San Diego County Detention Facilities Condition and Management

Commendations 2

• CM1
  The ability to have close-up views of activities in the modules would improve the ability of staff to determine at close range what caused the situation and how to control it.
• CM2
  Based on information received during visits to the detention facilities, personal observations, and review of operational documentation provided by the facilities' staff, the 2013/2014 San Diego County Grand Jury commends the dedicated professional staffs of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department and the San Diego County Probation Department for their efficient service to our community. Without exception, the detention facilities reviewed by the Grand Jury are meeting the requirements of the Board and State of Community Corrections (BSCC), providing a clean and safe environment for the inmates housed there, and adjusting their educational and counseling programs to meet the reentry success goals under AB 109. We also commend the command staffs of the Sheriff’s Department and the Probation Department for proactively creating a progressive roadmap for implementing AB 109, utilizing existing limited resources to reduce recidivism and, by extension, the state's prison population. ADULT FACILITIES VISITED SAN DIEGO CENTRAL JAIL The Grand Jury visited the San Diego Central Jail (SDCJ) on July 31, 2013. The Sheriff’s Department provided an extensive briefing that included a PowerPoint presentation and an overview of all adult detention facilities throughout San Diego County. In addition, facility commanders and department heads each provided a summary of their respective facilities and duties. The SDCJ covers 417,000 square feet. It was opened in 1998. The facility houses males only, including inmates of all risk levels. It is supervised by the Facility Commander with a sworn staff of 233. Sworn staff works 12.5-hour shifts and there are 45 deputies on duty at any one time. SDCJ has a Board and State of Community Corrections (BSCC) rated capacity of 944 inmates. On the day of the Grand Jury's visit, the average daily population was 872. Since the prison realignment bill became effective in 2011, the average daily population has increased by 80. The maximum population has been as high as 941. The facility averages over 56,000 annual bookings. Approximately 43 percent of the inmates have already been sentenced and 57percent are being held pending trial. The average stay of an inmate is 70 days for those sentenced and 8.5 days for those being held pretrial. The inmate with the longest sentence as of the date of our visit was serving 1,879 days. Prior to AB 109, the longest serving inmate was sentenced to 365 days. At the time of the Grand Jury visit, other pertinent facts included: 5 SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 (filed May 19, 2014) Number of identified gang members:4 168 Number of inmates in Immigration & Customs Enforcement (ICE) violations: 45 Number of inmates in protective custody: 104 Inmates are classified on a scale from 1-6 (1 = low risk, 6 = extreme violence, threat to public safety). The process of inmate classification is evidentiary, based on the severity of their past and current offenses, personal interviews and their behavior in custody. Inmate risk level classification begins at initial intake (booking) at SDCJ where extensive medical and psychological screening is conducted. An inmate’s classification provides a composite profile that allows appropriate assessment of inmate needs (housing, counseling and training) while at SDCJ and once they are transferred to East Mesa, South Bay or George Bailey detention facilities. While in custody, inmates are provided color-coded clothing and wristbands that identify their classification and are segregated appropriately. This is done in the interest of both protecting low-risk inmates and segregating high-risk inmates to reduce inmate-to-inmate and potential inmate-to-deputy violence. During an inmate’s incarceration, his classification is evaluated periodically for the purpose of upgrade or downgrade based upon behavior while in custody. The SDCJ central command center uses state-of-the-art touch-screen controls and video surveillance. From induction to final release, all critical inmate data is maintained in the Jail Information Management System (JIMS). In the event of any emergency or major system failure, the command center has the capability of electronically controlling all jail operations with backup generators. These generators can provide the needed power for this facility for at least three days. SDCJ has the largest medical/psychiatric care unit of all the detention facilities in the County and the capacity for a wide range of medical and psychiatric services, including on-site dialysis, infectious disease control, and dental care. SDCJ dedicates one complete floor to inmates who have medical issues. Services are provided under contract by the University of California San Diego (UCSD) Medical Center. The facility is staffed with a full-time physician daily, 52 Registered Nurses (RNs), and 13 Licensed Vocational Nurses (LVNs). While there is not a full- time psychiatrist on staff, one is available 24 hours a day. There are two full-time social workers on staff. The licenses of the RNs and LVNs are verified annually. They follow approved standardized nursing procedures. Medical personnel properly inventory and distribute prescribed medications according to physician’s orders. All medications are stored in a secured location. Documentation of health care for the inmates is handled via electronic medical records. Inmate meals are prepared at the Central Food Kitchen located in the East Mesa Central Production Center. They are either served in the inmates’ own dayrooms, or cafeteria style, and inmates are given 30 – 45 minutes for meals. 