Response to Grand Jury Report - Mother Lode Regional Juvenile Detention Facility*

The Grand Jury found that MLRJDF provides an exceptional and positive environment for detained youths that has reduced recidivism and fostered rehabilitation through their trauma-informed services and a focus on respectful, responsible, and safe behavioral goals. Response: Agree We are proud of the exceptional services we provide to justice- involved youth and believe our use of evidence-based programs, coupled with our emphasis on treatment, allows youth to heal from past trauma, reduce criminogenic risk factors and learn skills to be productive members of our community.

Despite the constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic, a motivated and creative staff have adapted and maintained high quality educational programs and behavioral health treatment. Response: Agree - COVID-19 resulted in significant challenges to the overall operations of the facility. Despite this, our staff sought out innovative ways to continue providing high quality rehabilitative services in a safe manner for the youth we serve.

The COVID-19 pandemic reduced programs offered by volunteers, including religious, gardening, recreational, and other activities that have negatively impacted enrichment programs. Response: Agree - At the height of the pandemic, we were required to temporarily suspend some programming. We have continued to work closely with our local Public Health Department and the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) throughout the pandemic to ensure we are appropriately balancing the need to provide critical services while simultaneously protecting the health and safety of the juveniles we care for.

A gap in security is evidenced by the escape of one youth. A successful grant application for security upgrades is noted. MERJDF Grand Jury Response- |5 Response: Agree - The Probation Department sought out a facility infrastructure grant to pay for security enhancements that will mitigate the risk of future escapes. The Department is working with County Facilities, and the Board of State Community Corrections to resolve known issues in compliance with the necessary approval processes required by the State.

Occupancy rates are being optimized and costs per youth per day are lower than some alternative placements, saving the county costs for detained youth. Response: Agree - Our partner counties continue to express appreciation for the quality of services we provide. Our overall utilization rates have significantly increased in comparison to the first two years of operation. Additionally, contract renegotiations with partnering counties in Fiscal Years 2020-21, and again 2022- 23 will provide offsetting revenues that significantly reduce operational costs for the County.

Increasing occupancy to full capacity will require recruitment and retention of additional Juvenile Correction Officers through competitive wage scales and opportunities for advancement. Response: Agree - The Mother Lode Regional Juvenile Detention Facility has a total of twenty-five detention/commitment beds and five Camp beds. Given our MERJDF Grand Jury Response- | 5 current staffing levels, we self-impose a facility capacity of sixteen youth. The current capacity and staffing levels appear to be meeting the detention needs for youth in our region. Like other public safety departments, we have experienced challenges recruiting and retaining qualified staff. Increasing the capacity would result in the need for additional staff and potentially increase costs to the County.