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Findings and Recommendations 16 findings
F1
During the interviews and early tours of the jail facility, it became apparent to this Grand Jury that communication regarding jail conditions between the Plumas County Jail, the Plumas County Sheriff's Department, the Plumas County Facility Services Department, and the Plumas County Board of Supervisors was inadequate. There is no written system or follow-up procedure in place to ensure that maintenance problems be attended to in a timely manner.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
However, if a finding or a recommendation of the Grand Jury addresses budgetary or personnel matters of a county department headed by an elected officer, both the agency or department head and the Board of Supervisors shall respond if requested by the Grand Jury, but the response of the Board of Supervisors shall address only those budgetary or personnel matters over which it has some decision making authority. The response of the elected agency or department head shall address all aspects of the findings or recommendations affecting his or her agency or department. A Grand Jury may request a subject person or entity to come before the Grand Jury for the purpose of reading and discussing the findings of the Grand Jury report that relates to that person or entity in order to verify the accuracy of the findings prior to their release. During the investigation, the Grand Jury shall meet with the subject of that investigation regarding the investigation, unless the court, either on its own determination or upon request of the foreman of the Grand Jury, determines that such a meeting would be detrimental.
F2
The jail facility is annually inspected by the local Fire Warden and the Grand Jury, and is inspected biennially by the California Board of Corrections. This Grand Jury found that the small repairs recommended by these agencies' inspections were eventually taken care of, but the more serious repairs that were required have been brushed off with statements of "not my responsibility", "waiting for someone to get back to me", and "waiting for bids".
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The Undersheriff and the Facility Services Director should oversee the implementation of a program of ongoing inspections of the jail facility. This program should include the documentation of all inspection results and any repairs made. The Board of Supervisors should be notified in open session at least once quarterly regarding the conditions at the jail facility. The Board of Supervisors should take an active part to ensure unsafe conditions and maintenance issues are addressed and remedied with expedience.
F3
There are serious security issues at the jail facility which compromise the safety of not only the Sheriff's Department staff and jail detainees, but also the citizens of Plumas County. Issues of concern are: a. There is no perimeter fence around the jail thus allowing members of the public direct access to the exercise yards. Items could be left for inmates or yard fencing could be cut to facilitate an escape. b. The doors to access the main electrical breakers that provide power to the facility are unsecured allowing for a complete shutdown of power to the jail. c. The jail facility is understaffed.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
The Administration of the A&D work with Human Resources on revising the job descriptions for the Department to more accurately reflect the actual duties and training required of the positions.
F4
There are some security and maintenance issues that have been present for a number of years, as has been noted in past Grand Jury reports, and have still not been corrected: a. The Control Room still contains a crowded maze of wires piled up on the floor which according to jail staff occasionally emit sparks and smoke. b. There are no slots in the maximum security cell doors for the passage of food trays and other items requiring the jail staff to come in direct contact with the maximum security inmates. c. There is no automated lock-in control when moving inmates from one cell to another.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
A Grand Jury shall provide to the affected agency a copy of the portion of the Grand Jury report relating to that person or entity two working days prior to its public release and after the approval of the presiding judge. No officer, agency, department, or governing body of a public agency shall disclose any contents of the report prior to the public release of the final report. Requirement to Respond No later than ninety (90) days after the Grand Jury submits a final report on the operations of any public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of the public agency (includes departments) shall comment to the presiding judge of the superior court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the governing body, and every elected county officer or agency head for which the Grand Jury has responsibility pursuant to Section 914.1 shall comment within sixty (60) days to the presiding judge of the superior court, with an information copy sent to the Board of Supervisors, on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of that county officer or agency head and any agency or agencies which that officer or agency head supervises or controls. All of these comments and reports shall forthwith be submitted to the presiding judge of the superior count who impaneled the Grand Jury. Distribution List The Final Report of the 2004-2005 Plumas County Grand Jury will be distributed to the following individuals and agencies: The Honorable Judge Ira Kaufman The Honorable Judge Garrett W. Olney Plumas County Grand Jury -2006 Plumas County Board of Supervisors Clerk of the Board of Supervisors Plumas County Administrative Officer Plumas County