Orange County Grand Jury
• 2012-2013
Jail Rehabilitation Programs, Are They Effective???
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 11 findings
F1
The FBA balance has been declining as the expenditure has exceeded revenue since 2009. This problem is enhanced with the diminishing income from interest and OC bankruptcy repayment. What will happen to the Correctional Programs when the FBA balance becomes zero is unknown.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
Correctional Programs Unit must address the budget issue immediately. “Addressing the budget” refers to: A. The continual draw against the “Fund Balance”, B. Deployment of funds to a research team to determine the best use of available money – even if that means terminating some existing rehabilitation programs in order to determine the effectiveness of others. (F1, F2, F11)
R3
Continuation of any correctional program without metrics shall be maintained at minimum cost until a meaningful program to assess its effectiveness can be implemented no later than Dec 31, 2013. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F6)
R4
This Grand Jury recommends new programs be implemented only if metrics are attached. (F1, F2, F4, F6)
F2
This Grand Jury found that the current staff of the OCSD Correctional Program Unit is providing numerous programs designed to educate and mentor inmates during incarceration.
Related Recommendations (4)
R1
Correctional Programs Unit must address the budget issue immediately. “Addressing the budget” refers to: A. The continual draw against the “Fund Balance”, B. Deployment of funds to a research team to determine the best use of available money – even if that means terminating some existing rehabilitation programs in order to determine the effectiveness of others. (F1, F2, F11)
R3
Continuation of any correctional program without metrics shall be maintained at minimum cost until a meaningful program to assess its effectiveness can be implemented no later than Dec 31, 2013. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F6)
R4
This Grand Jury recommends new programs be implemented only if metrics are attached. (F1, F2, F4, F6)
R5
Rehabilitation programs must be tailored for differences between inmates: age, race (cultural and gang issues), type of offense, etc. (F2, F5)
F3
The County has no definition for recidivism.
Related Recommendations (3)
R2
The Sheriff’s Department must encourage the establishment of a meaningful definition for recidivism. (F3)
R3
Continuation of any correctional program without metrics shall be maintained at minimum cost until a meaningful program to assess its effectiveness can be implemented no later than Dec 31, 2013. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F6)
R8
If the partnership with UCI fails as recommended in R7 above, a research department must be established by the Correctional Programs Unit to perform the statistical analysis as outlined in R7 above. (F3, F4, F5, F6, F11)
F4
Neither the effectiveness of any particular rehabilitation program nor the Correctional Programs Unit as a whole is known. A. Particular programs refers to GED instruction, Money Matters, Introduction to Software, Institutional Food Preparation, Domestic Violence, Thinking for a Change, Substance Abuses classes, etc. B. “As a whole” refers to the overall effectiveness of the Correctional Programs Unit in reducing recidivism. C. “Effectiveness” refers to both ending the human suffering of re- incarcerating the same individual over and over again, and the economics of capturing, judging and supporting in jail the same individual again and again.
Related Recommendations (4)
R3
Continuation of any correctional program without metrics shall be maintained at minimum cost until a meaningful program to assess its effectiveness can be implemented no later than Dec 31, 2013. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F6)
R4
This Grand Jury recommends new programs be implemented only if metrics are attached. (F1, F2, F4, F6)
R7
The Correctional Programs Unit should develop a partnership with the University of California at Irvine (UCI) criminology department. The purpose would be to aid in measuring the efficiency of the entire Correction Programs Unit and individual programs in particular. The measure of effectiveness must gauge the change in recidivism. The statistical support sought from UCI must measure the financial cost of supporting those who recidivate and the savings realized by preventing recidivism. (F4, F6, F9, F10)
R8
If the partnership with UCI fails as recommended in R7 above, a research department must be established by the Correctional Programs Unit to perform the statistical analysis as outlined in R7 above. (F3, F4, F5, F6, F11)
F5
There is very limited classification of inmates regarding issues of age, race, type of crime, etc. as these differences might apply to rehabilitation.
Related Recommendations (2)
R5
Rehabilitation programs must be tailored for differences between inmates: age, race (cultural and gang issues), type of offense, etc. (F2, F5)
R8
If the partnership with UCI fails as recommended in R7 above, a research department must be established by the Correctional Programs Unit to perform the statistical analysis as outlined in R7 above. (F3, F4, F5, F6, F11)
F6
The new programs being considered by the OCSD Correctional Programs Unit staff are not accompanied with metrics to measure the effectiveness.
