Trinity County Grand Jury • 2011-2012 • Agency Response
Response to: Trinity County Detention Facility

Trinity County Detention Facility: Disaster Pending!*

Published: September 04, 2012 4 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 6 findings

F1
The 8/15/11 response to the 2010-2011 Grand Jury Report stated, "The video system is failing and plans are underway to have it replaced in the coming weeks". Although new security cameras have been purchased (some time ago), to date they have not been installed. At the time of the tour only one of the old cameras appeared to be working. Response: Agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
It is imperative for the safety of the staff and inmates that the monitoring system be functional. It is the top priority for replacement. Complete the installation immediately. Response: Has been implemented. Currently 5 cameras have been installed, and jail staff reports that the remainder of them will be installed early in Fall of 2012.
F2
The mandates of California Bill AB109 are overloading a Jail facility that is not designed for long term housing. Due to the overcrowding the Law Enforcement Officers are having to make a determination as to whether to arrest, or just cite an individual because "There the Inn". is at no room DEBRA CHAPMAN WENDY OTTO JUDY PFLUEGER JUDY MORRIS ROGER JAEGEL DISTRICT 2 DISTRICT 3 DISTRICT 4 DISTRICT 5 DISTRICT I Response: Agree. AB109 has negatively impacted the detention facility and has resulted in Jail staff making difficult but necessary decisions as to cite and release to avoid overcrowding.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
There are a number of maintenance and repairs that need attention. Response: Agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
In conjunction with County General Services staff, use jail trustees to perform required maintenance. For example, but not limited to, holes in the walls, weed control and security cameras. Response: Has been implemented. Maintenance issues are being addressed and prioritized with issues affecting detainees and staff safety given top priority. Funding is another issues the County faces in taking care of these maintenance issues. With the limited funding we have, trustees and volunteers are being utilized to help with maintenance and weed control.
F4
Female staffing continues to be inadequate. Gender specific positions can be advertised for a detention facility. Response: Agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Advertise and fill the position that is gender specific. Response: Will be implemented. The Sheriff's Office has completed two recruitments for Correctional Officer/Dispatcher and has created an eligibility list. Appointments will be made when funds are available.
F5
There is a mixing of inmates that are pre-trial, trustee, and felony offenders. Response: Agree.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Find alternative means to separate the classes of inmates: such as monitoring devices, work release programs, housing elsewhere. Response: Has been implemented. Staff are currently housing detainees based on history, safety to staff and safety to other detainees. Electronic monitoring and alternative sentencing programs are already being utilized, as are cite and release programs to address overcrowding.
F6
Lack of supervisorial personnel and funding has been the catch all excuse for many years. With the County's limited resources, management must prioritize both staffing and funding needs. Response: Agree in part. Lack of funding and limited resources does result in the county making difficult decisions about staffing and prioritizing needs; this is a fact and not a "catch all excuse".
No recommendations for this finding

* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.