2020-2021 Grand Jury Report

Conclusions 1

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  Each facility visited by the Grand Jury was professional, clean, and well run. Financially CCC has been operating in the black. No discrepancies were noted. The Grand Jury would like to acknowledge the hospitality, patience and professionalism of the warden and staff during our visit. The staff at the institution were warm and welcoming. All inmates that were encounter by the Grand Jury spoke highly about the prison and the staff. 19 Although an investigation was not completed on CCC, the annual inquiry conducted by the Grand Jury revealed some concerning issues with the closure and the decision making process surrounding it. 20 HIGH DESERT STATE PRISON The 2019-2020 Lassen County GJ toured High Desert State Prison (HDSP) on October 22, 2019. Members of Lassen County Grand Jury(LCGJ) were greeted by Warden Kibler and Chief Deputy Warden Picket for a briefing and question and answer session. HDSP’s mission is to protect the public by providing humane and safe supervision of offenders and to provide offenders with quality health care through meaningful encounters with licensed medical, dental, and mental health professionals and inspire to improve patient satisfaction. HDSP offers tools to effect change of culture, and inspire offenders to self-rehabilitate by facilitating educational opportunities, re-entry services, recreational activities, and leisure time activity group programs to reduce recidivism. The Grand Jury was escorted on atour of the facility. Summary HDSP was designed to house 2259 inmates. Current inmate count is 3796 and they are at 89% of maximum capacity. HDSP currently houses general population and sensitive needs high security (Level IV), medium security (Level III), and minimum security (Level I) inmates. The Level I inmates are housed in the minimum-security facility located outside of the main institution. HDSP has a licensed hospital with 32 beds. The Correctional Treatment Center (CTC) provides for health care needs of the inmates. The CTC has negative pressure patient rooms, which has been useful during the COVID pandemic. HDSP faced many challenges with COVID. They currently have strict testing requirements for staff and mask requirements.HDSP proved to be resilient during the pandemic and were quickly able to adjust problems and the ever changing guidance/requirements of COVID. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) decision to close California Correctional Center (CCC) has a direct impact on HDSP. The isolated and rural setting of HDSP has resulted in fewer staff available than in more populated areas. Staffing levels were already low and now have been compounded by the closing of CCC. HDSP has been placed on a hiring freeze. CCC and HDSP will go thru a State Restrictions of Appointment (SROA)/Surplus Process. CCC/HDSP staff will be provided information in January of 2022, regarding the SROA process, “bumping” based on seniority within the county. Staffing levels are not anticipated to improve until the state allows the transfer of employee from CCC. The current timeline has a Dec 2021 date to determine report dates of transfers. Staffing levels are too low to be filled with volunteer overtime and mandatory holdover overtime is required. Staff shortage is a major concern for the next year. The LCGJ was very impressed with the overall cleanliness and organization of the prison. Both custody and support staff provided open and candid responses to our inquiries and are to be acknowledged for the job they do in a highly stressful and confined setting with many high security and sensitive needs inmates. The Grand Jury is most appreciative for the hospitality extended by the Warden and staff. 21

Commendations 2

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  The 2020/2021 Grand Jury would like to commend Mr. Kevin Jones for the work that he accomplished while appointed as the City Administrator/Police Chief. He not only accepted the challenge of combining both these positions but also accepted this position in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. Required Response: It is the Grand Jury’s decision that we are requiring a response from the City of Susanville City Council. 10 County of Lassen – Elections Office Reason for Inquiry: Grand Jury member recommendation. Background Information: Financial implications associated with corrected ballots and overall functionality of the Elections Office. Inquiry Procedures: The Grand Jury reviewed the County Polices and/or Procedures used for ballot preparation and estimating, requesting funds for Ballot preparation, and proofreading and/or editing ballots. Also reviewed were the County Policies and/or Procedures used for budgets approved for the County Elections Office for the past 5 years, cost to print all election ballots for the past 5 years, and conducted interviews. Discussion: The elected County Clerk is responsible for many duties, one of which is Elections. The State does not reimburse the county for any elections, regular or special. There are 4 employees in the entire office, performing all County Clerk office duties, including election duties. Training for employees is sporadic usually depending on county funds available. Heavy workload directly impacts the frequent turnover of employees in all positions. During election cycles and special elections more time (overtime) is required of all employees to complete the workload. Findings: The Grand Jury concluded: F1. The County Clerk is required to ask the County Board of Supervisors for funds regarding every aspect of Elections, whether it is a regular or special election. Election funds come out of the County Budgets general fund, so money not earmarked for a special purpose is available to any County department. F2. During election cycles and special elections overtime is required of all employees to complete assigned tasks. Employee retention is low, causing employee knowledge of elections to be limited. Training specific to Elections is not given to employees. F3. Employees not familiar with Ballots or elections are required to do proofreading. F4. The Registrar of Voters is not given the staff or dollars that are required to ensure a smooth, error free election. Recommendations: R1. Setup a budget account line that is earmarked specifically for Elections. 