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Extraído del Informe Consolidado

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San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury • 2006-2007

16. the EL Paso DE Robles Youth Correctional Facility

Published: July 12, 2007 40 pages
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Note: Missing finding numbers detected: F4, F5, F6, F7, F8, F9, F10, F11, F12, F13, F14, F15, F16

Findings 4 findings

F1 Page 230
Change is difficult. The Grand Jury found that the leadership has created a positive climate and a great capacity for change among the senior staff. They clearly articulated an understanding of and commitment to the new model.
F2 Page 230
The Grand Jury is satisfied that YCF staff is doing a good job in the areas of public safety and welfare. Good safety and security measures are in place, with trained professional personnel monitoring all areas of the facility.
F3 Page 230
YCF is charged with the rehabilitation of the more serious youth offenders in the state. Considering that their stay at this facility averages about 15 months, there doesn’t seem to be enough time to substantially influence wards so that they are more likely to experience success after parole. RESOURCES ONLINE Analysis of the 2006-07 Budget Bill www.lao.ca.gov/analysis_2006/crim Juvenile Justice justice/cj_06_an106. California Department of www.cya.ca.gov/BudgetRegs/ Corrections and Rehabilitation cdcr_SOE. State of Emergency California Department of www.ebudget.ca.gov/ Corrections and Rehabilitation BudgetSummary/CLE8866383. Enhancing Public Safety in California/Implementation of Farrell v. Hickman 2006-2007 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Final Report: Page: 16-10 SUGGESTED ADDITIONAL READING “Safety and Welfare Remedial Plan Implementing Reform in California” July 10, 2006 2006-2007 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Final Report: Page: 16-11 2006-2007 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Final Report
F17
COUNTY JAIL AUTHORITY Section 919(b) California Penal Code states: “The Grand Jury shall inquire into the condition and management of the prisons within the county.” METHOD Members of the 2006-2007 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury visited the county jail and met with the County Sheriff-Coroner. A presentation was made by the Sheriff and members of his staff describing the Sheriff’s Department’s operational responsibilities. Afterward the Grand Jury conducted an inspection of the facilities, including the following: • Communication Center • Kitchen Facility • Honor Farm • Women’s Jail The State of California Board of Corrections (BOC) is responsible for conducting biennial inspections of the facility in accordance with Penal Code §6031, in addition to the yearly inspection by the County Grand Jury. The Grand Jury reviewed the BOC Inspection Report as part of its charge. 2006-2007 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Final Report: Page: 17-1 NARRATIVE The facility is located on Kansas Avenue, off Highway 1 on the outskirts of the city of San Luis Obispo. The initial structures were built in 1971, the conference room and kitchen were added in 1991, and the newer section of the jail was built in 1993. Non-violent inmates are housed at the Honor Farm. Still in use are World War II Army barracks that house weekend prisoners. There are approximately 98 Correctional and Senior Officers employed at the jail complex and court holding facility plus four officers currently in training. The county has budgeted for 108 officers, however, according to the Chief Deputy, the Department needs 120 officers. Correctional Officers attend an intensive five-week formal training period, followed by a probationary period of six month on-the-job training that includes an additional 24 hours of custodial training which is mandated by the State of California. Fortunately, due to the availability of in-house instructors, custodial training is extended to approximately 40-50 hours. The physical capacity of the jail, as rated by the California Standard Authority, is 518 prisoners. The average daily population, however, is 548 with about 630 on weekends. The term of incarceration per prisoner is one year or less, 6 months on average. Inmates who are being held for trial prior to conviction for a crime are usually housed separately, but receive the same treatment as other inmates. The women’s section of the jail has a rated capacity of 43, with 82 actual beds. During 2006, the female population exceeded 100 on occasion, with the overflow is forced to sleep on mattresses on the floor. Additionally, women are restricted to medium custody placement, with no opportunity to engage in any minimum or Honor Farm programs, such as grounds keeping, working in the animal shelter, etc. 2006-2007 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Final Report: Page: 17-2 CONCLUSION As stated in several prior Grand Jury reports, the County Jail continues to operate efficiently. In spite of overcrowding and its related problems, staff at the Jail and Honor Farm is performing admirably. The chronic overcrowding, which is growing worse yearly, especially in the women’s section has made the need for the County to find and dedicate funds for expansion more critical. On April 23, 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger announced a prison reform plan, that includes a provision of $1.2 billion for local jail beds. The time is ripe, therefore, for the County to determine how to access these funds. As the County experiences growth, it is likely that the jail population will increase at about the same rate as the County. It is critical for the welfare and safety of the citizens of this county to plan now and budget funds for future jail expansions. With recent increase in drug use, particularly methamphetamines, merely arresting and jailing drug abusers for short periods of time due to lack of bed space, will tend to clog our courts with repeat offenders. In addition, increased crime in metropolitan areas of California is overwhelming the State Prison System to the point that one solution in the near future will likely be to place additional prisoners at the county level instead of the state level, thus compounding the problems of overcrowding. FINDING Overcrowding, especially in the women’s section, continues to be the number one problem at the San Luis Obispo County Jail. Increases in county population, coupled with increases in drug abuse in the county, means that overcrowding will only get worse in the future. If the situation is 2006-2007 San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury Final Report: Page: 17-3 not addressed soon, the jail population could be capped judicially, as has occurred in other jurisdictions.

Recommendations 9