Kern County Grand Jury • 2023-2024

Report: Kern County Probation Department

Published: March 18, 2024 23 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 7 findings

F1
The PYSB is unable to recruit and retain staff because of its inability to be wage competitive with other law enforcement agencies, causing a staff shortage, which results in excessive overtime pay.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
Expedite approval to end the YSO promotional series and create a higher entry salary for newly hired YSOs by October 1, 2024, resulting in a reduction in mandatory overtime. (Finding 1)
R2
Seek re-consideration for funding approval from the Measure “K” Oversight Committee by January 15, 2025. (Finding 1)
F2
The Probation Department would have more insight into employee retention if leadership conducted exit interviews when employees depart to determine their reason for leaving.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Use the Probation’s Human Resources Department to create and implement a system by July 1, 2024, for conducting exit interviews when an employee departs the organization. Senior Probation Department staff should review exit interviews quarterly and submit an annual report to the Kern County Human Resources Department. (Finding 2)
F3
The mental healthcare trailers at CEO do not provide the confidential or therapeutic workspaces required to perform counseling duties, possibly violating HIPAA laws.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Replace the CEO mental healthcare trailers with new modules. This project should be initiated by July 1, 2024. (Finding 3)
F4
The JGBJH has no onsite electrical generator to provide backup power to the water pumps to ensure that the facility has potable water and emergency fire protection. This leaves the facility and the youth at risk during electrical outages.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
Purchase a standby electrical generator for JGBJH to operate the potable water system. This work should be completed by November 1, 2024. (Finding 4)
F5
The Grand Jury also observed a damaged roof and hot water tank on one of the two CEO dormitories. This does not allow staff to use this building to house youth as intended.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Repair the damaged roof and water heater on the dormitory at CEO with confirmed pre- approved funding by October 1, 2024. (Finding 5 and 7)
F6
The JGBJH has dormitory rooms with peeling paint, leaving some rooms in the detention facility sub-standard as outlined by BSCC.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
Repaint the dormitory rooms at JGBJH that have peeling paint by September 1, 2024. (Finding 6)
F7
The Grand Jury discovered that a communication problem exists between the Probation Department and General Services on maintenance requests, project proposals, soft cost estimates, and timely follow up for proposal requests. General Services has many clients to serve including PYSB, but several projects have failed to mature because of both parties’ failure to effectively communicate. COMMENTS: The Grand Jury encountered staff members with the PYSB who expressed genuine interest in redirecting young people from destructive behaviors, encouraging positive change, and preparing them to reunite with their families. This effort, when complemented with KernBHRS treatment, allows staff to prepare youth to re-enter their communities. The closing of DJJ, the aging of the two detention facilities, and the inability to recruit and retain employees places a large financial burden on the PYSB budget. The potential reduction of County general funding along with California’s 2024-2025 $58 billion budget deficit (Legislative Analyst Office, January 15, 2024) negatively impacts their budget. The impact is real, and the effect will greatly influence the PYSB with the possibility of reduction in staffing, shuttering facilities, and funding future mental health and substance abuse programs offered to the youthful offender. The PYSB will be forced to trim its budget with limited resources while trying to make a “Dollar out of Fifteen Cents” (Lyrics by Tupac Shakur).
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
Establish quarterly communication meetings between General Services and the Probation Department starting June 1, 2024, to ensure that both departments are working cohesively on all projects and maintenance requests. (Finding 7) NOTES: • The Kern County Board of Supervisors and Kern County Probation Department should post a copy of this report where it will be available for public review. • Persons wishing to receive an email notification of newly released reports may sign up at: www.kerncounty.com/goverment/other-agencies/grand-jury. • Present and past Kern County Grand Jury Final Reports and Responses can be accessed on the Kern County Grand Jury website www.kerncounty.com/goverment/other- agencies/grand-jury. RESPONSE DEADLINE: REQUIRED WITHIN 90 DAYS FROM: • Kern County Board of Supervisors: Findings 1 - 7, Recommendations 1 - 8 • Kern County Probation Department: Findings 1 - 7, Recommendations 1 - 8 RESPONSES ARE REQUIRED PURSUANT TO CAL. PENAL CODE §§933(c) AND 933.05 WITHIN 90 DAYS TO: PRESIDING JUDGE SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF KERN 1415 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 212 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 TRUXTUN AVENUE, SUITE 600 BAKERSFIELD, CA 93301 Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Cal. Penal Code §929 requires that reports of the Grand Jury not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury. LIST OF ACRONYMS: APEX Achievement Perseverance and Excellence ASE Automotive Services Excellence BSCC Board of State and Community Corrections CCS College Community Services CEO Camp Erwin Owens COLA Cost of Living Adjustment CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation DAO District Attorney’s Office DJJ Department of Juvenile Justice DPO Deputy Probation Officer FTR Furlough Treatment and Rehabilitation FY Fiscal Year HIPAA Healthcare Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HVAC Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning JGBJH James G. Bowles Juvenile Hall JJCPA Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act JPPS Juvenile Probation Psychiatric Services KCPD Kern County Probation Department KCSOS Kern County Superintendent of Schools KernBHRS Kern Behavioral Health and Recovery Services MOU Memorandum of Understanding SB Senate Bill WIC Welfare and Institutions Code YSO Youth Services Officer APPENDICES:

Comments 5

No Responses Found 1

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