Alcohol and Drug Department Plumas County Auditor/Controller Plumas County Building Department Plumas County Clerk Plumas County Counsel Plumas County Department of Human Resources Plumas County Development Commission Plumas County Facilities Services Department Plumas County Fire Departments Plumas County Flood Control and Water Conservation District Plumas County Information and Technology Department (Website) Plumas County Jail Plumas County Libraries Plumas County Mental Health Department Plumas County Office of Emergency Services (OES) Plumas County Planning Department Plumas County Probation Department Plumas County Public Health Agency Plumas County Sheriff Plumas County Unified School District California State Archivist City of Portola Grizzly Lake Resort Improvement District California Department of Forestry Battalion Chief for Plumas County Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) State Attorney General's Office Available on-line - countyofplumas.com PLUMAS COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT
F5
The Plumas County Board of Supervisors is aware of the unsafe and potentially dangerous conditions that exist at the jail, but most appear apathetic. The Board appears to have ignored its responsibility where the jail is concerned and seems satisfied with passing all of the responsibility onto the Sheriff's Department. At the time of this report's completion, no member of the Board had yet implemented the 2003-4 Grand Juries' recommendation to visit the jail facility at least once yearly.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
The Sheriff's Department should follow the established county bid process when attempting to procure outside companies or businesses to complete work within the jail facility. The county's bid process details specific conditions to follow as well as specific deadlines for the process to be completed, The Departments of the Sheriff and Facility Services should know the stage of a particular project all times.
F6
The Sheriff and the Undersheriff (overseer of the jail facility) appear to ignore, deny, or be unwilling to accept the responsibility for any maintenance, repairs, or remedial work and are complacent, relying and acquiescing to the Facility Services Department. The Automatic Fire Sprinkler System is in disrepair. There is no regard for these conditions by the Facility Services Department, the Sheriff's Department or the jail personnel. The Office of the State Fire Marshal noted the following deficiencies: a. The sprinkler system inspection is past due for its required five (5) year servicing. b. The facility does not have any records showing that the sprinkler system is tested and inspected quarterly as required. c. The Corporal's office does not have fire sprinkler coverage.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
Based on the observations and findings made by this Grand Jury, as well as previous Grand Jury, an urgent recommendation is made to the Board of Supervisors to seriously begin planning to replace the jail facility. The longer the Board of Supervisors procrastinates in facing it's obligation to the citizens of Plumas County, the more the construction costs increase. As we have seen and are currently seeing, building costs in California are increasing exponentially. It is essential that the Board of Supervisors plan now for a new jail for Plumas County. The Plumas County Jail, from the very onset, was poorly designed and was never conducive to a safe working environment for jail employees or the incarcerated inmates. The working area of the facility is too small in proportion to the confinement areas thus creating a working environment that is overcrowded with employees, equipment, and supplies. Security issues are at a level that put not only people within the jail at risk, it also puts the citizens of Plumas County at risk. A new jail would not only greatly enhance the security of all concerned but would provide a facility that would accommodate Plumas County well into the 21st century. The Board of Supervisors should take a more proactive part by insisting the following remaining, uncorrected deficiencies be corrected as soon as possible: a. A sprinkler should be installed in the Corporal's office. b. A company should be contracted to provide five year services and certification of the sprinkler system. c. A company should be contracted to provide a quarterly inspection of the sprinkler system. d. An eighteen (18) inch clearance around the sprinkler heads should be maintained, e. A fire drill procedure should be created and a fire drill log should be maintained. f. The exterior sprinkler system alarm and alarm bell should be connected. g. The exterior sprinkler system valve should be repaired. h. The sprinkler system shut-off valve should have a lock. i. Sprinklers should be installed in the work furlough day room and sleeping area. j. Wiring on the floor and the exposed wiring in the wall of the control room should be put in conduit. k. The hole in the wall of the work furlough sleeping area should be repaired.
F7
There is little evidence that the Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board has any influence or oversight in the operation of the A&D Department. In addition, the Advisory Board's participation in the selection of the new A&D Director was discouraged by the Board of Supervisors. There is little evidence that the Board of Supervisors has performed oversight activities in the A&D Department. The A&D facility is inadequate and isolated from other services. The walls of the therapist meeting rooms are thin enough to allow passers-by to hear the conversations within and are therefore not adequate to ensure confidentiality.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7
A Board of Supervisors member and the A&D Department staff members attend every meeting of the Alcohol and Drug Advisory Board.
