Mendocino County Grand Jury
• 2000-2001
Chamberlain Creek and Parlin Fork Conservation Camps Chamberlain Creek and Parlin Fork Conservation Camps are highly
⚠️ 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
Inmates have contributed to the community through volunteer work that includes preparing food for those in need, donating handmade woodwork items to charity organizations, and speaking to high school students about the dangers of drinking and driving. Response (California Department of Corrections): No legal response received by deadline. Response (California Department of Forestry): No legal response received by deadline.
No recommendations for this finding
F2
The Conservation Camps stress racial harmony, carefully integrating work crews, recreation teams, and living arrangements in order to combat ethnic tensions. According to a CDC Correctional Officer, this results in a dramatic difference between the attitude of inmates at the camps and those in the prison systems.
No recommendations for this finding
F3
Firefighting crews can be mobilized quickly during emergencies.
No recommendations for this finding
F4
A proper level of physical fitness must be maintained in order to be prepared for the strenuous working conditions encountered when responding to emergencies. Firefighters often haul heavy equipment while clad in suffocating, insulated clothing and then they are required to perform at full capacity enduring high heat and oxygen deficient environments.
No recommendations for this finding
F5
Weight training equipment has been eliminated by Corrections mandate for all prisons statewide, regardless of the type of facility. Penal Code §5010 governs access to Weights and Weight Lifting Equipment. Comment Penal Code §5010(a) states: “The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the predominant purpose of exercise in correctional facilities should be for the maintenance of the general health and welfare of inmates and that exercise equipment and programs in correctional facilities should be consistent with this purpose. The Legislature further finds and declares that in some cases it may be beneficial to provide access to weights for therapeutic or rehabilitative reasons under a doctor’s order or for certain vocational activities such as firefighting.” [Emphasis added] Subsection (b) of §5010 directs that weight equipment be removed or restricted when safety is a concern. Subsection (c) directs CDC officials to establish regulations governing access to weight equipment. It is clear that CDC chose to remove weight equipment from all correctional facilities rather than implement regulations for weight equipment access. Because conservation camp inmates are minimum risk, stable, non-violent offenders, the CDC should reconsider the beneficial vocational aspects of a weight training program for inmates in conservation camps. Response Requested California Department of Corrections California Department of Forestry Response (California Correctional Center) We are in receipt of your Grand Jury Report dated June 14, 2001, involving Chamberlain Creek Conservation Camp (CC #17) and Parlin Fork Conservation Camp (CC #6). I agree with your assessment, and am pleased the Mendocino County Grand Jury members found that two of our camps in Mendocino County were “highly functional, well-organized facilities, providing beneficial programs for the County and State.” We strive to place qualified staff in positions that can accomplish that mission, as well as provide the inmates a chance to develop vocational skills and a sound work ethic, which will; hopefully, help them become more productive citizens when released back to society. The comment concerning use of weights by inmates at conservation camps is certainly valid and deserving of further clarification. Our institution, and all others in the State of California, were directed in a memorandum dated January 29, 1998, by David Tristan, Deputy Director, Institutions Division, that all weightlifting equipment would be removed from all institutions/facilities operated by the California Department of Corrections. It was noted, “no exemptions to this policy have been granted. This includes the camps, minimum support facilities, ranches firehouses, etc.” This mandate was a direct result of Administrative Bulletin 98/01, dated January 2, 1998, signed by Gregory W. Harding, Chief Deputy Director, Support Services, in response to new legislation outlined in Penal Code (PC) Section
No recommendations for this finding
Comments 1
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CO1Penal Code §5010(a) states: “The Legislature hereby finds and declares that the predominant purpose of exercise in correctional facilities should be for the maintenance of the general health and welfare of inmates and that exercise equipment and programs in correctional facilities should be consistent with this purpose. The Legislature further finds and declares that in some cases it may be beneficial to provide access to weights for therapeutic or rehabilitative reasons under a doctor’s order or for certain vocational activities such as firefighting.” [Emphasis added] Subsection (b) of §5010 directs that weight equipment be removed or restricted when safety is a concern. Subsection (c) directs CDC officials to establish regulations governing access to weight equipment. It is clear that CDC chose to remove weight equipment from all correctional facilities rather than implement regulations for weight equipment access. 2000-2001 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report 52 Because conservation camp inmates are minimum risk, stable, non-violent offenders, the CDC should reconsider the beneficial vocational aspects of a weight training program for inmates in conservation camps. Response Requested California Department of Corrections California Department of Forestry Response (California Correctional Center) We are in receipt of your Grand Jury Report dated June 14, 2001, involving Chamberlain Creek Conservation Camp (CC #17) and Parlin Fork Conservation Camp (CC #6). I agree with your assessment, and am pleased the Mendocino County Grand Jury members found that two of our camps in Mendocino County were “highly functional, well-organized facilities, providing beneficial programs for the County and State.” We strive to place qualified staff in positions that can accomplish that mission, as well as provide the inmates a chance to develop vocational skills and a sound work ethic, which will; hopefully, help them become more productive citizens when released back to society. The comment concerning use of weights by inmates at conservation camps is certainly valid and deserving of further clarification. Our institution, and all others in the State of California, were directed in a memorandum dated January 29, 1998, by David Tristan, Deputy Director, Institutions Division, that all weightlifting equipment would be removed from all institutions/facilities operated by the California Department of Corrections. It was noted, “no exemptions to this policy have been granted. This includes the camps, minimum support facilities, ranches firehouses, etc.” This mandate was a direct result of Administrative Bulletin 98/01, dated January 2, 1998, signed by Gregory W. Harding, Chief Deputy Director, Support Services, in response to new legislation outlined in Penal Code (PC) Section 5010. PC 5010 goes on to mention numerous valid reasons why the Department took the position to remove weights from all facilities. The California Department of Corrections (CDC) is also in agreement with the Grand Jury report, which notes that inmates need to maintain a proper level of physical fitness in order to be prepared for the strenuous working conditions encountered when responding to emergencies. Therefore, CDC has a rigorous physical fitness program in place for inmates preparing to go to a conservation camp. When inmates arrive at camp, they are provided an exercise room equipped with pull-up bars, dip bars, abdominal boards, incline benches, etc. There are also hiking trails and a quarter-mile track for running. Further aerobic conditioning can be experienced by use of the basketball court, tennis, baseball field, and handball areas. Additionally, California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection Fire Captains continually train their crews physically and mentally to be prepared for any type of emergency. Physical conditioning is an extremely important factor of 2000-2001 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report 53 our inmate firefighting force; however, since the removal of the weightlifting equipment, we have found no correlating drop in the inmates’ ability to complete the essential functions of firefighting. Also of note is the significant reduction of physical injuries associated with weightlifting equipment. It is the intent of this Administration to obey the law and live up to the wishes of the voting public, while keeping our inmates physically fit, healthy, productive, and ready to perform the demanding task of wildland firefighting. I hop this information is helpful in understanding the Department’s position on weightlifting for inmates in camp, and I would like to thank you for your support of Chamberlain Creek and Parlin Fork Camps. Sincerely, R.A. Castro, Warden 2000-2001 Mendocino County Grand Jury Final Report 54