Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury Stanislaus County Jail and Temporary Detention Facilities Inspections

R1

The Sheriff’s Department shall be part of the site selection planning authority for the location of the new courthouse and conduct a needs assessment to see if a new men’s jail can be constructed at this location.

R2

Increase staffing level to ensure the safety of the staff, inmates and the public. REQUEST FOR RESPONSES The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors. The Honor Farm - 8224 West Grayson Road Modesto. The Honor Farm is a minimum-security facility for sentenced and qualifying un- sentenced adult male inmates. The facility is remote and staffing levels are considered low. The Honor Farm has outside exercise yards with recreational basketball, volleyball, and handball courts. On June 26, 2010, (after the last inspection by the SCCGJ), a fire burned and completely destroyed two of the four barracks. Each barrack had capacity for 86 beds and 172 total beds were lost due to the damage and the fire. After a thorough inspection, the fire was determined to be accidental. There were no injuries during the fire and one prisoner did escape the facility and turned himself in the next day at the men’s jail. During 2010, 13 escapes were reported but records could not conclusively provide details on how many of those were captured. The Honor Farm has monitored security cameras but like the other facilities, they need to be technologically enhanced. CSA is due to inspect the Honor Farm in April of 2011 while the Stanislaus County Health Services Agency inspected the facility on January 21, 2011. Early released prisoners are determined by a classification team within the Sheriff’s Department. Medical services had been provided on a daily 24-hour basis but that service has been cut to a one and one-half hour daily visit by CCS staff. During 2010, there were no reported in-custody deaths or suicides at the facility. The Alternative Work Program (AWP) is still operational and used. FINDINGS The SCCGJ finds that:

R3

Staffing level updates need to be upgraded to ensure public safety.

R4

Enhance the monitoring/video technology for safety/security.

R5

No improvement needed at this time.

R6

CCS shall be closely monitored by county health care officials to ensure compliance, accreditation, and satisfactory service.

R7

Water leaks immediately be corrected.

R8

No recommendation at this time. REQUEST FOR RESPONSES The Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department. The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors. Public Safety Center (PSC) - 200 East Hackett Road Modesto. Constructed in 1992, the PSC is the most modern correctional facility in the county. Maximum capacity is listed at 726 inmates although two constructed housing units have been shut down due to staffing layoffs. These units hold a total of 150 inmates but are currently not in use due to staffing shortages. PSC holds both male and female inmates separately and the PSC has the same classification and segregation standards as the men’s county jail. All female prisoners are booked and processed into the PSC. Laundry and food production services for the men’s jail, PSC, and the Honor Farm are conducted at this location. The kitchen area was clean and well supervised. Staff members were supportive while giving the SCCGJ an extensive tour of the jail. During 2010, there were no in-custody deaths or suicides. A special room was added in an effort to streamline transportation of inmates for criminal arraignments. The in-camera 5 room is used daily to hold arraignments and this can assist with the lowering of inmate population with releases authorized in accordance to law. The PSC is designed with the intention of additional construction when funds are available to cover the costs associated with such a venture. PSC faces a staffing dilemma due to reduced budgeting in the Sheriff’s Department. PSC has a chaplain and the CCS medical staff are located in this facility. All county facilities (with the exception of the Honor Farm and temporary detention facilities) have access to a Medical Doctor, RN, and LVN 24-hours per day, seven days a week. All CSA, Health Services, and fire inspection reports were current and presented upon our request. Staff at this facility receive annual mental health training in addition to other required updates. The next CSA inspection is due in April of 2011. During 2010, there were no in-custody deaths or suicides at this facility. The 2009/2010 SCCGJ recommended upgrading the video and monitoring system. Since the last SCCGJ report, $25,000.00 in upgrades were made to modify the monitoring and recording system at PSC. FINDINGS The SCCGJ finds that: