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Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Los Angeles County Grand Jury • 2011-2012

Detention Committee

36 pages
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Findings 5 findings

F1 Page 474
Of the 80 adult detention facilities visited, the following 20 (25%) were found to be exceptional, based on combinations of physical facilities, maintenance, inmate treatment, staff knowledge and background, and/or expressed commitment: • Arcadia Police Department • Crescenta Valley Station, LASD* • Downey Police Department • Glendale Police Department • Hawthorne Police Department • Hermosa Beach Police Department • Huntington Park Police Department • Lost Hills (Malibu) Station, LASD • Manhattan Beach Police Department • Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) • Michael D. Antonovich Antelope Valley Courthouse • Montebello Police Department • Monterey Park Police Department • Palmdale Station, LASD* • Pasadena Police Department • Pitchess Detention Center, South LASD • South Los Angeles Station, LASD* • Topanga Police Department • West Valley (Reseda), LAPD • Whittier Police Department * Indicates the three stations that recently received an award from the Altus Global Al- liance, an international organization that promotes public safety and justice.
F2 Page 474
The following detention facilities were found to have programs worthy of commenda- tion and comment: • Glendale Police Department (A39)1 This facility was highlighted in the CGJ 2009-10 Report, titled “Video-Conference Technology”. The video-arraignment procedure provided in The Glendale Police Department Station continues to be exemplary in 2011-2012. This arraignment process could be a model for LA County law enforcement agencies. The staff was willing and able to share information and expertise with other detention facili- ties. See Appendix A for identification codes. DETENTION COMMITTEE 2011-2012 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 415 • Hawthorne Police Station (A42) The CGJ found the insight provided by one of the jailers especially valuable. That jailer, with many years of experience, applied his experience and wisdom as a valuable guide in the planning and general design of the configuration of the new Hawthorne Detention Facility. • Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station (A59) The Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station is located in a high fire risk area. Presently, if there were a large fire and horses needed to be evacuated, they would be trans- ported to an equestrian facility at Pierce College in Woodland Hills for temporary protective housing. To extend the protection of animals, the Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station is currently building a kennel to house canines and felines should evac- uation be necessary for fire protection during future emergencies. • Metropolitan Detention Center (A68) The Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) is a new, state-of-the-art facility which opened in February 2011. It has modern equipment including electronic controls, an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) in most areas, and Policies and Pro- cedures online. It also has 24 hour medical services on site. The facility is well run and well maintained. • Palmdale Station (A81) Palmdale Station is an exceptionally well run and maintained station located in a modern facility built in 2006. The entire operation of the facility and discipline re- flected in its operation reflect the ”Ethics Based” program initiated by the Los An- geles Sheriff’s Department. By all accounts and observable measures the program is excellent. This station is unique in its cooperation and proximity of location to other public service facili- ties. Palmdale General Hospital and Antelope Valley Hospital are both nearby. In addition, a fire station and an armory are closely positioned and would be used in the event of a major emergency. The station has received an international award for its exemplary and efficient “line-of-sight” design. Additionally and of particular note, three Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department facilities earned international awards for its achievements as a “Citizen-Centric Organization”. To achieve that status, five core aspects of a police station and related services provided were scored. Those areas are community orientation, physical conditions, equal treatment of the public, transparency and accountability, and detention conditions. Palmdale Station was given the top award for its achievements. The award con- ference was hosted by the Altus Global Alliance, a group of six academic centers and non-governmental organizations on five continents which worked in partner- ship with government institutions to strengthen the delivery of public safety and justice. DETENTION COMMITTEE 416 2011-2012 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department’s Palmdale Station, its personnel, and the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department deserve particular recognition from the CGJ for achieving this highest of honors from a recognized independent international organization. • Pitchess Detention Center - South (A89) The CGJ found the Pitchess Detention Center continues to be a blueprint for success. The date of the CGJ site inspection coincided with the sixth graduation ceremony at the detention center. The graduation theme, “Best Foot Forward,” centered on an on-going LASD program known as “Maximizing Education Reaching Individual Transformation” (MERIT) program. It was found to be an exceptional program which provides hope, inspiration and guidance to soon-to- be-released inmates. The CGJ interfaced with a number of the inmates participating in the ceremony. Several inmates told the CGJ what the program meant to them. For instance, one inmate said he now has a sense of purpose, a new hope, and a commitment to changing his life. Other inmates expressed similar responses to the CGJ. The CGJ noted the great sense of camaraderie and spirit of the speakers expressed at the graduation. An all-inmate band called “The Contra Band” played inspira- tional songs, and provided “musical bookends” to the graduation ceremony. • Whittier Police Department (A125) The Whittier Police Department (WPD) is a new, state-of-the-art police headquar- ters which opened October 26, 2010. There are a number of social services supporting agencies housed in the building. A “soft room” provides personal security and comfort for traumatized crime vic- tims. A children’s play room is filled with toys and children’s furniture. A Crime Analysis Unit, Crime Scene Investigation, and a Forensic Bureau are also locat- ed on the site. This collection of agencies provides technical support: evidence collecting, video taping, photography, development and comparison of finger- prints, and crime scene diagram construction. The WPD is one of nine police agencies in Los Angeles County designated as a Latent Input Terminal for the Los Angeles County Region Identification System where fingerprint comparison is done by forensic specialists. Testimony often re- lies upon this level of forensic evidence. DETENTION COMMITTEE 2011-2012 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 417