Related Recommendations (4)
R3
Continuation of any correctional program without metrics shall be maintained at minimum cost until a meaningful program to assess its effectiveness can be implemented no later than Dec 31, 2013. (F1, F2, F3, F4, F6)
R4
This Grand Jury recommends new programs be implemented only if metrics are attached. (F1, F2, F4, F6)
R7
The Correctional Programs Unit should develop a partnership with the University of California at Irvine (UCI) criminology department. The purpose would be to aid in measuring the efficiency of the entire Correction Programs Unit and individual programs in particular. The measure of effectiveness must gauge the change in recidivism. The statistical support sought from UCI must measure the financial cost of supporting those who recidivate and the savings realized by preventing recidivism. (F4, F6, F9, F10)
R8
If the partnership with UCI fails as recommended in R7 above, a research department must be established by the Correctional Programs Unit to perform the statistical analysis as outlined in R7 above. (F3, F4, F5, F6, F11)
F7
The “Transition from Jails to Communities” program was completed at the beginning of 2012. The results have yet to be released and utilized.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The Correctional Programs Unit shall continue to compile the necessary data started with the TJC initiative. (F7)
F8
There is a lack of universal acceptance by the rank and file of the OCSD of the benefit of rehabilitation programs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
The Sheriff’s Department must demand and gain positive commitment and cooperation from its entire staff for rehabilitation. (F8) REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS: The California Penal Code §933 requires any public agency which the Grand Jury has reviewed, and about which it has issued a final report, to comment to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the agency. Such comment shall be made no later than 90 days after the Grand Jury publishes its report (filed with the Clerk of the Court); except that in the case of a report containing findings and recommendations pertaining to a department or agency headed by an elected County official (e.g. District Attorney, Sheriff, etc.), such comment shall be made to the Presiding Judge with an information copy sent to the Board of Supervisors. Furthermore, California Penal Code Section §933.05 (a), (b), (c), details, as follows, the manner in which such comment(s) are to be made: (a) As to each Grand Jury finding, the responding person or entity shall indicate one of the following: (1) The respondent agrees with the finding (2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which case the response shall specify the portion of the finding that is disputed and shall include an explanation of the reasons therefore. (b) As to each Grand Jury recommendation, the responding person or entity shall report one of the following actions: (1) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary regarding the implemented action. (2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future, with a time frame for implementation. (3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and the scope and parameters of an analysis or study, and a time frame for the matter to be prepared for discussion by the officer or head of the agency or department being investigated or reviewed, including the governing body of the public agency when applicable. This time frame shall not exceed six months from the date of publication of the Grand Jury report. (4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation therefore. (c) If a finding or recommendation of the Grand Jury addresses budgetary or personnel matters of a county agency or department headed by an elected officer, both the agency or department head and the Board of Supervisors shall respond if requested by the Grand Jury, but the response of the Board of Supervisors shall address only those budgetary /or personnel matters over which it has some decision making aspects of the findings or recommendations affecting his or her agency or department. Comments to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court in compliance with Penal Code section §933.05 are required from: Responses Required: Orange County Sheriff-Coroner Department is required to respond to F1, F2, F3, F4,
F9
UCI has professional and academic talent in the area of criminology and social studies which could play a significant role with researching data about the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The Correctional Programs Unit should develop a partnership with the University of California at Irvine (UCI) criminology department. The purpose would be to aid in measuring the efficiency of the entire Correction Programs Unit and individual programs in particular. The measure of effectiveness must gauge the change in recidivism. The statistical support sought from UCI must measure the financial cost of supporting those who recidivate and the savings realized by preventing recidivism. (F4, F6, F9, F10)
F10
OCSD Correctional Programs could benefit by sophisticated statistical analysis from UCI.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
The Correctional Programs Unit should develop a partnership with the University of California at Irvine (UCI) criminology department. The purpose would be to aid in measuring the efficiency of the entire Correction Programs Unit and individual programs in particular. The measure of effectiveness must gauge the change in recidivism. The statistical support sought from UCI must measure the financial cost of supporting those who recidivate and the savings realized by preventing recidivism. (F4, F6, F9, F10)
F11
The effectiveness of jail sponsored rehabilitation programs could be financed by closing down dubious programs and re-directing those monies towards research and statistical analysis of the remaining rehabilitation programs.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
Correctional Programs Unit must address the budget issue immediately. “Addressing the budget” refers to: A. The continual draw against the “Fund Balance”, B. Deployment of funds to a research team to determine the best use of available money – even if that means terminating some existing rehabilitation programs in order to determine the effectiveness of others. (F1, F2, F11)
R8
If the partnership with UCI fails as recommended in R7 above, a research department must be established by the Correctional Programs Unit to perform the statistical analysis as outlined in R7 above. (F3, F4, F5, F6, F11)