Ventura County Grand Jury • 2008-2009

Detention Facilities: Condition and Management

Published: May 29, 2009 14 pages
View Original PDF

Findings and Recommendations 38 findings

F01
The VCSD operates three major detention facilities within the County: • Main Jail • Todd Road Facility • East Valley Detention Center
No recommendations for this finding
F02
A former detention facility, VCSD Branch Jail Honor Farm (Honor Farm), located in the Ojai Valley, was closed in 2002. This jail facility, with a capacity of 234, housed only female inmates. Detention Facilities
No recommendations for this finding
F03
At the time the Honor Farm closed, 200 female inmates were transferred to the Main Jail.
No recommendations for this finding
F04
Main Jail: • is located at the County Government Center in the City of Ventura • is a Type II Facility for the detention of persons pending arraignment, during trial, and awaiting transfer to state prison upon sentencing • houses both male and female inmates • has a total rated capacity1 of 793, sentenced and un-sentenced inmates • has an overflow capacity2 of 108 beds above its rated capacity • processes over 29,000 bookings and releases every year • segregates general population, violent offenders, and inmates needing medical or psychiatric services Pre-trial Detention Facility (Main Jail) 1 Rated Capacity means the number of inmate occupants for which a facility’s single- and double-occupancy cells or dormitories, except those dedicated for health care or disciplinary isolation housing, were planned and designed in conformity to the standards and requirements in CCR Title 15. Overflow beds are bunk beds placed in dayrooms of housing sections during overcrowded conditions. The majority of these beds are normally occupied and one cell remains open to give inmates housed in the dayrooms access to a toilet. ___________________________________________________________________________ Detention Facilities 3
No recommendations for this finding
F05
Todd Road Facility: • is located in an unincorporated area of the County near the City of Santa Paula • was completed in 1995 as a Type III Facility for the detention of convicted and sentenced inmates • houses only male inmates • is currently being operated as both a Type II Facility and Type III Facility • has a rated capacity of 782 beds • has an overflow capacity of 98 beds above its rated capacity Todd Road Facility
No recommendations for this finding
F06
East Valley Detention Center: • is located in the City of Thousand Oaks and was re-opened in January 2008 • is a Type III Facility designed to house 35 minimum security adult male inmates 4 Detention Facilities East Valley Detention Center
No recommendations for this finding
F07
The total capacity of the VCSD detention facilities is: Facility Rated Overflow Total Main Jail 793 108 901 Todd Road Jail 782 98 880 East Valley 35 N/A 35 Total 1,610 206 1,816
No recommendations for this finding
F08
In October 2008, County jails housed approximately 1,680 inmates as follows: • Main Jail 822 • Todd Road Jail 833 • East Valley Jail 25
No recommendations for this finding
F09
The Ventura County Todd Road Jail Needs Assessment and Engineering Analysis report (The Report), prepared for the County by HDR Architecture, Inc., was published April 4, 2007. It listed four options for the build-out of the Todd Road Jail. [Ref-03]
No recommendations for this finding
F10
The Report stated: “Since the 2002 closing of the Honor farm and due to the growing volume of jail admissions and the increasing average length of stay of jail inmates, overcrowded conditions for the Ventura County Jail system are common.” ___________________________________________________________________________ Detention Facilities 5
Related Recommendations (1)
R01
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, the Board of Supervisors, and the County Executive Officer should continue discussions regarding the overcrowding in the jails and develop alternate solutions to alleviate this problem. (C-01 through C-04)
F11
The Report identifies a number of jail diversion alternatives and criminal process procedures to reduce jail population: • Proposition 36 Drug Diversion • Work Furlough • Work Release • Direct Work The report fails to identify any specific jail diversion alternatives associated with the mentally ill.
Related Recommendations (1)
R02
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department should support an expanded diversion program for the mentally ill with the goal of reducing the jail population. (C-04)
F12
The Report identifies the potential reduction in the Average Daily Population (ADP)3 when utilizing these diversion programs: Diversion Program ADP Reduction Prop. Drug Diversion 21 Work Furlough 40 Work Release 107 Direct Work 30 Total Est. ADP Reduction 198
No recommendations for this finding
F13
There are currently 20 California counties where an inmate population cap has been imposed by the federal courts and an additional 12 counties with a self-imposed population cap. In counties with such population caps, inmates are sometimes released early to comply with the limit imposed by the cap. Currently, there is no court-mandated inmate population cap for the County.
Related Recommendations (1)
R01
The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, the Board of Supervisors, and the County Executive Officer should continue discussions regarding the overcrowding in the jails and develop alternate solutions to alleviate this problem. (C-01 through C-04)
F14
Plans for a build-out of Todd Road Jail are still under discussion among the VCSD, the BOS, and the CEO.
No recommendations for this finding
F15
The Grand Jury visited the three jail facilities and found the physical conditions to be clean and well maintained.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
The Grand Jury observed professional and efficient performance by staff members.
No recommendations for this finding
F17
Sheriff’s Service Technicians actively monitored and controlled access to various areas of the jails.
No recommendations for this finding
F18
Housing Security Deputies actively supervised the inmates by conducting periodic patrols of cell block day rooms and individual inmate cells.
No recommendations for this finding
F19
The five city holding facilities operated by VCSD were found to be clean and well maintained. Average Daily Population is the average number of inmates housed daily during the prior fiscal year. Detention Facilities Probation (Adult Facility)
No recommendations for this finding
F20