F3 Page 477
Of the 16 Juvenile facilities CGJ visited, three (19%) were found to be exceptional based on educational programs, physical facilities, maintenance, inmate treatment, staff knowledge and background, and/or expressed commitment: • Gonzales Youth Camp (Y18)2 • Scott Girls Camp (Y27) • Scudder Girls Camp (Y28)
F4 Page 477
Several detention facilities were found to have specific areas of concern: Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department: • Alhambra Courthouse (A2) has an open area where detainees are brought into the court on the 2nd floor. There are no secure holding cells where the detainees wait for court hearings on the 2nd floor, causing a potential risk to sheriffs or civil- ians. • Avalon Station (A7) is an older station with some open wires hanging down in line of sight. The workstations are outdated. There is no video for surveillance of the station. The sobriety cell does not have a soft floor. • Central Regional Detention Facility (A20) is a large facility where staff needs to be added as there are no funds for overtime. If someone is ill there are no funds for a replacement deputy for that period of time. • East Los Angeles Station (A32) is a busy station with a sobering cell that needs a standard non-porous floor. The current flooring causes an unpleasant odor that permeates the area. The deputies in the jail use the same telephone line as the main station. The phone line is frequently busy, so they have difficulty com- municating with officers in cars transporting new detainees to the jail. • Glendale Courthouse (A38) shares a parking lot for the delivery and return of inmates with a nearby public business facility, creating a potential safety risk to the public. The transportation of inmates typically occurs at the business facility’s most busy time. Furthermore, it can occur at dusk in the winter when visibility is obstructed. The barbed wire sally port is non-standard and contributes to a po- tential risk issue. • Industry Station (A47) The visitation booth is inoperable and needs repair. • Men’s Central Jail (A65) needs more safety bars in the shower area. There is a need for increased staffing for additional security. • Mental Health Courthouse (A66) is located in an old manufacturing building that has been modified for use as a court. Mentally ill patients await court hear- ings in an open patio area adjacent to the general population. • Metropolitan Traffic Courthouse (A67) lacks cameras and viewing monitors for security. The toilet facilities are porcelain and could be a safety issue. • Pitchess Detention Center - East Facility (A87) is a jail housing a large num- ber of high-risk detainees. More supervision is necessary for the security of the station. See Appendix B for identification codes. DETENTION COMMITTEE 418 2011-2012 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT • Pitchess Detention Center - South Facility (A89) is a jail housing a large num- ber of high-risk detainees. More supervision is necessary for the security of the station. The facility lacks video monitoring in the barracks and dining room. • Pitchess North - County Correctional Facility (A90) is a jail housing a large number of high-risk detainees. More supervision is necessary for the security of the station. • Santa Clarita Valley Station (A 101) handles a large number of inmates and is understaffed with only one jailer. The jailer must take care of booking, and in ad- dition, jail maintenance. The jail was so dirty it had to be closed for a day in or- der to be commercially cleaned. The jail lacked a sally port, video surveillance equipment, and a soft floor in the sobering cell. • Van Nuys (West) Court (A115) had only a digital copy of Policies and Proce- dures. They had no hard copy for easy reference. Los Angeles Police Department: • Central Area Police Station (A18) is located in a large facility where arrestees are cuffed to benches while officers write reports prior to booking at MDC. There is only a small monitor for the Watch Commander’s use. In addition, the ar- restees have no designated restroom facilities, therefore public restrooms are used. • Northeast (LA/Eagle Rock) Station (A76) typically holds arrestees in cells for only a few hours before sending them to MDC. CGJ observed an arrestee re- questing use of a restroom. Because there was no toilet in the jail cells, the of- ficer escorted the inmate to a restroom. As the arresting officer entered the cell, CGJ noticed that his weapon was holstered because there were no gun lockers located outside the jail cell area. • Van Nuys Division Police Station (A116) had no sally port for transporting de- tainees. This causes a security issue. Alhambra Police Department • Alhambra Police Station (A3) There is no secure area in the booking area be- tween the staff and detainees. Arcadia Police Department • Arcadia Police Station (A6) has a sobering cell with a partial wall. Detainees are able to climb on the wall and break the sprinklers causing a slipping or flood- ing hazard. Bell Gardens Police Department • Bell Gardens Police Station (A10) is located in an older building. The sobering cells have no soft padding, causing a hazard for the detainees. DETENTION COMMITTEE 2011-2012 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT 419 Los Angeles County Probation Department • Challenger (Y12-14), Mendenhall (Y21), Munz (Y23), Scott (Y27), and Scud- der (Y28) Camps. These juvenile detention facilities are located in outlying areas and must frequently transport youth great distances for medical services to the Los Angeles County + USC Hospital. This causes a burden on the staffing at the juvenile facilities, and delays the treatment of the youth.
F5 Page 479
A large number of detention facilities share areas of concern: 3 • Many detention facilities were built at least 40 years ago. Most are functioning well despite needing major physical updates as some are in seriously compro- mised condition. • A number of detention facilities have limited video equipment for surveillance of the inmates for supervision. • Several of the jails need to upgrade or better maintain sobering cells’ soft flooring for the safety and security of inebriated detainees. • Some of the facilities lack Automated External Defibrillators and the staff is often not trained in the use of the equipment. • Approximately 16% inmates housed at Los Angeles County detention facilities have mental health issues which require additional services. (See 2011-2012 CGJ Medications for Inmates report.) Specialized and ongoing training is im- portant for the security of the facilities. • Some safety gear, such as flashlights, hard hats, and other equipment used in earthquake or fire drills, is placed in obscure, unmarked locations in the facilities. • Some detention facilities are under-staffed, based on CGJ’s observations. Appendix A identifies specific facilities. DETENTION COMMITTEE 420 2011-2012 LOS ANGELES COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT

Recommendations 21