11 R2. Methods for training of employees working with Elections should be explored, online or ZOOM training can be accomplished at a lower cost. R3. Proofreading should be done from the original documents before computer input is completed. Proofreading should be done by the person or agency that submitted the information to be included on the ballot. R4. Board of Supervisors should ensure that the Registrar of Voters has the necessary funds and staff to properly conduct required elections. Having appropriate staff levels and funding should increase the accuracy resulting in less corrections and/or special elections, a cost saving to the County. Commendation: The 2020/2021 Grand Jury would like to commend Julie Bustamante and her staff for their outstanding work accomplished under difficult situations. Required Response: It is the Grand Jury’s decision that we are requiring a response from the County Board of Supervisors and the County Administrative Officer. 12 County of Lassen – Fair Manager Reason for Inquiry: Complaint submitted to Grand Jury Background Information: A complaint raised questions into the policies and procedures used in the hiring of Lassen County Fair Manager. Inquiry Procedures: The Grand Jury reviewed the meeting minutes and agendas of the Lassen County Board of Supervisors, County personnel rules and regulations, County recruitment and selection procedures, applicant notification letters, job description, and the applicant interview questions. The Grand Jury also conducted interviews. Discussion: The Lassen County Board of Supervisors under the guidance of the County Administrative Officer and staff is responsible for hiring a Fair Manager based on education and experience.  December 1, 2020, Board of Supervisors meeting minutes identifies the Fair Manager Applicants by name. Also there is “no reportable action” identified after the Public Employee Employment: Fair Manager, closed session.  December 3, 2020, letters were written (dated) to non-selected individuals.  December 8, 2020, Board of Supervisors agenda identifies the appointment of the Fair Manager. Findings: The Grand Jury concluded: F1. The notification letters sent to non-selected applicants were dated December 3, 2020. Based on Brown Act requirements the December 8, 2020, agenda must have been publicly posted 72 hours (3 days) prior to the December 8, 2020, meeting. Depending where applicant resided the letters would not arrive before job selection was publically announced. There is no policy and procedure for non-selected applicant notification. F2. Privacy of applicants was compromised when the names of interviewees were listed in the December 1, 2020, Board of Supervisors meeting minutes. F3. There are no written procedures for determining which applicants are qualified and which applicants will continue in the interview process. F4. Education and experience requirements for the position were not considered equally. Recommendations: R1. Ensure that all non-selection letters be sent timely before the successful applicant is announced. 13 R2. Never list the names of potential candidates in the agenda or minutes of any meetings. R3. Create and use a matrix system to fairly determine the qualifications for any/all County jobs. Ensure that there are written policy and procedures, to be followed for all County job announcements. R4. Education requirements for all County jobs should be given the same weight regardless of when education or degree was achieved. Job requirements must be followed specifically as stated and described in the job announcement. Required Response: It is the Grand Jury’s decision that we are requiring a response from the County Board of Supervisors and County Administrative Officer. 14 LASSEN COUNTY ADULT DETENTION FACILITY On January 21, 2021, the Lassen County Grand Jury toured the Lassen County Adult Detention Facility (LCADF) located in Susanville. Sheriff Growdon briefed the Grand Jury on the accomplishments and challenges faced by the department by both officers patrolling the streets and officers working in the detention facility. Following the briefing the Grand Jury was guided throughout the facility. Summary Constructed in 1991, the building remains in good condition. The roof has been replaced on the jail and new kitchen equipment has been purchased. Plans are in place to remodel the kitchen facility over the next 4 years. The LCADF offers numerous educational and participatory programs including, but not limited to, Business Career Network, Resume` and Interview Training, GED Training, college classes, Drug and Alcohol Abuse classes, and Mental and Behavioral Health classes. Computers and tablets are used as an incentive for participation in some programs. Minutes are credited by participation. The time earned is utilized for designated leisure activities. The LCADF currently houses 130 inmates with an average stay of 8 to 12 months. Sentenced and non-sentenced inmates are housed together. The open dorm housing is not ideal and security issues are a continued concern. Inmates that demonstrate an inability to participate in the general population or are disruptive are housed in the Special Housing/Security Housing Unit. Upon arrival to the LCADF, inmates are issued an orientation manual which includes the grievance procedure. All complaints are handled within the facility. Serious or severe allegations receive independent review by a third party. The sheriff emphasized the importance of hiring from within the community and is working on offering qualified applicants and jailers the opportunity to