San Mateo County Grand Jury
• 2004-2005
Issue | Background | Findings | Conclusions | Recommendations | Responses | Attachments San Mateo County Jails
⚠️ 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 5 findings
F1
The Board of Supervisors should continue with the sub-committee on Jail Overcrowding and the Jail Overcrowding Task Force to determine the most feasible solutions to the problem and implement those solutions. Response: Concur. The Jail Overcrowding Task Force will convene to review a final report that recommends on-going monitoring of jail population trends by a position added to Maguire Administration during the FY 2005-06 budget process. Task Force members will be provided with regular updates on jail population trends and recommended solutions as needed. Task Force members will reconvene on a semi- annual or as-needed basis as long as overcrowding issues continue at the jail.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Board of Supervisors should continue with the sub-committee on Jail Overcrowding and the Jail Overcrowding Task Force to determine the most feasible solutions to the problem and implement those solutions.
F2
The Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff should immediately develop a plan to replace the existing Women’s Correctional Center with a new facility that meets the California Board of Corrections current standards. This new facility should include room for multiple classes, child care, an honor camp, and more opportunities for work inside the facility. Response: Concur. In June 2005, the Board of Supervisors adopted the FY 2005-06 Recommended Budget, which includes funds to hire a consultant to conduct a needs and site assessment for a new Women’s Correctional Center.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff should immediately develop a plan to replace the existing Women’s Correctional Center with a new facility that meets the California Board of Corrections current standards. This new facility should include room for multiple classes, child care, an honor camp, and more opportunities for work inside the facility.
F3
The Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff should complete installation of security cameras in the Women’s Correctional Center immediately. Response: Concur. Installation of security cameras at the Women’s Correctional Center is nearly complete.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff should complete installation of the security cameras in the Women’s Correctional Center immediately.
F4
The Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff should make expanding the Choices Program a priority in both the men’s and the women’s jails. Response: Concur. The Maguire Correctional Facility will work with Correctional Health Services, the Service League, and the Classification Unit to review solutions for expanding the Choices Programs and other identified programs throughout the facility to provide accessible services to the inmate population. The existing Women’s Correctional Center does not have the physical capacity to expand the Choices Program; however, the County remains committed to the program and will consider its expansion as a part of the Women’s correctional programming and facility needs assessment scheduled to begin in the fall. Jail Administration is also reviewing the possibility of establishing inmate computer workstations with Microsoft Office and limited Internet Access for inmates located in the pod’s multi-purpose rooms and will review other optional program enhancements.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff should make expanding the Choices program a priority in both the men’s and the women’s jails.
F5
The Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff should add one additional staff person to the Women’s Correctional Center. Response: Concur in part. Given the sustained increase in inmate population at the Women’s Correctional Center, the availability of resources to fund one additional staff member per team in FY 2005-06 will be considered at the September Budget Hearings. June 17, 2005 Honorable Norman J. Gatzert Judge of the Superior Court Hall of Justice and Records 400 County Center, 2nd Floor Redwood City, CA 94063-1655 Re: Grand Jury Report : SAN MATEO COUNTY JAILS Dear Judge Gatzert: In response to the San Mateo Grand Jury’s report concerning county jails, we are in agreement with their findings and offer the below clarifications to update and reflect changes since their inspections: Summary Maguire Correctional Facilities (Detention Division) The Maguire Correctional Facility (Maguire) and the Women’s Correctional Center (WCC), both located in Redwood City, are well run but have overcrowded facilities. The professionalism and quality of the staff at both locations are noteworthy, especially given the demands placed on everyone by a high inmate/staff ratio. Response Concur with these findings; The Maguire Correctional Facility is the largest housing facility and the only receiving correctional facility for adult offenders in San Mateo County. The Detention Division has been working to develop alternatives to incarceration with the Custody Division, Probation and the Courts to manage the growing inmate population. We are very proud of our well trained and professional staff. We will continue to train our staff in regards to inmate management and progressive discipline steps for establishing positive inmate behavior. Implementation of our New Facility Training Program tracking and reporting database system will assist in accomplishing that goal.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff should add one additional staff person to the Women’s Correctional Center. 12
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 11Since the Grand Jury visits to the jails last year, many of the small problems have been rectified. Unfortunately, major problems with the men’s and women’s jail continue to exist. Both jails are severely overcrowded with a high turnover of employees. Women still do not have a minimum security option available nor work opportunities similar to those available in the men’s facility. On a positive note, the Board of Supervisors convened a task force on jail overcrowding with a broad range of representatives to look at possible solutions to these intractable problems, particularly the lack of financial resources. The Jurors generally felt satisfied with the men’s jails, especially noting the professionalism of the staff, the overall appearance of the facility, and the educational programs. Such was not the case with the women’s facility. Although the facility was neat and clean and the jury was impressed with the staff, jurors expressed serious concerns about security, staffing, and space, reiterating many of the observations from the previous year. The Grand Jury recognizes that solving these problems requires substantial resources and agreement from several parties, including the courts, probation, Board of Supervisors, and District Attorney among others. Despite these obstacles, the Grand Jury urges the 11 Sheriff to continue to push for changes that will decrease crowding and bring the women’s facility up to par.
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
San Mateo County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office
San Mateo County Sheriff
Elected County Office