Probation operates one adult detention facility under the Work Furlough Program: • is a Type IV Facility for the housing of inmates eligible under Penal Code § 1208 for work/education furlough and/or other programs involving inmate access into the community • was established in January 1973 • is located at the Camarillo Airport Complex • is a minimum security facility with a capacity of 240 adult inmates (200 male and 40 female) • the inmates serve court-ordered confinement while maintaining their employment or school attendance in the community • the inmates are released to their jobs or schools daily • each inmate in the Work Furlough Program reimburses the County based on a sliding scale from a minimum of $43.00 to $73.00 per day based on the inmate’s income or ability to pay • the typical confinement at the facility is 45-60 days
No recommendations for this finding
F21
The Grand Jury visited the Work Furlough Facility and, in spite of the advanced age of the facility, found it to be clean and well maintained.
No recommendations for this finding
F22
The Grand Jury observed professional and efficient performance by staff members. Work Furlough Facility ___________________________________________________________________________ Detention Facilities 7 Probation (Juvenile Facility)
No recommendations for this finding
F23
The Ventura County Probation Agency Juvenile Facilities (Juvenile Complex) sit on a 45 acre parcel in an unincorporated area of the County near the community of El Rio. Ventura County Juvenile Facilities
No recommendations for this finding
F24
The Juvenile Complex was built to house a total of 420 male and female youths.
No recommendations for this finding
F25
There were approximately 210 wards at the time the Grand Jury visited the Juvenile Complex.
No recommendations for this finding
F26
Detention housing is intended for juveniles going through the court process. It also serves to provide temporary custody of juveniles in need of short-term removal from the community and for those awaiting transfer to other jurisdictions or suitable placement facilities.
No recommendations for this finding
F27
Commitment housing is intended for juveniles who are serving court- imposed commitments of up to one year.
No recommendations for this finding
F28
The Grand Jury visited the Juvenile Complex, interviewed various staff members, and spoke with several of the wards.
No recommendations for this finding
F29
The Grand Jury observed proceedings of the Juvenile Mental Health Court, known as Solutions Court, on two occasions. Detention Facilities
No recommendations for this finding
F30
The Grand Jury observed professional and efficient performance by staff members at the Juvenile Complex. City Police Departments
No recommendations for this finding
F31
The Grand Jury inspected temporary holding facilities operated by the Police Departments located in: • Oxnard • Ventura • Simi Valley • Santa Paula • Port Hueneme Ventura Police Department
No recommendations for this finding
F32
A temporary holding facility is used for the confinement of adults for 24 hours or less pending release, transfer to another facility, or appearance in court.
No recommendations for this finding
F33
CCR Title 15, Subchapter 4, Minimum Standards for Local Detention Facilities, contains very specific requirements regarding the segregation and treatment of minors in custody in a law enforcement facility.
No recommendations for this finding
F34
The procedures for the treatment of minors detained at all five police departments comply with the requirements of CCR Title 15. ___________________________________________________________________________ Detention Facilities 9
No recommendations for this finding
F35
The 2007-2008 Ventura County Grand Jury recommended that the cities of Oxnard and Santa Paula install an AED in their holding cell areas. To date, the City of Santa Paula has not installed an AED.
Related Recommendations (1)
R03
The City of Santa Paula should immediately procure and install an AED device near the holding cells and train the appropriate personnel in its operation. (C-08) 10 Detention Facilities Responses Responses Required From: Sheriff, County of Ventura (R-01, R-02) Board of Supervisors, County of Ventura (R-01) City Council, City of Santa Paula (R-03) Responses Requested From: County Executive Officer, County of Ventura (R-01) Commendations The Ventura County Sheriff’s Department, Ventura County Probation Agency, and the City Police Departments are commended for the excellent condition and management of their respective facilities. References Ref-01. California Code of Regulations Title 15, Subchapter 4, Minimum Standards for Local Detention Facilities http://nicic.gov/Library/022900 Ref-02. California Code of Regulation Title 15, Subchapter 5, and Minimum Standards for Juvenile Facilities http://nicic.gov/Library/022898 Ref-03. Ventura County Todd Road Jail Needs Assessment and Engineering Analysis Report, prepared for County of Ventura, California, by HDR Architecture, Inc. dated April 4, 2007 www.vcsd.org/detention_services/todd_road/todd_road_jail_needs accessment_april_2007.pdf
F36
The age of the facility and number of holding cells varies among the cities.
No recommendations for this finding
F37
The overall physical condition of the holding areas was observed to be clean and well maintained.
No recommendations for this finding
F38
There were no noteworthy deficiencies in either the overall condition or in the management of the holding facilities. Conclusions C-01. The 2002 closure of the Honor Farm is a major contributor to the continual overcrowding of inmates in the Main Jail and the Todd Road Jail. (F-02, F-07, F-10) C-02. This continual overcrowding could result in a court mandated inmate population cap for Ventura County. (F-10, F-13) C-03. To date, the VCSD, BOS, and CEO have not agreed on a decision dealing with the continual overcrowding in both jails. (F-14) C-04. The Ventura County Todd Road Jail Needs Assessment and Engineering Analysis Report fails to identify any specific diversion program for the mentally ill to reduce the jail population. (F-09, F-11, F-12) C-05. In spite of the overcrowded conditions, the County jails are being operated in a safe, effective, and efficient manner. (F-15, F-16) C-06. Both the Juvenile Complex and the Adult Work Furlough facilities operated by the Probation Agency are being operated in a safe, efficient and professional manner. (F-21, F-22, F-30) C-07. Each of the five City Police Departments operates its holding facilities in an exemplary manner. (F-37, F-38) C-08. The installation of an AED in the City of Santa Paula’s holding facility would enhance the health and safety of the detainees. Recommendations
No recommendations for this finding

Conclusions 2

Commendations 2

No Responses Found 4

Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.

Santa Paula City
Ventura County County
Ventura County Board of Supervisors Elected County Office
Ventura County Sheriff Elected County Office