receive paid training at the academy. The sheriff believes that local hiring and advancement from within the department increases the length of service and dedication to the Department. Staff shortages have caused many difficulties often resulting in operations at minimum staffing levels or below. Often times, they use patrol personnel to backfill open shifts in the Jail to augment operations. They have been under continuous recruitment since 2016 for the position of Correctional Deputy. Sheriff Growdon stated that much effort goes into training for the officers to meet State mandated requirements and regulations that continue to increase but do not come with any funding. Jail operating costs have skyrocketed. This agency maintains strong relationships with neighboring agencies. Virtual reality equipment is scheduled to be delivered in February 2021. This is a valuable piece of equipment for “scenario based training”. The Grand Jurt compliments the Sheriff and staff for acquiring this equipment which will save money and make training more readily available. 15 An upgrade has been completed to the 911 System and they are currently trying to get the GIS mapping updated for the County. The LCADF switched to a new Records Management System in November 2020, the prior system was over 18 years old. This new system when totally operational will be a big improvement. The facility is clean and well organized but is an older building and in need of major repairs. Major repairs include the kitchen and the heating/air conditioning system. The jail needs new thermostats for the heating system. As stated before some new kitchen equipment has been purchased and there is a 4 to 5 year plan in place to completely remodel the kitchen facility. No discrepancies were noted during the tour. The Grand Jury wishes to express appreciation to the sheriff and staff for their time and hospitality. . 16 CALIFORNIA CORRECTIONAL CENTER On Wednesday, June 16, 2021, the 2020-2021 Lassen County Grand Jury (LCGJ) toured the California Correctional Center (CCC) located near Susanville. CCC currently was housing 1704 inmates. After an initial briefing by the warden and management staff of CCC’s mission, there was a question and answer session. The warden and the management team strongly emphasized the importance of rehabilitation and re-entry programs for inmates housed in the facility. Though restricted by budget, they are trying to improve the areas that house these programs. The warden remained with the Grand Jury throughout an extensive tour through housing Facilities A, B, and C, education, vocation, Antelope camp and Fire Department and EMS. CCC management and staff were present to inform the Grand Jury of the mission of each facility in detail. Summary: CCC was constructed in 1963 as a minimum-security prison, which included Facilities A, B and M. In 1987 the prison was expanded to include Facility C, which houses level III inmates. The primary mission of CCC is to receive, house, and train minimum custody inmates for placement into the 18 conservation camps located throughout Northern California. Working collaboratively with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), these camps are strategically located throughout the north state to provide fire suppression hand crews as well as an organized labor force for public conservation projects and other emergency response needs of the state. Services provided through the conservation camp program saves taxpayers an average of over 80 million dollars per year. Work projects associated with conservation camps support municipal, county, state, and federal government agencies, including schools, parks, cemeteries, and public recreation areas. Additionally, CCC provides meaningful work, training, educational, and substance abuse treatment programs for inmates who do not meet the criteria for assignment to a conservation camp. These alternative assignments include academic and vocational trade programs, facility maintenance jobs, food service positions, and other facility support assignments. CCC offers a wide assortment of positive leisure time activities, family relations, including numerous self-help improvement programs such as literacy, alternatives to violence, addiction recovery, veterans’ affairs, religious services, and athletic programs. On April 13, 2021, without any advanced notification CDCR announced the closure of CCC effective June 30, 2022. According to CDCR, California Penal Code Section 2067 provides guidance for determining which CDCR facilities to prioritize for closure. Factors include cost to operate at the capacity; Workforce impacts; Subpopulation and gender-specific housing needs; Long-term investment in state-owned and operated correctional facilities, including previous investments; public safety and rehabilitation; and durability of the state’s solution to prison overcrowding. Along with the above factors all California inmates in out-of-state contract 17 correctional facilities should have been returned by Feb 2019 and the private in-state male contract correctional facilities that are primarily staffed by non-Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation personnel shall be prioritized over other in-state contract correctional facilities. The 2020-21 Budget: Effectively Managing State Prison Infrastructure dated Feb 28, 2020 issued by California Legislature Analyst’s Office 12 of the state’s 34 prisons were constructed between 1850 and 1960 and a recent study found at the state’s 12 oldest prisons $11 billion was recommended on over 150 infrastructure projects. The report also recommended closing two prison instead of removing inmates from publicly operated prisons and only closing one prison. It is detailed in this report that, the recommendation goes against state law which requires all inmates be removed from privately operated contract prisons. It recommended that CDCR rank prisons for closure based on cost avoidance, operational needs and their