval and may endanger inmates suffering from mentally illness.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
Page 84
By the end of calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff change the Reclassification examination of mentally ill inmates from a monthly basis to a weekly basis to prevent misclassified inmates from suffering needlessly. (F14)
F15
Page 84
The failure of Wellpath to recruit and retain adequate staff adversely impacts the overall effectiveness of the mental health services provided to inmates.
Related Recommendations (2)
R12
Page 84
By the end of the calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff conduct an analysis of the effectiveness of Wellpath in regards to all mental health services of incarcerated persons. (F15)
R13
Page 84
By the end of calendar year 2024, the Grand Jury recommends the Wellpath be directed to provide round-the-clock medical and mental health care availability to the Jails. (F15) Group 3: Access to Inmate Interviews and Rehabilitation Programs
F16
Page 84
The Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury was not permitted to interview inmates serving sentences at the Rountree Rehabilitation and Reentry Facility as required by the Bureau of State Community and Corrections. Speaking to some inmates about their experiences and opinions of the programs would have greatly enhanced the Jail investigation and report.
Related Recommendations (1)
R14
Page 84
The Grand Jury recommends the Sheriff begin to allow the Santa Cruz County Civil Grand Jury interviews of inmates per Penal Code 916 including observing inmate classes and programs (F16)
Additional Recommendations 1
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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R16-20Page 71hours a day. According to answers given by Wellpath on 02/13/2024 in a Request for Proposal - Vendor Report to the County, many staffing positions are currently vacant including:[26] ● One Mental Health Coordinator ● Two full time Mental Health Clinicians ● Three full time Registered Nurses ● Four full time Licensed Vocational Nurses Some notable numbers from the report: ● Average daily # of detox patients - 12 ● Average daily # of combined segregation inmates - 25-30 ● Percentage of inmate population on medication - 65 ● Percentage of inmate population on psych medication - 68 ● Percentage of inmate population who are Severely Mentally Ill - 12 The Grand Jury is concerned with these crisis-level numbers. The workload appears to be a problem, given the vacancies of medical and mental health staff. Reducing staffing level caseloads is not the whole answer, but it is a crucial element to the question of whether inmates with mental illness are being provided with the required level of care. We Can Do Better With Our Jails! published June 11, 2024