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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.
⚠️ 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 11 findings
F1
Page 10
During the interviews and early tours of the jail facility, it became apparent to this Grand Jury that communication regarding jail conditions between the Plumas County Jail, the Plumas County Sheriff's Department, the Plumas County Facility 7 Services Department, and the Plumas County Board of Supervisors was inadequate. There is no written system or follow-up procedure in place to ensure that maintenance problems be attended to in a timely manner.
F2
Page 11
The jail facility is annually inspected by the local Fire Warden and the Grand Jury, and is inspected biennially by the California Board of Corrections. This Grand Jury found that the small repairs recommended by these agencies' inspections were eventually taken care of, but the more serious repairs that were required have been brushed off with statements of "not my responsibility", "waiting for someone to get back to me", and "waiting for bids".
F3
Page 11
There are serious security issues at the jail facility which compromise the safety of not only the Sheriff's Department staff and jail detainees, but also the citizens of Plumas County. Issues of concern are: a. There is no perimeter fence around the jail thus allowing members of the public direct access to the exercise yards. Items could be left for inmates or yard fencing could be cut to facilitate an escape. b. The doors to access the main electrical breakers that provide power to the facility are unsecured allowing for a complete shutdown of power to the jail. c. The jail facility is understaffed.
F4
Page 11
There are some security and maintenance issues that have been present for a number of years, as has been noted in past Grand Jury reports, and have still not been corrected: a. The Control Room still contains a crowded maze of wires piled up on the floor which according to jail staff occasionally emit sparks and smoke. b. There are no slots in the maximum security cell doors for the passage of food trays and other items requiring the jail staff to come in direct contact with the maximum security inmates. c. There is no automated lock-in control when moving inmates from one cell to another.
F5
Page 11
The Plumas County Board of Supervisors is aware of the unsafe and potentially dangerous conditions that exist at the jail, but most appear apathetic. The Board appears to have ignored its responsibility where the jail is concerned and seems satisfied with passing all of the responsibility onto the Sheriff's Department. At the time of this report's completion, no member of the Board had yet implemented the 2003-4 Grand Juries’ recommendation to visit the jail facility at least once yearly.
F6
Page 11
The Sheriff and the Undersheriff (overseer of the jail facility) appear to ignore, deny, or be unwilling to accept the responsibility for any maintenance, repairs, or remedial work and are complacent, relying and acquiescing to the Facility Services Department. 8
F7
Page 12
The Automatic Fire Sprinkler System is in disrepair. There is no regard for these conditions by the Facility Services Department, the Sheriff's Department or the jail personnel. The Office of the State Fire Marshal noted the following deficiencies: a. The sprinkler system inspection is past due for its required five (5) year servicing. b. The facility does not have any records showing that the sprinkler system is tested and inspected quarterly as required. c. The Corporal's office does not have fire sprinkler coverage.
F8
Page 12
The following additional deficiencies with the Sprinkler System were noted either in the above mentioned inspection reports or by personal observations made during this Jury's three (3) tours of the facility: a. There is no contract for the five (5) year required servicing and certification of the sprinkler system. b. There is no contract for the quarterly inspection of the sprinkler system. c. An eighteen (18) inch minimum clearance around the sprinkler heads is not maintained in the nurse's office, the library, the laundry corridor, or the file room. d. The sprinkler repair kit in the cleaning closet is not accessible. e. No fire watches were performed or fire watch logs maintained while the fire alarms system was not functioning. f. No fire drill procedure is in place nor is a fire drill log maintained. g. There are times when there is no deputy on duty who meets the training standards for general fire safety relating to the jail facility. h. The exterior sprinkler system alarm is not connected. i. The exterior sprinkler system electrical plug is covered over with duct tape. j. The exterior sprinkler activation alarm bell is not connected. k. The exterior sprinkler system valve is not working. l. No locking device is installed on the sprinkler system shut-off valve. m. The work furlough day room does not have fire sprinkler coverage. n. The work furlough sleeping area does not have fire sprinkler coverage
F9
Page 12
Using the above mentioned inspection reports, as well as personal observations made during this Grand Jury's three (3) tours of the facility, the following list of deficiencies with the jail facility's electrical system was compiled: 9 a. Extension cords are being used as permanent wiring in the control room and the air handler room. b. Wiring on the floor in the control room is not in conduit. c. Exposed wiring in the wall of the control room is not in conduit. d. An EXIT light in the minimum security corridor is missing. e. An EXIT light in the main security corridor is missing. f. There are exposed junction boxes in the air handler room. g. There is an exposed junction box in a cell.
