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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.

Yolo County Grand Jury • 2011-2012

Yolo cOuNT Y GRANd JuRYP

Published: June 30, 2012 48 pages
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Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F9, F10, F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16, F17, F18, F19, F20, F21, F22, F23, F24, F25, F26, F27, F28, F29, F30, F31, F32, F33, F34, F35, F36, F37, F38

Findings 9 findings

F1
County Jail officials are diligently working to visitors the ability to make appointments for implement changes at the jail mandated by AB visits 109. • mental health socialization • Alcoholics Anonymous F2. Results of the Realignment Plan will not be known for some time. • Narcotics Anonymous • anger management
F2
Medical care meets mandated requirements and is None available as needed.
F3
CFMG has held a contract for medical services at • parenting skills the Yolo County Jail since 1990. The 2005 contract 11 2011–2012 Yolo CountY GRAnd JuRY FinAl RepoRt with CFMG for medical services was renewed ReCoMMendAtionS in 2011 for an additional five years without a competitive bidding process. The Grand Jury R1. The contracting practice of Yolo County Health finds that the duration of this extension without a Department with CFMG should be reviewed to competitive bidding process needs review. determine if contracting requirements have been met.
F4
The jail officials are pleased with the level of ser- R2. Plans for remodeling/expansion of the laundry vice provided by CFMG and their responsiveness room, kitchen and medical beds should be imple- to the jail population’s changing needs. mented when funds become available.
F5
The County Jail building exteriors and grounds appear clean and well maintained. ReQueSt FoR ReSponSeS
F6
Medical beds, kitchen and laundry facilities may Pursuant to Penal Code Sections 933(c) and 933.05, become inadequate as the detainee population the Grand Jury requests responses as follows: increases. From the following governing bodies:
F7
The Correctional Command Team and the jail staff are dedicated, long term employees who are • Yolo County Health Department: Recommenda- fully trained and proactive which promotes a tion R1 healthy culture and unity of staff. • Yolo County Board of Supervisors: Recommen- dations R1 and R2 12 2011–2012 Yolo CountY GRAnd JuRY FinAl RepoRt Yolo County Juvenile to be dedicated to helping the detainees improve their lives through educational opportunities, behavior detention Facility modification and special programs. Management and staff meetings are held regularly to go over the problems and needs of the staff and detainees. SuMMARY Facility The Grand Jury found the Yolo County Juvenile Detention Facility (YCJDF) to be appropriately staffed, The Grand Jury determined that the facility was clean, well maintained, with good medical care and clean, well maintained and temperature comfortable. accessible educational programs. A well maintained The facility has a capacity of 90 detainees. There are library provides a variety of appropriate reading three housing units called pods: A, B and C. Pod C is materials. The sports and exercise area is above average currently used as a library instead of a housing unit. and is an important part of the YCJDF facility. The The Grand Jury toured Pod A where females, younger YCJDF has in place a set of rules to encourage the males, and the “less sophisticated” federal juvenile incarcerated minors to cooperate. They are given the detainees are housed. Pod B is used to house the more opportunity to receive various privileges during their serious offenders, some of whom are facing charges as detainment when they comply with the rules. adults in Superior Court. The YCJDF opened in 2006 and was designed to ReASon FoR ViSit have four pods, however, only three have been built to date. Each pod includes 18 rooms, consisting of 6 single Pursuant to Penal Code Section 919(b) “The Grand and 12 double detainee rooms. There are classrooms Jury shall inquire into the conditions and management with computer stations in each pod. In addition, there of the public prisons within the county”. is a supervised common area where detainees have an opportunity to watch television and eat their meals ACtionS tAKen together. Showers are adjacent to the common areas. The Grand Jury inspected the YCJDF, located The Monroe Detention Facility, located next to the in Woodland, in October 2011. The Grand Jury met YCJDF, provides the meals and most of the laundry with management, obtained background information, service. However, some of the laundry needs are taken discussed policy and procedures, and was given an care of at the YCJDF. The food is nutritious and special overview of how the staff handles various situations. diets are provided for detainees with special needs. While touring the facility the Grand Jury had the opportunity to meet with and ask questions of custodial, The sports and exercise area is an important part of clinical and educational staff. the YCJDF facility. The exercise yard has new artificial turf that was installed in 2011 and is used for a variety of supervised games including football, soccer, etc. WHAt tHe GRAnd JuRY deteRMined Courts are available for basketball and volleyball. Staff Security The management and staff were enthusiastic, The federal government considers YCJDF the only dedicated, and proud of their work. Many of the staff high security level facility for juveniles in Northern members are bilingual, mainly in Spanish. The staff California. It has a modern central control room that is required to be physically fit and complete peace electronically monitors all movement throughout the officer training. The management and staff appeared interior and outside perimeter. 