ability to serve inmates. According the report CCC had an estimated 10 infrastructure projects needed at an estimated cost of $503 million ranking CCC as 11th in cost of projects with 5 prisons needing more than $1 billion in repairs each. The 2021-22 Budget: Prison Maintenance and Repairs Proposals dated February 2, 2021, states that inmate population decline expected to reduce number of prisons needed. The report notes that due to CDCR response to Covid-19 inmate population decline 23 percent from Feb 2020 to Jan 2021. CDCR expects population to remain low after the pandemic due to the state’s recent policy changes. This report stated that based on initial review they found that California Rehabilitation Center, California Men’s Colony, San Quentin State Prison and the Correctional Training Facility appeared to be strong candidates for closure, primarily because they all have high estimated repair and/or operational costs relative to their inmate capacity. According to CDCR’s Master Plan Annual Report for Calendar Year 2020 submitted on Jan 2021, the state has spent over 64 million dollars on improvement at CCC last year. The report listed the following active projects: Health Care Facility Improvement Program which was 96% complete with a cost of $ 33,371,000, Health Care Facility Improvement Project – Central Health Services Building Renovation which was 5% complete with a cost of $8,069,000, Arnold Unit – Antelope Camp Kitchen/Dining Facility Replacements completed 12/2020 with a cost of $22,204,000, Replace Roof – Administration/Chapel which was completed 12/2020 with a cost of $982,100. Proposed projects which include no status or obligation of funds totaled $7,050,960. Lassen County had an economic impact report prepared by the Center for Economic Development at California State University, Chico because either the state has not completed one or has not shared it with the county. This report showed CCC has a total impact of $120.89 million on gross domestic product within the county. The Grand Jury was escorted around both A and B facility. The facilities are well kept and the pride from staff and inmates was well received. The facilities are dormitories. Due to Covid-19 restrictions have been put in place which includes limiting the population in each dorm. The dorms have a cooling system. While on the tour inmates expressed how much the cooling system is appreciated after conducting firefighting training all day. The Grand Jury was impressed with many of the daily operations of education, which range from remedial education to associates degrees and several in-depth vocational programs. In the past, 18 inmates that were assigned to fire camps did not have access to the education system provided at CCC. CCC has worked at great lengths to establish a education system accessible by the fire camps and is currently the only prison in the state that offers education services to camp inmates. For the education year 2020-2021, 58 fire camp inmates were enrolled in face to face education and 137 were enrolled in correspondence education programs. CCC has recently completed a construction update to the welding program and was in the process of making major updates to the autobody shop prior to the announcement of the closure of CCC. Overall for the 2020-2021 year, CCC had 366 Physical Fitness Training Completions for Fire Camps, 14 AA Degrees completed and has almost 900 inmates enrolled in various education programs, such as vocational, college, academic and fire camp studies. The Grand Jury took special note of the enthusiastic and positive approach displayed by education and vocational staff as well as the inmates currently in these programs. The Grand Jury toured Antelope Camp and the Fire Department. These facilities provide many valuable services to the institution and to the county. The camp provides inmate hand crews for fire suppression, emergency services, and community projects. In October 2020, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) announced the depopulation of eight of the state’s 43 conservation camps. Four of these camps fall under CCC. Chamberlain Creek Conservation Camp in Fort Bragg, CA, Devil’s Garden Conservation Camp in Alturas, CA, High Rock Conservation Camp in Weott, CA, and Valley View Conservation Camp in Elk Creek, CA, were depopulated completely by December 2020. CalFire is attempting to replace the inmate fire crew with CalFire employees. It was estimated that it takes approximately forty (40) new employees to replace a fourteen (14) man inmate crew. At Antelope Camp, which is located on the grounds of CCC, the camp in the past has had 5 crews but currently only has 2 crews. With the past fire seasons in California and the anticipation of another bad fire year, the draw downs of the Conservation Camps is especially concerning to the Grand Jury. Lassen County had one of the largest clusters of fires in 2020 with an estimated 203,296 acres burnt. CCC has and continues to contribute to Lassen County by fundraisers which have generated over $30,000 last year being given to local charities. CCC has also conducted winter coats and clothing drives, backpack drives and donated to the community in other ways besides monetary. The Fire Department is one of two paid fire departments in Lassen County. They provide mutual aid to 17 volunteer fire districts covering approximately 4,750 square miles. Included on the tour was the “Pups on Parole” program. There were 7 dogs at the Fire House being trained for adoption. There have been 642 dogs adopted since June 21, 2007. Antelope Camp and the Fire Department have a long history of providing mutual aid to the residences of Lassen County and is relied on to respond promptly and provide additional staffing when needed. Conclusion: Each facility visited by the Grand Jury was professional, clean, and well run. Financially CCC has been operating in the black. No discrepancies were noted. The Grand Jury would like to acknowledge the hospitality, patience and professionalism of the warden and staff during our visit. The staff at the institution were warm and welcoming. All inmates that were encounter by the Grand Jury spoke highly about the prison and the staff. 