Sutter County Sheriff"s Office Brandon Barnes Sheriff-coroner

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The Sutter County Sheriffs Department should invest in a full body scanner placed within the Sutter County Main jail by larrlary 1,2022.

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The Sutter County Sheriffs Department should purchase and install overhead netting over the open aired spaces/areas near the Medium Security facility and/or create a fenced off area preventing civilians from having access to this area by December 2021. Rll Resoonse: The Sheriffs Office appreciates the feedback from the Grand Jury, and this is a valid recommendation. The Sheriffhas directed the Jail Commander to research possible options and submit recommendations. If this project is fiscally feasible, it will be included in the budget proposal for FY20l2l, in hopes it would be completed by December of 2021. 1077 Civic Center Boulevard, Yuba City, CA 95993 Phone 530.822.7307 Fax 530.822.7318 SUTTER COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE BRANDON BARNES SHERIFF _ CORONER R.l The Sutter Counf Sheriffs Department should place surveillance cameras in the laundry room by January 1, 2021 .

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Resoonse: The Sheriffs Offrce previously recognized this as a deficiency in the laundry facility. Adding cameras to the laundry room was budgeted and this project has been completed. The laundry room and medium security courtyard cameras went active on June 2, 2020. The cameras in the laundry room and the laundry courtyard all possess zoom capabilities. The inside views cover the ent e main laundry room, where linens are washed and folded. The Sherifls Office is grateful for the recommendations of the Grand Jury. We feel we have an exemplary staff, but regretfully have finical limitations like most agencies our size. We will work to improve in the areas noted and continue to build upon our successes. If the Grand Jury would like to discuss any ofthese issues in greater detail, please feel free to contact the Office of the Sheriff- Brandon Bames Sheriff-Coroner RECENED 0I2020 JUL df4$ffi#g,f#om 1077 Civic Center Boulevard, Yuba City, CA 95993 Phone 530.822.7307 Fax 530.822.7318 CALIFORNIA CODES PENAL CODE SECTION 92s-933.6 933. (c) No later than 90 days after the grand jury submits a final report on rhe operations ofany public agency subject to its reviewing authority, the goveming body ofthe public agency shall comment to the presidingjudge ofthe superior court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the goveming body, and every elected county officer or agency head for which the grand jury has responsibility pursuant to Section 914.1 shall comment to the presidingjudge ofthe 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. In any city and county, the mayor shall also comment on the findings and recommendations. All ofthese comments and reports shall forthwith be submitted to the presidingjudge ofthe superior court who impaneled the gmnd jury. A copy ofall responses to grand jury reports shall be placed on file with the clerk ofthe public agency and the oflice ofthe county clerk, or the mayor when applicable, and shall remain on file in those offices. One copy shall be placed on file with the applicable grand jury final report by, and in the control ofthe currently impaneled grand jury, where it shall be maintained for a minimum of five years. 933.05. (a) For purposes ofsubdivision (b) ofSection 933, as to each grand jury finding, the responding person or entity shall indicate one ofthe following: (l) The respondent agrees with the finding. (2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which case the response shall speci! the portion ofthe finding that is disputed and shall include an explanation ofthe reasons thereforc. (b) For purposes of suMivision (b) ofSection 933, as to each grand jury recommendation, the responding person or entity shall report one ofthe following actions: (l) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary regarding the implemented action. (2) The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be implemented in the future, with a timeframe for implementation. (3) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and the scope and parameters ofan analysis or study, and a timeframe for the matter to be prepared for discussion by the officer or head ofthe agency or departrnent being investigated or reviewed, including the goveming body ofthe public agency when applicable. This timeframe shall not exceed six months fiom the dale of publication ofthe grand jury report. (4) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable, with an explanation therefore. (c) However, ifa finding or recommendation ofthe grand jury addresses budgetary or personnel matters ofa county agency or department headed by an elected offrcer, both the agency or departrnent head and the board ofsupervisors shall respond if requested by the grand jury, but the response ofthe board of supervisors shall address only those budgetary or personnel matters over which it has some decision-making authority. The response ofthe elected agency or department head shall address all aspects ofthe findings or recommendations affecting his or her agency or department. (d) A grand jury may request a subject person or entity to come b€fore the grand jury for the purpose of reading and discussing the findings of the grand j ury report that relates to that person or entity in order to veri! the accuracy ofthe findings prior to their rclease. (e) During an investigation, lhe grand jury shall meet with the subject ofthat investigation regarding the investigation, unless the