F8
The following additional deficiencies with the Sprinkler System were noted either in the above mentioned inspection reports or by personal observations made during this Jury's three (3) tours of the facility: a. There is no contract for the five (5) year required servicing and certification of the
Related Recommendations (1)
R8
The Board of Supervisors take a more active interest in the performance of the A&D and request in-depth information from them regularly until such time as the Board feels that the personnel issues have been resolved. We recommend a Department Progress Report that could include such information as activities of staff, success of programs, year to-date budget expenditures, and reports from the A&D liaisons.
F9
Using the above mentioned inspection reports, as well as personal observations made during this Grand Jury's three (3) tours of the facility, the following list of deficiencies with the jail facility's electrical system was compiled: a. Extension cords are being used as permanent wiring in the control room and the air handler room. b. Wiring on the floor in the control room is not in conduit. c. Exposed wiring in the wall of the control room is not in conduit. d. An EXIT light in the minimum security corridor is missing. e. An EXIT light in the main security corridor is missing. f. There are exposed junction boxes in the air handler room. g. There is an exposed junction box in a cell.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9
A new facility, that provides appropriate accommodations and adequate security for clients, be found as quickly as possible.
F10
The following list of miscellaneous deficiencies with the jail facility was compiled by this Grand Jury using the above mentioned inspection reports as well as personal observations made during this Grand Jury's three (3) tours of the facility: a. There are holes in the wall and ceiling in the air handler room. b. There is a hole in the ceiling in the North Minimum holding cell. c. There is a hole in the wall in the work furlough sleeping area. d. There is an air diffuser missing in the laundry corridor. e. Weed abatement of ten (10) feet from the building is not maintained. f. There is no generator testing log or maintenance log. g. There is no service contract to inspect or maintain the generator. h. The dishwasher is not working and sanitizing properly.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10
The A&D improve communications with the California Highway Patrol and the Sheriff's Department to help eliminate the errors found in the DUI statistical data reporting.
F11
The expenditure for out-of-county residential treatment programs has increased steadily over the last several years, and has nearly doubled since last year. There are many factors for determining whether a client is better served by the programs available within the County, or by residential treatment programs not available within the County. However, the Grand Jury has found that the lack of trust between the two "camps" of employees has led to an undetermined number of clients either being underserved within the County or being sent out of the County for treatment at additional expense.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11
The Board of Supervisors considers the feasibility of operating needed residential care facilities within the County. The savings to the County by eliminating the need to send clients out of the county would go a long way to decrease this budget expenditure and provide a better quality of care to its residents. Conclusion In the course of our investigation, this Grand Jury became informed of numerous allegations of impropriety by staff members. The Grand Jury has worked diligently to not only verify each allegation, but also attempted to categorize them in an effort to keep our focus on the Department as a whole, not on an individual mistake. Put succinctly, we feel many of this department's problems are heightened by (if not a result of) interpersonal relationship conflicts. There were several seemingly improper actions by staff members that the Grand Jury felt were a result of the antagonism that is so pervasive throughout the Department. The Grand Jury's findings were focused on the core issues and not the small details. The Grand Jury did its best to focus on areas that may help to make this department more productive. It is the Grand Jury's hope that with consistent management and increased oversight, this department will again be one upon which our citizens may rely. PLUMAS COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT Function The Plumas County Mental Health Department (MHD) is an outpatient service providing a full range of outpatient, case management and socialization services. More intensive services such as acute hospitalization, long-term intensive residential and state hospital services are provided by contracting with the appropriate agencies in question. The services includes: emergency assessments, outpatient services, inpatient services, case management, day treatment programs, medication support and therapeutic behavioral services. The MHD is the managed care provider for all MediCal mental health services in the county.
F12
The MHD operates a number of quality programs within its area of practice. The MHD is to be commended for the hard work of its employees and for the implementation of innovative and supportive programs. Notable, are Sierra House, the Respite Program, and the Wilderness Program.
No recommendations for this finding
F13
The recently passed California Proposition 63 should increase revenue for the MHD.