F10
Page 13
The following list of miscellaneous deficiencies with the jail facility was compiled by this Grand Jury using the above mentioned inspection reports as well as personal observations made during this Grand Jury's three (3) tours of the facility: a. There are holes in the wall and ceiling in the air handler room. b. There is a hole in the ceiling in the North Minimum holding cell. c. There is a hole in the wall in the work furlough sleeping area. d. There is an air diffuser missing in the laundry corridor. e. Weed abatement of ten (10) feet from the building is not maintained. f. There is no generator testing log or maintenance log. g. There is no service contract to inspect or maintain the generator. h. The dishwasher is not working and sanitizing properly. i. There is a need to update the Health Services Policies and Procedures manual. j. There is a need to update the Dental Care Procedures manual. k. There is no psychotropic medications policy. l. The openings in the ceiling air grills' mesh are larger than the recommended 3/16" sq or 16-mesh psi. m. There is a need to update the Policies and Procedures manual. n. There is a need to update the Inmate Discipline Policy and Plan. o. There is a need to update the limitations on the Disciplinary Policy and Procedure plan. 10 p. There is no sobering cell or suicidal placement plan. q. The plumbing access panel in the maximum security corridor is not locked.
F11
Page 18
The expenditure for out-of-county residential treatment programs has increased steadily over the last several years, and has nearly doubled since last year. There are many factors for determining whether a client is better served by the programs available within the County, or by residential treatment programs not available within the County. However, the Grand Jury has found that the lack of trust between the two “camps” of employees has led to an undetermined number of clients either being underserved within the County or being sent out of the County for treatment at additional expense.
Recommendations 11
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R1Page 10The Undersheriff and the Facility Services Director should create a documented system to ensure all maintenance problems be addressed and corrected in a timely manner. This system should include the identification of the responsible party and time frames for completion.
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R2Page 10The Undersheriff and the Facility Services Director should oversee the implementation of a program of ongoing inspections of the jail facility. This program should include the documentation of all inspection results and any repairs made.
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R3Page 10The Board of Supervisors should be notified in open session at least once quarterly regarding the conditions at the jail facility. The Board of Supervisors should take an active part to ensure unsafe conditions and maintenance issues are addressed and remedied with expedience.
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R4Page 10In open session, the Board of Supervisors should discuss and ask for the public's comments on the possible formation of a Jail Oversight Committee. This committee could consist of a Supervisor, the Undersheriff, the Facility Services Director, two members of the Grand Jury, and others.
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R5Page 10The Sheriff's Department should follow the established county bid process when attempting to procure outside companies or businesses to complete work within the jail facility. The county's bid process details specific conditions to follow as well as specific deadlines for the process to be completed, The Departments of the Sheriff and Facility Services should know the stage of a particular project all times.
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R6Page 10Based on the observations and findings made by this Grand Jury, as well as previous Grand Jury, an urgent recommendation is made to the Board of Supervisors to seriously begin planning to replace the jail facility. The longer the Board of Supervisors procrastinates in facing it’s obligation to the citizens of Plumas County, the more the construction costs increase. As we have seen and are currently seeing, building costs in California are increasing exponentially. It is essential that the Board of Supervisors plan now for a new jail for Plumas County. The Plumas County Jail, from the very onset, was poorly designed and was never conducive to a safe working environment for jail employees or the incarcerated inmates. The working area of the facility is too small in proportion to the confinement areas thus creating a working environment that is overcrowded with employees, equipment, and supplies. Security issues are at a level that put not only people within the jail at risk, it also puts the citizens of Plumas County at risk. A new jail would not only greatly enhance the security of all concerned but would provide a facility that would accommodate Plumas County well into the 21st century. 11
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R7Page 11The Board of Supervisors should take a more proactive part by insisting the following remaining, uncorrected deficiencies be corrected as soon as possible: a. A sprinkler should be installed in the Corporal's office. b. A company should be contracted to provide five year services and certification of the sprinkler system. c. A company should be contracted to provide a quarterly inspection of the sprinkler system. d. An eighteen (18) inch clearance around the sprinkler heads should be maintained, e. A fire drill procedure should be created and a fire drill log should be maintained. f. The exterior sprinkler system alarm and alarm bell should be connected. g. The exterior sprinkler system valve should be repaired. h. The sprinkler system shut-off valve should have a lock. i. Sprinklers should be installed in the work furlough day room and sleeping area. j. Wiring on the floor and the exposed wiring in the wall of the control room should be put in conduit. k. The hole in the wall of the work furlough sleeping area should be repaired. l. Generator testing and maintenance logs should be kept and a company should be contracted to inspect and maintain the generator. m. The dishwasher should be repaired or replaced. n. The ceiling air grilles should be replaced to meet code. o. All Policies and Procedures manual should be updated and kept current p. The plumbing access panel in the maximum security corridor should have a lock.
