Monterey County Grand Jury • 2014-2015

The Monterey County Jail a Review of Past and Current Problems Monterey County Jail about 1885. Courtesy of the

Published: June 19, 2015 40 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 25 findings

F1
The Monterey County Sheriff is responsible for proposing, and the Monterey County Board of Supervisors is responsible for approving, a budget for the Sheriff’s Office each fiscal year. 16
No recommendations for this finding
F2
On-duty staffing levels at the Jail are inadequate.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Sheriff should request, and the Board of Supervisors should approve, adequate fund- ing for additional staff positions and inmate programs for the Jail.
F3
Excess overtime continues to be a problem.
Related Recommendations (1)
R19
The Sheriff should conduct a thorough analysis of all the causes of overtime, with the pur- pose of providing solutions.
F4
Numerous conditions at the Monterey County Jail are substandard, and fail to comply with the requirements of Title 15 or Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations.
Related Recommendations (1)
R21
In addition to the regular annual inspection, the Monterey County Health Department should conduct at least one unannounced inspection of the Jail facility each year.
F5
There is inadequate inmate programming space in the Jail.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
Immediately provide additional adequate programming space for the current Jail facility.
F6
The plans for the upcoming Jail addition may not include adequate space for inmate pro- grams and training.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The plans for the Jail addition should include sufficient inmate program and training rooms.
F7
The inmate training and other inmate programs at the Jail are currently, and have been in recent years, inadequate.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Sheriff should request, and the Board of Supervisors should approve, adequate fund- ing for additional staff positions and inmate programs for the Jail.
F8
The mailroom is insufficiently staffed, and there is a lack of mail screening equipment.
Related Recommendations (2)
R15
Funds should be sought for an additional full-time Mailroom Clerk.
R16
Funds should be sought to purchase electronic mail scanning equipment for the mail room.
F9
Inmate-to-inmate mail across units is permitted and poses a safety risk.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Prohibit inmate-to-inmate mail except between immediate family members.
F10
Inmate health and welfare checks are not being consistently performed.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The Jail administration should enforce a formal, mandatory progressive discipline system to be consistently applied for all employee disciplinary matters including not properly making or documenting inmate welfare/safety checks.
F11
Inmate health and welfare check logs are not being properly completed.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The Jail administration should enforce a formal, mandatory progressive discipline system to be consistently applied for all employee disciplinary matters including not properly making or documenting inmate welfare/safety checks.
F12
Contraband, primarily in the form of drugs, is a serious problem at the Jail.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
The paint and cleanliness of many parts of the Jail are substandard.
Related Recommendations (1)
R20
Allocate appropriate funds for the ongoing maintenance of the current Jail facility.
F14
There are no windows in the doors entering into the inmate dormitory areas which poses a safety risk.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Install prison-strength view windows onto each door leading into an inmate area.
F15
The Jail is viewed through video cameras by one officer in a control tower with limited re- lief staff.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Assign adequate relief staff to the security camera control tower.
F16
There are too few cameras placed around the institution to give total coverage of the facil- ity.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Purchase and install additional cameras to adequately cover blind spots in the current cam- era system.
F17
Roll call briefings at the beginning of a shift are inconsistently conducted, and such brief- ings are necessary for continuity.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
Roll call briefings should be regularly conducted.
F18
The Chief Probation Officer has the discretion to spend and is ultimately responsible for the AB 109 funds received from the State.
No recommendations for this finding
F19
At least one position in the Sheriff’s Office funded by AB 109 funds is not staffed as re- quired by the MOU with the Probation Department.
No recommendations for this finding
F20
The Jail administration has identified and documented chronic problems in the Daily 24- Hour File Audits.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Immediate efforts should be made to correct chronic problems identified in the Daily 24- Hour File Audits
F21
The ISS staff, using nearly half of the Inmate Welfare Fund, supervises inmates in per- forming routine Jail cleaning and maintenance rather than providing inmate training and programs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R14
The ISS positions that are currently funded from the Inmate Welfare Fund should be funded from the Jail budget.
F22
There are financial expenditures from the Inmate Welfare Fund that do not appear to be consistent with statutory requirements.
Related Recommendations (3)
R10
The Chief Probation Officer should annually audit the Sheriff Office’s use of AB 109 funds to insure that the expenditures are fulfilling the mandates of State law.
R12
Undertake an outside audit of the use of the Inmate Welfare Funds to determine whether the funds are being spent in accordance with State law.
R13
Reestablish the Inmate Welfare Fund Advisory Committee and appoint at least three civil- ians to serve on the Committee.
F23
CFMG has been the sole provider of medical care at the Jail for 26 consecutive years. 17
Related Recommendations (2)
R17
When the Jail Medical Services contract next comes up for bid, it should be widely adver- tised and proposals should be actively solicited from as many different contractors as pos- sible.
R18
Analyze the possibility of providing medical services run by the Sheriff’s Office, in part- nership with Natividad Medical Center. 18
F24
Approximately 10% of the sworn deputies are on modified duty or other leave that reduces the workforce at the Jail, contributing to staff shortages and overtime.
No recommendations for this finding
F25
There is minimal use of a formal progressive disciplinary system for staff infractions.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The Jail administration should enforce a formal, mandatory progressive discipline system to be consistently applied for all employee disciplinary matters including not properly making or documenting inmate welfare/safety checks.

Agency Responses 2

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No Responses Found 2

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Monterey County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office
Monterey County Sheriff Elected County Office