Merced County Sheriff's Department John Latorraca Correctional Facility — Mandated Inspection

Before the tour of the facility began, we were given a quick presentation by Officer Blodgett regarding the Work Release Program. He presented a graph that demonstrated a savings to the County of almost $3 million from the efforts of 180 work-in-lieu participants.

Officer Griffith gave a quick oral overview of the Home Arrest Program and how the detained are tracked with a Global Positioning System (GPS) and the Internet. The Home Arrest Program saved the County $320,000 the first year.

The ratio of correctional officers to inmates is critically low. Currently, on any given shift, there are at least six, but no more than seven correctional officers on the grounds. The facility houses 514 inmates (full capacity) on a consistent basis. A large percentage of these inmates are charged with serious and violent felonies. The low staffing levels are at issue due to the danger both to the staff and the inmates.

There is a grave shortage of correctional officers, particularly females. There must be a female officer on duty at all times. Because of this shortage, female officers are regularly denied requests for time off, which is essential in this high-stress position. The mental health of all officers are affected. 11

There is excessive overtime due to the staff shortages.

The facility operates at maximum capacity throughout the year. Annually, hundreds of inmates are released prematurely to allow space for incoming inmates to be housed.

There is no library available for inmate use. The former library is currently under renovation to be converted into a dorm to house more prisoners.

The Sheriff does not consistently visit the facility to meet with all levels of personnel.

The staff are not adequately prepared or equipped to house inmates with varying degrees of mental illness.

The 2003-2004 Grand Jury recommendation to install bullet proof glass between the reception area and the receiving officer was not implemented.

There are no correctional officers in the kitchen while the inmates are preparing meals. The cook who oversees the process is not qualified to supervise inmates who have access to knives and other dangerous implements.