19 Although an investigation was not completed on CCC, the annual inquiry conducted by the Grand Jury revealed some concerning issues with the closure and the decision making process surrounding it. 20 HIGH DESERT STATE PRISON The 2019-2020 Lassen County GJ toured High Desert State Prison (HDSP) on October 22, 2019. Members of Lassen County Grand Jury(LCGJ) were greeted by Warden Kibler and Chief Deputy Warden Picket for a briefing and question and answer session. HDSP’s mission is to protect the public by providing humane and safe supervision of offenders and to provide offenders with quality health care through meaningful encounters with licensed medical, dental, and mental health professionals and inspire to improve patient satisfaction. HDSP offers tools to effect change of culture, and inspire offenders to self-rehabilitate by facilitating educational opportunities, re-entry services, recreational activities, and leisure time activity group programs to reduce recidivism. The Grand Jury was escorted on atour of the facility. Summary HDSP was designed to house 2259 inmates. Current inmate count is 3796 and they are at 89% of maximum capacity. HDSP currently houses general population and sensitive needs high security (Level IV), medium security (Level III), and minimum security (Level I) inmates. The Level I inmates are housed in the minimum-security facility located outside of the main institution. HDSP has a licensed hospital with 32 beds. The Correctional Treatment Center (CTC) provides for health care needs of the inmates. The CTC has negative pressure patient rooms, which has been useful during the COVID pandemic. HDSP faced many challenges with COVID. They currently have strict testing requirements for staff and mask requirements.HDSP proved to be resilient during the pandemic and were quickly able to adjust problems and the ever changing guidance/requirements of COVID. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) decision to close California Correctional Center (CCC) has a direct impact on HDSP. The isolated and rural setting of HDSP has resulted in fewer staff available than in more populated areas. Staffing levels were already low and now have been compounded by the closing of CCC. HDSP has been placed on a hiring freeze. CCC and HDSP will go thru a State Restrictions of Appointment (SROA)/Surplus Process. CCC/HDSP staff will be provided information in January of 2022, regarding the SROA process, “bumping” based on seniority within the county. Staffing levels are not anticipated to improve until the state allows the transfer of employee from CCC. The current timeline has a Dec 2021 date to determine report dates of transfers. Staffing levels are too low to be filled with volunteer overtime and mandatory holdover overtime is required. Staff shortage is a major concern for the next year. The LCGJ was very impressed with the overall cleanliness and organization of the prison. Both custody and support staff provided open and candid responses to our inquiries and are to be acknowledged for the job they do in a highly stressful and confined setting with many high security and sensitive needs inmates. The Grand Jury is most appreciative for the hospitality extended by the Warden and staff. 21
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  The 2020/2021 Grand Jury would like to commend Julie Bustamante and her staff for their outstanding work accomplished under difficult situations. Required Response: It is the Grand Jury’s decision that we are requiring a response from the County Board of Supervisors and the County Administrative Officer. 12 County of Lassen – Fair Manager Reason for Inquiry: Complaint submitted to Grand Jury Background Information: A complaint raised questions into the policies and procedures used in the hiring of Lassen County Fair Manager. Inquiry Procedures: The Grand Jury reviewed the meeting minutes and agendas of the Lassen County Board of Supervisors, County personnel rules and regulations, County recruitment and selection procedures, applicant notification letters, job description, and the applicant interview questions. The Grand Jury also conducted interviews. Discussion: The Lassen County Board of Supervisors under the guidance of the County Administrative Officer and staff is responsible for hiring a Fair Manager based on education and experience.  December 1, 2020, Board of Supervisors meeting minutes identifies the Fair Manager Applicants by name. Also there is “no reportable action” identified after the Public Employee Employment: Fair Manager, closed session.  December 3, 2020, letters were written (dated) to non-selected individuals.  December 8, 2020, Board of Supervisors agenda identifies the appointment of the Fair Manager. Findings: The Grand Jury concluded: F1. The notification letters sent to non-selected applicants were dated December 3, 2020. Based on Brown Act requirements the December 8, 2020, agenda must have been publicly posted 72 hours (3 days) prior to the December 8, 2020, meeting. Depending where applicant resided the letters would not arrive before job selection was publically announced. There is no policy and procedure for non-selected applicant notification. F2. Privacy of applicants was compromised when the names of interviewees were listed in the December 1, 2020, Board of Supervisors meeting minutes. F3. There are no written procedures for determining which applicants are qualified and which applicants will continue in the interview process. F4. Education and experience requirements for the position were not considered equally. Recommendations: R1. Ensure that all non-selection letters be sent timely before the successful applicant is announced. 