Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2014-2015
Main Jail Inspection Report No Room at the Inn 20132014 Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
⚠️ 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 9 findings
F1
Overcrowded conditions in Main Jail housing units make it difficult for COs to follow their policies and to monitor inmate safety.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
The Sheriff’s Office should expand the Custody Alternatives Program (CAP) to relieve jail overcrowding. (F1)
F2
Staff furloughs, mandatory overtime, and the impasse in CO labor contract negotiations have lowered CO morale.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2
The Board of Supervisors should eliminate furloughs and mandatory overtime for Corrections Officers in order to improve their morale. (F2)
R3
The Board of Supervisors should negotiate a new contract with the Corrections Officers union (F2)
F3
The lack of consistent enforcement of rules and regulations by COs at the Main Jail creates opportunities for inmates to hide prohibited materials.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
The Sheriff’s Office should ensure that Main Jail CO supervisors and their management consistently enforce inmate rules. (F3)
F4
Medical staff members are vulnerable when COs do not remain in the medical clinic with inmates. 7
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Sheriff’s Office should require a CO to remain in the Main Jail medical clinic while inmates are being treated unless the CO is released by the medical staff. (F4)
F5
An air vent in the Main Jail medical clinic is excessively dirty and in need of immediate maintenance.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
The Sheriff’s Office should ensure that the air vent in the Main Jail medical clinic is cleaned and maintained. (F5)
F6
Record keeping tasks and ongoing clerical work decrease CIT’s counseling time with inmates.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
HSA should increase hours for the CIT supervisor at the Main Jail and increase clerical support for CIT staff. (F6)
F7
Inmate safety has been at risk because CIT has not had a comprehensive protocol manual or individualized inmate treatment plans at the Main Jail.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
CIT should complete a protocol manual and develop individualized treatment plans for inmates at the Main Jail. (F7)
F8
There is no adequate process in place at the Main Jail to communicate jail rules to inmates and verify that they are aware of them.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
The Sheriff’s Office should provide inmates with written jail rules at intake and document that inmates have received them. (F8)
F9
Video surveillance is inadequate for the booking area and the medical clinic in the Main Jail.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
The Sheriff’s Office should install video surveillance in the medical clinic and correct the obstructed video surveillance of the open seating booking area. (F9) 8
Commendations 1
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CM1 Page 9C1. We commend the Sheriff’s Office for evaluating the feasibility of using video conferencing for routine court appearances to reduce the need for CO escorts. C2. We commend the Sheriff’s Office for its plan to expand and improve the Rountree Facility to help alleviate overcrowded conditions at the Main Jail. C3. We commend the Main Jail kitchen staff for their well managed food service program.
Agency Responses 1
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.
No Responses Found 3
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Santa Cruz County
County
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office
Santa Cruz County Sheriff
Elected County Office