13 2011–2012 Yolo CountY GRAnd JuRY FinAl RepoRt Population Programs and Activities The Grand Jury determined that there are three pods The Grand Jury determined that detainees are with the capability of housing a maximum capacity of evaluated for math, English, and reading skills. They 30 detainees in each pod. Only two of the pods are being are advised of policies, disciplinary procedures and used at this time. There were an estimated 59 detainees due process rights. They are allowed contact with their at the time of the tour. Detainees have either been families, when appropriate, through mail and weekly accused of felonies and/or are being detained by federal visits. immigration authorities. YCJDF houses a population of juvenile offenders from across the nation, awaiting Educational, tutoring and literacy services are resolution of their immigration issues. The County has provided. There is an onsite school, Dan Jacobs School, a contract with the Federal Government to house these operated by the Yolo County Office of Education. detainees. Tuolumne County also contracts with Yolo Detainees, upon request, may receive testing for a County to house their juvenile offenders. Juveniles who General Equivalency Diploma (GED). A number of are not federal detainees with minor offenses are booked classes are offered to keep them on track to obtain their and released or placed on probation. The following is high school diploma or GED. Seventy-one detainees an approximate breakdown of the population during the have received their GED since 2004. month of September 2011: The Grand Jury determined that a medical • Yolo County Detainees – 26 (44%) professional is on site during the day and on call at • Federal Detainees – 27 (46%) night. A physician is on call 24/7. Medical evaluations • Tuolumne County Detainees – 6 (10%) are done within 96 hours of booking. However, if it appears there is a serious health risk, detainees are taken The overall budget for the Yolo County Juvenile to the hospital for evaluation. Mental health services Detention Facility also includes the budget for the Work are available through the Yolo County Department of Alternative Sentencing Program and Transportation Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health. Psychiatric services Unit as reported by the Yolo County Budget Report for are available via video conferencing and are not done 2011-2012. This budget includes the following revenue face to face. sources: Community participation by local volunteers is important. According to staff, “We could not do what Revenue Source Amount Percentage we do without them”. Volunteers and grant funding provide: General Fund $ 991,868 15% • mentoring programs Public Safety $1,717,123 26% • spiritual services Federal/State Government $ 149,665 2% • teen parenting skills • coping skills Contract Fees (Federal and Tuolumne) $3,853,415 57% • Aggression Replacement Training • Alcoholics Anonymous Total $6,712,071 100% • Narcotics Anonymous 14 2011–2012 Yolo CountY GRAnd JuRY FinAl RepoRt The behavior modification process encourages F4. Management and staff are dedicated, enthusiastic better behavior through the use of rewards. Examples and well trained. of the rewards would be to watch television and eat in the common area with other detainees. F5. Outside contracts with the Federal Government and Tuolumne County represent 56% of the population and 57% of the budget. FindinGS
F8
No Brown Act violations were found. • DFPD Fire Chief: Findings F1, F4, F5 and F8;
F39
can vary according to the percent of labor (10-15%) Business member attendance at board meetings has and the number of One Stop partners. New members do been sporadic, with some members not attending at all, not receive formal orientation to legislative mandates, contributing to a lack of a quorum. WIB by-laws permit program operations or One Stop tours. removal of a member after three absences from the meetings, although this provision has never been used. WIB by-laws state that “Representatives of local business organizations and business trade organizations In July 2011, after limited success in recruiting shall be nominated by local business organizations private business representatives, the WIB assigned and business trade organizations. They shall include DESS staff, on a half-time basis, to recruit business individuals with optimum policy making or hiring members. The WIB is currently four members short of authority. They shall represent businesses that reflect the required business member majority. employment opportunities in Yolo County”. (Resolution 08-77 Section 2c (i)). The WIB membership application YC has a farm based economy. Testimony showed form does not screen for “optimum policy making or that no effort has been made to recruit members from hiring authority”. agribusiness. Certification of the WIB Quorum at Board Meetings All WIB’s in California were subject to Due to a lack of quorum at previous meetings, recertification in December 2010 by the California the January 2012 agenda packet was 62 pages, much WIB. Recertification depended on the achievement of which was previously un-ratified business. Minutes of performance standards for employment of adults, are not immediately available due to lack of quorum to dislocated workers, and youth, a showing that the WIB ratify minutes. had carried out its mandated functions and complied with the membership requirements of the WIB. The In 2010, the WIB lacked a quorum for two meetings WIB was required to explain any vacant positions. out of six and in 2011 attendance fell short of a quorum four out of six meetings. The current Board has con- In October 2010, the Yolo County WIB responded sidered increasing the meetings from bi-monthly to to the State, reporting six members short of the required monthly in the hope of increasing commitment among business member majority. In explanation, the YC WIB its members. However, monthly meetings in 2009 also noted that the vacancy times “vary due to the downturn fell short of a quorum half the time. in the economy resulting in business closures, and the expiration of term dates”. The need to recruit business One Stop Oversight members was recognized and a recruitment strategy including “current board members reaching out to their The WIB is granted responsibilities for the One business association contacts with the intent of having Stops. In its recertification request, the WIB certified a business majority by the end of fiscal year 2010” was that it performs mandated functions including “Program indicated. oversight: The WIB provides guidance and oversight by establishing local policies for the One Stops, with The YC WIB was recertified by the California focus on responsiveness to community and changing Workforce Investment Board in December 2010. economic conditions”. However, because a majority of business members was lacking, the WIB is subject to continued reporting The Grand Jury determined that the WIB is often requirements, including a recommendation to provide a the passive recipient of information provided by the 27 2011–2012 Yolo CountY GRAnd JuRY FinAl RepoRt One Stop operators, rather than the initiator of policy. F8. Attracting business members to the Workforce Investment Board is a long standing issue in Yolo DESS combines employment and social services County. The WIB has not provided a timeline at the One Stops. While the availability of these social for recruiting business members nor have WIB services is a boon to the One Stops’ job seekers, members actively recruited from the business Board members acknowledge it does contribute to the community. misperception on the part of business that the One Stop has little to offer the business community.

Recommendations 7