13 R2. Never list the names of potential candidates in the agenda or minutes of any meetings. R3. Create and use a matrix system to fairly determine the qualifications for any/all County jobs. Ensure that there are written policy and procedures, to be followed for all County job announcements. R4. Education requirements for all County jobs should be given the same weight regardless of when education or degree was achieved. Job requirements must be followed specifically as stated and described in the job announcement. Required Response: It is the Grand Jury’s decision that we are requiring a response from the County Board of Supervisors and County Administrative Officer. 14 LASSEN COUNTY ADULT DETENTION FACILITY On January 21, 2021, the Lassen County Grand Jury toured the Lassen County Adult Detention Facility (LCADF) located in Susanville. Sheriff Growdon briefed the Grand Jury on the accomplishments and challenges faced by the department by both officers patrolling the streets and officers working in the detention facility. Following the briefing the Grand Jury was guided throughout the facility. Summary Constructed in 1991, the building remains in good condition. The roof has been replaced on the jail and new kitchen equipment has been purchased. Plans are in place to remodel the kitchen facility over the next 4 years. The LCADF offers numerous educational and participatory programs including, but not limited to, Business Career Network, Resume` and Interview Training, GED Training, college classes, Drug and Alcohol Abuse classes, and Mental and Behavioral Health classes. Computers and tablets are used as an incentive for participation in some programs. Minutes are credited by participation. The time earned is utilized for designated leisure activities. The LCADF currently houses 130 inmates with an average stay of 8 to 12 months. Sentenced and non-sentenced inmates are housed together. The open dorm housing is not ideal and security issues are a continued concern. Inmates that demonstrate an inability to participate in the general population or are disruptive are housed in the Special Housing/Security Housing Unit. Upon arrival to the LCADF, inmates are issued an orientation manual which includes the grievance procedure. All complaints are handled within the facility. Serious or severe allegations receive independent review by a third party. The sheriff emphasized the importance of hiring from within the community and is working on offering qualified applicants and jailers the opportunity to receive paid training at the academy. The sheriff believes that local hiring and advancement from within the department increases the length of service and dedication to the Department. Staff shortages have caused many difficulties often resulting in operations at minimum staffing levels or below. Often times, they use patrol personnel to backfill open shifts in the Jail to augment operations. They have been under continuous recruitment since 2016 for the position of Correctional Deputy. Sheriff Growdon stated that much effort goes into training for the officers to meet State mandated requirements and regulations that continue to increase but do not come with any funding. Jail operating costs have skyrocketed. This agency maintains strong relationships with neighboring agencies. Virtual reality equipment is scheduled to be delivered in February 2021. This is a valuable piece of equipment for “scenario based training”. The Grand Jurt compliments the Sheriff and staff for acquiring this equipment which will save money and make training more readily available. 15 An upgrade has been completed to the 911 System and they are currently trying to get the GIS mapping updated for the County. The LCADF switched to a new Records Management System in November 2020, the prior system was over 18 years old. This new system when totally operational will be a big improvement. The facility is clean and well organized but is an older building and in need of major repairs. Major repairs include the kitchen and the heating/air conditioning system. The jail needs new thermostats for the heating system. As stated before some new kitchen equipment has been purchased and there is a 4 to 5 year plan in place to completely remodel the kitchen facility. No discrepancies were noted during the tour. The Grand Jury wishes to express appreciation to the sheriff and staff for their time and hospitality. . 16 CALIFORNIA CORRECTIONAL CENTER On Wednesday, June 16, 2021, the 2020-2021 Lassen County Grand Jury (LCGJ) toured the California Correctional Center (CCC) located near Susanville. CCC currently was housing 1704 inmates. After an initial briefing by the warden and management staff of CCC’s mission, there was a question and answer session. The warden and the management team strongly emphasized the importance of rehabilitation and re-entry programs for inmates housed in the facility. Though restricted by budget, they are trying to improve the areas that house these programs. The warden remained with the Grand Jury throughout an extensive tour through housing Facilities A, B, and C, education, vocation, Antelope camp and Fire Department and EMS. CCC management and staff were present to inform the Grand Jury of the mission of each facility in detail. Summary: CCC was constructed in 1963 as a minimum-security prison, which included Facilities A, B and M. In 1987 the prison was expanded to include Facility C, which houses level III inmates. The primary mission of CCC is to receive, house, and train minimum custody inmates for placement into the 18 conservation camps located throughout Northern California. Working collaboratively with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire), these camps are strategically located throughout the north state to provide fire suppression hand crews as well as an organized labor force for public conservation projects and other emergency response needs of the state. Services provided through the conservation camp program saves taxpayers an average of over 80 million dollars per year. Work projects