court, either on its own determination or upon request ofthe forepeBon of the grand jury, determines that such a meeting would be defimental. (f) A grand jury shall provide to the affected agency a copy ofthe portion ofthe grand jury report relating to that person or entity two working days prior to its public release and after the approval of the presidingjudge. No ollicer, agency, department, or governing body ofa public agency shrll disclose rny contents of the report prior to the public rele8se ofth€ fitrol report SUTTER COUNTY JAIL SUMMARY Pursuant to Cal. Penal Code $919 (b) the Sutter CouDty Grand Jury (SCGI) shall inquire into the condition and management of the public prisons within the county, which allows the SCGJ the ability to investigate how effectively the Sutter County Sheriffs Departnent administers the Sutter County Jail. T\e 2019'2020 SCGJ inspected and toured the Sutter County Jail facility. lnterviews were conducted with county contractd employees of the Sutter County Sheriffs Department, as well as multiple inmates housed within the Sutter County Jail facility. The SCGJ found various areas of concern regarding contraband being intoduced into the Sutter County Jail facility, lack of surveillance cameras in a pertinent area within the medium security jail facility, and lastly an understaffing issue. BACKGROUI{D The Sutter County Main Jail facility is located at 1077 Civic Center Boulevard, Yuba City, Califomia. The Sutter County Sheriffs Deparment serves the CouDty population of approximately 96,,[3t The Sutt€r County Jail was recently approved for a State Building Gran! which paid for 90% ofthe newly completed construction project for the expansion of the Sutter County Jail. This new expansion has provided 42 additional beds for the inmates, specifically 28 male beds and 14 female beds. The SCGJ was imprcssed by the state-of-the-art expansion which included new pod configuration, classroom capabilities, and an open-aired exercise yard. The Sutter County Sheriffs Department had a new Sheriff elected in 2019, who has been proactively working with the Sutter County community showing transparency and a desire to see the community flourish successfully. The Sutter County Sheriffs Department is very engaged on social media pages to connect with the public, and participates in various community outreach events like 'Coffee with the Community', 'Slice with the Sheriff, 'Soft Serve with the Sutter County Sheriff and many more. The Sheriffhas also been receptive towards changes that need to be made from within the jail. TTETHODOLOGY Tours: o Sutter County Main Jail Facility . Sutter County Medium Security Jail Facility . Sutter County Sheriffs Departnrent Office o South Placer County Jail 6 Inteniews: o Employees of the Sutter County Sheriffs Deparment . City of Yuba City statr o South Placer County Jail staff . City of Yuba City Fire personael Research: o Sutter County Sherif s Office Jail Operations Manual r Sutter County Jail hmate Handbook o South Placer County Jail documentation . Sutter County Sheriffs Deparment Confidential corespotrdence . Webpages: www.suttersheriff.ore/ httos ://www.placer.ca- gov/ httos ://www. cdcr.ca- eov/ httos://osfrn.fi re.ca eov/ https ://www.appeal-democrat.com/ httos ://leeinfo.leeislatue.ca. gov/ https://www. soo gle.corn /maos https ://www. slobaJindustrial.cor/ Dtscusstot{ The SCGJ conducted multiple interviews with various Sutter County Sheriffpersonnel. During a final walkthrough ofthe Sutter County Jail, the SCGJ observed that the new expansion was not being used, which, according to staff interviews, was due to lack of staffing. The Sutter County Jail competes with other higher paying departnents, which makes it difficult to interest applicants, but are sEiving to recruit new members to their department to resolve the personnel understaffing. The SCGJ became aware that contraband is being smuggled into the jail and spoke with various Sutter County personnel about possible solutions. Contraband comes in many forms, including but not limited to, tobacco, cigarette lighters, items that can be weaponized, controlled substances, cellular devices, and much more. It was noted that most of the contraband was being brought in by the arrestees and occasionally by the public who have found opportunities around the unsecured exterior of the jail. The 2018/2019 SCGJ recommended that the medi"m securities facility needs to be blocked offto prevent unauthorized public access, and to help prevent contraband from being introduced into thejail from outside sowces. According to personnel, building a new security perimeter around the Sutter County Sheriffs Department facility is currently being budgeted. There are also two fenced in exercise yards located behind the facility with no netting or prevention in place to catch any contraband from lsing thrown over. Provided below is an aerial satellite photograph of the Sutter County Sheriffs Deprrtment specifically highlighting the open-aired exercise yards circled in red. The newly completed jail expansion is also circled in red for reference purposes. n"t c I ,''=--- ,.,:: tr" lr.i \ r--:] r. r ) 3 r I I -! . r, _- _ -tr r lnmates have access to these open-aired spaces while working in the laundry room or exercising in the fenced in yards. The SCGJ discussed the idea of overhea4 fire rnarshal approved, netting being placed over the open-aired areas of the medium security facility. This could limit or prevent contraband from being tlrown over 616sg fpn6es f61 inrnates to obtain. Provided on the next page is a screenshot that was given to the SCGJ from Sutter County Sherilfs Department personnel of a possible preventative measure that can be put in place. 8 @f,.BAL @