No recommendations for this finding
F14
The MHD staff meets face-to-face once a week for four hours. Otherwise, the small staff is spread out in the various communities it serves and rarely comes together except for the weekly staff meetings. Most communication among staff is done by phone, a highly inefficient method for a task that requires communication and relay of client information. As a result, there have been errors.
No recommendations for this finding
F15
MHD knowledge of Grand Jury investigations caused the stoppage of all quality control with Plumas District Hospital.
No recommendations for this finding
F16
An administrator of MHD violated the admonition of the Grand Jury to keep discussion with the Grand Jury confidential.
No recommendations for this finding
Additional Recommendations 4
These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.
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R95-96Central Plumas Recreation District
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R97-98Mental Health 95-96, 99-00 X Plumas County Public Health Agency Χ Public Administrator Public
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R98-99Χ Χ X Χ X Fire Ag. Commissioner Engineering Environmental Health Housing and Community Development Local Agency Formation Commission Planning Χ 95-96, 97-98, Public Works
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R99-00Χ Building Building and Grounds
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 19In the course of our investigation, this Grand Jury became informed of numerous allegations of impropriety by staff members. The Grand Jury has worked diligently to not only verify each allegation, but also attempted to categorize them in an effort to keep our focus on the Department as a whole, not on an individual mistake. Put succinctly, we feel many of this department’s problems are heightened by (if not a result of) interpersonal relationship conflicts. There were several seemingly improper actions by staff members that the Grand Jury felt were a result of the antagonism that is so pervasive throughout the Department. The Grand Jury’s findings were focused on the core issues and not the small details. The Grand Jury did its best to focus on areas that may help to make this department more productive. It is the Grand Jury’s hope that with consistent management and increased oversight, this department will again be one upon which our citizens may rely. 16 PLUMAS COUNTY MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT Function The Plumas County Mental Health Department (MHD) is an outpatient service providing a full range of outpatient, case management and socialization services. More intensive services such as acute hospitalization, long-term intensive residential and state hospital services are provided by contracting with the appropriate agencies in question. The services includes: emergency assessments, outpatient services, inpatient services, case management, day treatment programs, medication support and therapeutic behavioral services. The MHD is the managed care provider for all MediCal mental health services in the county.
Commendations 4
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CM1 Page 16The main electrical breakers are now secured with fencing and locks. However, not only does the chain link structure need to be enlarged to adhere to PG & E's equipment clearance guidelines, but also the roof of the chain link structure has collapsed under the weight of snow requiring the need to redesign the structure as a whole.
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CM2 Page 16Negotiations with the Public Works Department are underway for installation of food slots in the maximum security cell doors.
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CM3 Page 16A full-time employee of the Facility Services Department is now assigned, specifically, to maintain the Jail. PLUMAS COUNTY ALCOHOL AND DRUG DEPARTMENT Function The mission of the Plumas County Alcohol and Drug Department (A&D) is to improve the quality of life in the County through lowering the impact and incidence of alcohol and other drugs of abuse. The State requires five (5) primary divisions of the A&D Department. • The Prevention Program includes educational youth programs such as Friday Night Live. • The Drug Courts include an adult division that entails such services as drug testing and counseling. • The Treatment Services include outpatient and residential services. • The Driving Under the Influence (DUI) Program is a drunk driving school. • The Perinatal Program helps pregnant women, women with children and their families with recovery from substance abuse. The A&D Department is funded by State and Federal dollars as well as funds from legal fines and client payments for certain services. Therefore, it is imperative for the A&D Department to collaborate with many other County departments including the Mental Health Department and the District Attorney’s Office. The State and Federal funds are closely monitored by State and Federal agencies. Client fees are set by the Plumas County Board of Supervisors.
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CM4 Page 28In spite of the problems facing the fire departments, there is a good esprit de corps among the fire fighters. They willingly assist other departments and agencies and respond to emergencies without regard to funding and the quality of their equipment. 25 PLUMAS COUNTY FACILITIES SERVICES DEPARTMENT Function The Facilities Services Department (FSD) is charged with providing and maintaining acceptable environments in which all county employees are able to comfortably carry out their individual duties. The FSD maintains over thirty (30) facilities and real properties owned and/or operated by the county.
No Responses Found 2
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Plumas County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office
Plumas County Sheriff
Elected County Office
* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.