associated with conservation camps support municipal, county, state, and federal government agencies, including schools, parks, cemeteries, and public recreation areas. Additionally, CCC provides meaningful work, training, educational, and substance abuse treatment programs for inmates who do not meet the criteria for assignment to a conservation camp. These alternative assignments include academic and vocational trade programs, facility maintenance jobs, food service positions, and other facility support assignments. CCC offers a wide assortment of positive leisure time activities, family relations, including numerous self-help improvement programs such as literacy, alternatives to violence, addiction recovery, veterans’ affairs, religious services, and athletic programs. On April 13, 2021, without any advanced notification CDCR announced the closure of CCC effective June 30, 2022. According to CDCR, California Penal Code Section 2067 provides guidance for determining which CDCR facilities to prioritize for closure. Factors include cost to operate at the capacity; Workforce impacts; Subpopulation and gender-specific housing needs; Long-term investment in state-owned and operated correctional facilities, including previous investments; public safety and rehabilitation; and durability of the state’s solution to prison overcrowding. Along with the above factors all California inmates in out-of-state contract 17 correctional facilities should have been returned by Feb 2019 and the private in-state male contract correctional facilities that are primarily staffed by non-Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation personnel shall be prioritized over other in-state contract correctional facilities. The 2020-21 Budget: Effectively Managing State Prison Infrastructure dated Feb 28, 2020 issued by California Legislature Analyst’s Office 12 of the state’s 34 prisons were constructed between 1850 and 1960 and a recent study found at the state’s 12 oldest prisons $11 billion was recommended on over 150 infrastructure projects. The report also recommended closing two prison instead of removing inmates from publicly operated prisons and only closing one prison. It is detailed in this report that, the recommendation goes against state law which requires all inmates be removed from privately operated contract prisons. It recommended that CDCR rank prisons for closure based on cost avoidance, operational needs and their ability to serve inmates. According the report CCC had an estimated 10 infrastructure projects needed at an estimated cost of $503 million ranking CCC as 11th in cost of projects with 5 prisons needing more than $1 billion in repairs each. The 2021-22 Budget: Prison Maintenance and Repairs Proposals dated February 2, 2021, states that inmate population decline expected to reduce number of prisons needed. The report notes that due to CDCR response to Covid-19 inmate population decline 23 percent from Feb 2020 to Jan 2021. CDCR expects population to remain low after the pandemic due to the state’s recent policy changes. This report stated that based on initial review they found that California Rehabilitation Center, California Men’s Colony, San Quentin State Prison and the Correctional Training Facility appeared to be strong candidates for closure, primarily because they all have high estimated repair and/or operational costs relative to their inmate capacity. According to CDCR’s Master Plan Annual Report for Calendar Year 2020 submitted on Jan 2021, the state has spent over 64 million dollars on improvement at CCC last year. The report listed the following active projects: Health Care Facility Improvement Program which was 96% complete with a cost of $ 33,371,000, Health Care Facility Improvement Project – Central Health Services Building Renovation which was 5% complete with a cost of $8,069,000, Arnold Unit – Antelope Camp Kitchen/Dining Facility Replacements completed 12/2020 with a cost of $22,204,000, Replace Roof – Administration/Chapel which was completed 12/2020 with a cost of $982,100. Proposed projects which include no status or obligation of funds totaled $7,050,960. Lassen County had an economic impact report prepared by the Center for Economic Development at California State University, Chico because either the state has not completed one or has not shared it with the county. This report showed CCC has a total impact of $120.89 million on gross domestic product within the county. The Grand Jury was escorted around both A and B facility. The facilities are well kept and the pride from staff and inmates was well received. The facilities are dormitories. Due to Covid-19 restrictions have been put in place which includes limiting the population in each dorm. The dorms have a cooling system. While on the tour inmates expressed how much the cooling system is appreciated after conducting firefighting training all day. The Grand Jury was impressed with many of the daily operations of education, which range from remedial education to associates degrees and several in-depth vocational programs. In the past, 18 inmates that were assigned to fire camps did not have access to the education system provided at CCC. CCC has worked at great lengths to establish a education system accessible by the fire camps and is currently the only prison in the state that offers education services to camp inmates. For the education year 2020-2021, 58 fire camp inmates were enrolled in face to face education and 137 were enrolled in correspondence education programs. CCC has recently completed a construction update to the welding program and was in the process of making major updates to the autobody shop prior to the announcement of the closure of CCC. Overall for the 2020-2021 year, CCC had 366 Physical Fitness Training Completions for Fire Camps, 14 AA Degrees completed and has almost 900 inmates enrolled in various education programs, such as vocational, college, academic and fire camp studies. The Grand Jury took