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R8Page 11The Board of Supervisors take a more active interest in the performance of the A&D and request in-depth information from them regularly until such time as the Board feels that the personnel issues have been resolved. We recommend a Department Progress Report that could include such information as activities of staff, success of programs, year to-date budget expenditures, and reports from the A&D liaisons.
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R9Page 11A new facility, that provides appropriate accommodations and adequate security for clients, be found as quickly as possible.
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R10Page 11The A&D improve communications with the California Highway Patrol and the Sheriff’s Department to help eliminate the errors found in the DUI statistical data reporting.
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R11Page 11The Board of Supervisors considers the feasibility of operating needed residential care facilities within the County. The savings to the County by eliminating the need to send clients out of the county would go a long way to decrease this budget expenditure and provide a better quality of care to its residents. Conclusion In the course of our investigation, this Grand Jury became informed of numerous allegations of impropriety by staff members. The Grand Jury has worked diligently to not only verify each allegation, but also attempted to categorize them in an effort to keep our focus on the Department as a whole, not on an individual mistake. Put succinctly, we feel many of this department’s problems are heightened by (if not a result of) interpersonal relationship conflicts. There were several seemingly improper actions by staff members that the Grand Jury felt were a result of the antagonism that is so pervasive throughout the Department. The Grand Jury’s findings were focused on the core issues and not the small details. The Grand Jury did its best to focus on areas that may help to make this department more productive. It is the Grand Jury’s hope that with consistent management and increased oversight, this department will again be one upon which our citizens may rely. 16
Conclusions 1
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CL1In the course of our investigation, this Grand Jury became informed of numerous allegations of impropriety by staff members. The Grand Jury has worked diligently to not only verify each allegation, but also attempted to categorize them in an effort to keep our focus on the Department as a whole, not on an individual mistake. Put succinctly, we feel many of this department’s problems are heightened by (if not a result of) interpersonal relationship conflicts. There were several seemingly improper actions by staff members that the Grand Jury felt were a result of the antagonism that is so pervasive throughout the Department. The Grand Jury’s findings were focused on the core issues and not the small details. The Grand Jury did its best to focus on areas that may help to make this department more productive. It is the Grand Jury’s hope that with consistent management and increased oversight, this department will again be one upon which our citizens may rely. 16 PLUMAS COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT Function The Plumas County Mental Health Department (MHD) is an outpatient service providing a full range of outpatient, case management and socialization services. More intensive services such as acute hospitalization, long-term intensive residential and state hospital services are provided by contracting with the appropriate agencies in question. The services includes: emergency assessments, outpatient services, inpatient services, case management, day treatment programs, medication support and therapeutic behavioral services. The MHD is the managed care provider for all MediCal mental health services in the county.
Commendations 4
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CM1The main electrical breakers are now secured with fencing and locks. However, not only does the chain link structure need to be enlarged to adhere to PG & E's equipment clearance guidelines, but also the roof of the chain link structure has collapsed under the weight of snow requiring the need to redesign the structure as a whole.
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CM2Negotiations with the Public Works Department are underway for installation of food slots in the maximum security cell doors.
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CM3A full-time employee of the Facility Services Department is now assigned, specifically, to maintain the Jail. PLUMAS COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG DEPARTMENT Function The mission of the Plumas County Alcohol and Drug Department (A&D) is to improve the quality of life in the County through lowering the impact and incidence of alcohol and other drugs of abuse. The State requires five (5) primary divisions of the A&D Department. • The Prevention Program includes educational youth programs such as Friday Night Live. • The Drug Courts include an adult division that entails such services as drug testing and counseling. • The Treatment Services include outpatient and residential services. • The Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Program is a drunk driving school. • The Perinatal Program helps pregnant women, women with children and their families with recovery from substance abuse. The A&D Department is funded by State and Federal dollars as well as funds from legal fines and client payments for certain services. Therefore, it is imperative for the A&D Department to collaborate with many other County departments including the Mental Health Department and the District Attorney’s Office. The State and Federal funds are closely monitored by State and Federal agencies. Client fees are set by the Plumas County Board of Supervisors.
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CM4In spite of the problems facing the fire departments, there is a good esprit de corps among the fire fighters. They willingly assist other departments and agencies and respond to emergencies without regard to funding and the quality of their equipment. 25 PLUMAS COUNTY FACILITIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT Function The Facilities Services Department (FSD) is charged with providing and maintaining acceptable environments in which all county employees are able to comfortably carry out their individual duties. The FSD maintains over thirty (30) facilities and real properties owned and/or operated by the county.