4San Diego County Sheriff's Fact Sheets prepared for use of the Grand Jury. 6 SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 (filed May 19, 2014) The Grand Jury found the grievance log up to date. The Penal Code strictly defines and limits discipline options. Despite SDCJ being primarily an in-take facility with the average stay of an inmate spanning only 70 days, there are limited formal rehabilitation (educational) programs available to inmates including GED readiness, basic computer skills and life skills counseling. Participation in these programs is voluntary and qualification is based on both the inmate’s classification (risk level) and behavior while in custody. Involvement in these programs can then be continued upon release or upon transfer to a long-term detention facility. SDCJ was last inspected by the Board and State of Community Corrections (BSCC) on January 27, 2012. Findings at that time included non-compliance with the following: Title 24, Section 470A.2.2: Temporary Holding Cells  Two of the temporary holding cells exceeded their capacity of 16 inmates at the time of the inspection. Title 24, Section 470A.2.8: Dormitories  Nine beds were added to each of four dormitories in Level 8 Housing, exceeding the limit of sixty-four inmates. The 2013-2014 Grand Jury revisited the SDCJ on September 19, 2013, to review the status of compliance to the above Title 24 requirements. SDCJ staff has made changes in their practices to accommodate the Title 24 requirements of having no more than 16 inmates in a holding cell and sixty-four in a dormitory at any time. During our return visit, we reviewed the process for transfer of inmates to the adjacent court house for trial. We learned that there are plans to install state-of-the-art body scanning equipment to be used at intake and in the process of transferring inmates to/from court, to insure all contraband items (drugs and weapons) are discovered. SOUTH BAY DETENTION FACILITY South Bay Detention Facility (SBDF) opened in 1982 and is part of the South Bay Regional Justice Center in Chula Vista. It is a non-booking facility and houses low, medium and high level inmate classifications. It has a CSA-rated capacity of 386, and a court-ordered capacity of 431. There are four housing modules, theoretically providing beds for 576. However, some of the space is currently being used for property storage (typically, the clothing/possessions of inmates), and SBDF has a “keep separate” list of inmates who must be isolated from others. This includes known gang members and sexual predators. Inmate-on-inmate assaults are relatively rare. Each housing module has two sections; each section consists of 24 cells with three beds each. SBDF has 57 sworn staff. SBDF is not a long-term housing facility. Average time spent here by inmates is typically short, ranging from a few days to a few weeks. SBDF has a very good safety record and there is public transit available, making family visitation much easier here than at some other detention facilities. 7 SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 (filed May 19, 2014) There is a concerted effort by staff to prepare inmates to rejoin society. A GED education program is available, run by the Grossmont Union High School District. If an inmate doesn’t complete the GED requirements while in custody, he can be given a voucher to complete it when he is released and can take the test at a local high school (Foothill). SBDF has the highest GED completion rate in the County. It is a new program (one year) but there are already plans to expand it. The Grand Jury was impressed by the staff’s sincere attempt to help inmates rebuild their lives. There is only one classroom which holds 18 students per session. Although multiple sessions are offered per day, the staff is still limited by the lack of classrooms. In addition to GED courses, Narcotics Anonymous and Alcoholics Anonymous recovery programs are conducted by certified instructors in both English and Spanish. Parenting and “life skills” courses such as anger management are also offered. Daily bilingual worship services and Bible study classes are available. Because the inmates are generally healthy, minimal but adequate medical care is available. There is a nurse (RN) on duty. A doctor visits the site once a week. The medical staff holds regular HIV, orthopedic and dental clinics on site. Control rooms located in the center of each module have cameras observing and recording activities in all sections of the module. If there is an incident, facility officials have the ability to go back and study the video to determine what led up to the incident and its progression. Inmates have a panic button available to them if they feel threatened or have a medical emergency. The camera system is relatively old and lacks the ability to zoom in on particular areas, but still is a valuable tool to help staff keep things under control. Inmates eat in the day rooms in shifts (tiers); each tier is given 15 minutes to eat. Food is transported to the modules in carts which maintain the food at the correct temperatures. The kitchen was clean and well-organized. Meals are served at 4:00 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 4:00 p.m. The Grand Jury had lunch at SBDF, and ate the same food served to the inmates. Facility rules are clearly articulated to the inmates, and are posted in English and Spanish. The postings include both the rules and the penalties for breaking them. The most common form of discipline is loss of privileges. There is a grievance procedure inmates can use to record their dissatisfaction or complaints. There is on-site storage of first responder fire equipment which staff members use in case of a fire. A Chula Vista fire station is nearby. Quarterly fire drills are held. Tactical gear consisting of vests, helmets, pepper ball guns, rubber bullets, TASERS®, shields, etc. is stored on site and can be used by staff in an emergency. There is no outdoor recreational area, but the facility has a gym for inmates’ use. Each inmate receives 1-1/2 hours of recreation time each week. Otherwise, they are confined to cells and day rooms in the modules. 8 SAN DIEGO COUNTY GRAND JURY 2013/2014 (filed May 19, 2014) The Grand Jury found SBDF to be a well-run and well-maintained facility, taking advantage of the limited space available at this site. FACTS AND FINDINGS Fact: The control room video equipment is old and lacks the ability to zoom in on particular areas of interest. Finding 01: The ability to have close-up views of activities in the modules would improve the ability of staff to determine at close range what caused the situation and how to control it.