special note of the enthusiastic and positive approach displayed by education and vocational staff as well as the inmates currently in these programs. The Grand Jury toured Antelope Camp and the Fire Department. These facilities provide many valuable services to the institution and to the county. The camp provides inmate hand crews for fire suppression, emergency services, and community projects. In October 2020, California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) announced the depopulation of eight of the state’s 43 conservation camps. Four of these camps fall under CCC. Chamberlain Creek Conservation Camp in Fort Bragg, CA, Devil’s Garden Conservation Camp in Alturas, CA, High Rock Conservation Camp in Weott, CA, and Valley View Conservation Camp in Elk Creek, CA, were depopulated completely by December 2020. CalFire is attempting to replace the inmate fire crew with CalFire employees. It was estimated that it takes approximately forty (40) new employees to replace a fourteen (14) man inmate crew. At Antelope Camp, which is located on the grounds of CCC, the camp in the past has had 5 crews but currently only has 2 crews. With the past fire seasons in California and the anticipation of another bad fire year, the draw downs of the Conservation Camps is especially concerning to the Grand Jury. Lassen County had one of the largest clusters of fires in 2020 with an estimated 203,296 acres burnt. CCC has and continues to contribute to Lassen County by fundraisers which have generated over $30,000 last year being given to local charities. CCC has also conducted winter coats and clothing drives, backpack drives and donated to the community in other ways besides monetary. The Fire Department is one of two paid fire departments in Lassen County. They provide mutual aid to 17 volunteer fire districts covering approximately 4,750 square miles. Included on the tour was the “Pups on Parole” program. There were 7 dogs at the Fire House being trained for adoption. There have been 642 dogs adopted since June 21, 2007. Antelope Camp and the Fire Department have a long history of providing mutual aid to the residences of Lassen County and is relied on to respond promptly and provide additional staffing when needed. Conclusion: Each facility visited by the Grand Jury was professional, clean, and well run. Financially CCC has been operating in the black. No discrepancies were noted. The Grand Jury would like to acknowledge the hospitality, patience and professionalism of the warden and staff during our visit. The staff at the institution were warm and welcoming. All inmates that were encounter by the Grand Jury spoke highly about the prison and the staff. 19 Although an investigation was not completed on CCC, the annual inquiry conducted by the Grand Jury revealed some concerning issues with the closure and the decision making process surrounding it. 20 HIGH DESERT STATE PRISON The 2019-2020 Lassen County GJ toured High Desert State Prison (HDSP) on October 22, 2019. Members of Lassen County Grand Jury(LCGJ) were greeted by Warden Kibler and Chief Deputy Warden Picket for a briefing and question and answer session. HDSP’s mission is to protect the public by providing humane and safe supervision of offenders and to provide offenders with quality health care through meaningful encounters with licensed medical, dental, and mental health professionals and inspire to improve patient satisfaction. HDSP offers tools to effect change of culture, and inspire offenders to self-rehabilitate by facilitating educational opportunities, re-entry services, recreational activities, and leisure time activity group programs to reduce recidivism. The Grand Jury was escorted on atour of the facility. Summary HDSP was designed to house 2259 inmates. Current inmate count is 3796 and they are at 89% of maximum capacity. HDSP currently houses general population and sensitive needs high security (Level IV), medium security (Level III), and minimum security (Level I) inmates. The Level I inmates are housed in the minimum-security facility located outside of the main institution. HDSP has a licensed hospital with 32 beds. The Correctional Treatment Center (CTC) provides for health care needs of the inmates. The CTC has negative pressure patient rooms, which has been useful during the COVID pandemic. HDSP faced many challenges with COVID. They currently have strict testing requirements for staff and mask requirements.HDSP proved to be resilient during the pandemic and were quickly able to adjust problems and the ever changing guidance/requirements of COVID. California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) decision to close California Correctional Center (CCC) has a direct impact on HDSP. The isolated and rural setting of HDSP has resulted in fewer staff available than in more populated areas. Staffing levels were already low and now have been compounded by the closing of CCC. HDSP has been placed on a hiring freeze. CCC and HDSP will go thru a State Restrictions of Appointment (SROA)/Surplus Process. CCC/HDSP staff will be provided information in January of 2022, regarding the SROA process, “bumping” based on seniority within the county. Staffing levels are not anticipated to improve until the state allows the transfer of employee from CCC. The current timeline has a Dec 2021 date to determine report dates of transfers. Staffing levels are too low to be filled with volunteer overtime and mandatory holdover overtime is required. Staff shortage is a major concern for the next year. The LCGJ was very impressed with the overall cleanliness and organization of the prison. Both custody and support staff provided open and candid responses to our inquiries and are to be acknowledged for the job they do in a highly stressful and confined setting with many high security and sensitive needs inmates. The Grand Jury is most appreciative for the hospitality extended by the Warden and staff. 21

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