Stanislaus County Grand Jury
• 2015-2016
• Agency Response
Case # 16-13-gj Stanislaus County Jail Facilities Inspection*
⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 3 findings
F1
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each housing unit, and in the safety and sobering cells, since camera views into cells or showers are not permitted. Response: The Respondent agrees with the finding. Currently, Stanislaus County custodial deputies do not wear body cameras either
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
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installation of additional CCTV cameras in the general population units where permitted at the Public Safety Center. Response: The recommendation requires further analysis to evaluate the scope and cost associated with this recommendation. The department shall follow-up and further study this issue and a proposed timeline, if it is to be implemented later. It should be noted that the existing jail expansion projects for both AB 900-Phase II and SB 1022 include such cameras in their common areas.
F2
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in the facilities or on the street. Video recording devices are used if there is an incident or if there is a planned cell extraction. Response: The Respondent agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
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The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department should consider equipping custodial deputies in all detention facilities with personal body cameras that are activated when inmates are in pods outside of their cells. Response: The respondent disagrees wholly with this finding. The department has not entertained the use of body cameras for any deputies assigned either to Patrol Operations or Adult Detention facilities. The need to activate such technology only during times inmates are outside of their cells, excluding showers, or in a manner to avoid audio recording of private conversations without probable cause that a crime is being committed is both tedious and cumbersome for the assigned staff. The recommendation under R1 for additional CCTV cameras effectively negates the need for personal body cameras for custodial deputies, in that video recording of common area activities is accomplished. The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department should reconsider the current staffing
F3
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Twelve-hour shifts are difficult to fill when deputies are unexpectedly absent. Stani<u>slaus</u> RECEIVED 250 East Hackett Rd. • Modesto, CA 95358 JUN 2 9 2016 Mn (209) 525-7216 • FAX (209) 525-7106 STRIVING TO BE THE BEST www.scsdonline.com Civil Grand Jury June 16, 2016 The Honorable Marie Sovey Silveira Re: Response to Civil Grand Jury Report 16-13-GJ Response: The Respondent agrees with the finding
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Page 2
model of 12-hour shifts versus 8-hour shifts. In the alternative, consider creating part- time positions (reserve custodial deputies) to augment scheduling in the event of unanticipated absences and to serve as a resource for full-time candidates for hiring. Response: The respondent disagrees partially with the finding. The current 12-hour shift model was agreed upon through formal labor negotiations as part of an approved MOU between the Deputy Sheriff's Association (DSA) and the County. The 12-hour shift model has only been in effect since February 2015, which is a relatively brief period for analysis. Though there have been scheduling challenges associated with mandated overtime coverage, the County used language in the MOU to recently re-open discussions in an effort to address these challenges. All recruitment and hiring practices conducted by the department include the availability of positions for extra-help deputies; however, the candidate pool has, for the most part, not been interested in the extra-help positions. We June 16, 2016 The Honorable Marie Sovey Silveira Re: Response to Civil Grand Jury Report 16-13-GJ do have some filled positions working in Court Services and the facilities but the numbers are very small. Commendation: The SCCGJ would like to commend the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department on the SCCILS program offered at the PSC. The program has been well received by both staff and inmates and has contributed to a 33% reduction in the recidivism rate for those inmates that have completed the courses. This is an excellent program that has generated positive results. Response: The department appreciates the recognition of our programs by the SCCGJ. Our dedicated program staff has worked diligently to develop a viable array or programs that are evidence-based and focused on reducing the rate of recidivism. These programs will expand substantially with the completion of our jail expansion projects under AB 900-Phase II and in particular with the SB 1022 Re-entry and alternatives to Custody Training (REACT) Center. <b>Downtown Men's Jail (CJ)</b>
Commendations 4
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CM1 Page 3intimidation of custodial deputies and their families. Response: The respondent disagrees wholly with the finding. The department is legally mandated to ensure all legal documents, including activity logs, are properly filled out with necessary related activities, times and the legible names of the staff entering information on these documents. The documents are subject to discovery in court and validates that mandated activities occur, as required in policy, procedure and law. The deputies are trained in the full performance of their duties, including potential inherent risks associated with their duties, and accept these positions accordingly. Employees are not intimidated by the gang members or any other inmates with whom they come into contact.
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CM2 Page 3The SCCGJ would like to commend the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department on the SCCILS program offered at the PSC. The program has been well received by both staff and inmates and has contributed to a 33% reduction in the recidivism rate for those inmates that have completed the courses. This is an excellent program that has generated positive results. Response: The department appreciates the recognition of our programs by the SCCGJ. Our dedicated program staff has worked diligently to develop a viable array or programs that are evidence-based and focused on reducing the rate of recidivism. These programs will expand substantially with the completion of our jail expansion projects under AB 900-Phase II and in particular with the SB 1022 Re-entry and alternatives to Custody Training (REACT) Center. Downtown Men's Jail (CJ) Findings: Gang members' logs of custodial deputies' names and daily routines could cause F4. intimidation of custodial deputies and their families. Response: The respondent disagrees wholly with the finding. The department is legally mandated to ensure all legal documents, including activity logs, are properly filled out with necessary related activities, times and the legible names of the staff entering information on these documents. The documents are subject to discovery in court and validates that mandated activities occur, as required in policy, procedure and law. The deputies are trained in the full performance of their duties, including potential inherent risks associated with their duties, and accept these positions accordingly. Employees are not intimidated by the gang members or any other inmates with whom they come into contact. Recommendations: The Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department should consider removing the names R4. of custodial deputies from their uniforms. Response: The respondent disagrees wholly with the finding. The names of deputies on their uniforms is a common practice by uniformed law enforcement agencies throughout the country and required by the department's uniform policy. We do not operate in a
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CM3 Page 4The Honorable Marie Sovey Silveira June 16, 2016 Re: Response to Civil Grand Jury Report 16-13-GJ Page 4 of 4 covert environment and the names are important to ensure credibility in our interactions with the community, including criminals in our custody. There is boundless case law reinforcing the obligation to identify uniformed deputies to the public they serve. Day Reporting Center (DRC) Findings: None Recommendations: None Commendations: The SCCGJ commends the Stanislaus County Probation Department for their professionalism and assistance during the SCCGJ inspection process at the DRC. Response: The department sincerely appreciates the comments from the SCCGJ. As noted, the DRC is primarily managed by our partners at the Probation Department and more appropriate for comment by them. Sincerely, ADAM CHRISTIANSON Sheriff-Coroner Stanislaus County cc: Supervisor Dick Monteith, Chairman Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors Edward Halsey, Foreperson Pro Tempore Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury 2015-2016 Stan Risen, Chief Executive Officer Stanislaus County
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CM4 Page 4The SCCGJ commends the Stanislaus County Probation Department for their professionalism and assistance during the SCCGJ inspection process at the DRC. Response: The department sincerely appreciates the comments from the SCCGJ. As noted, the DRC is primarily managed by our partners at the Probation Department and more appropriate for comment by them. Sincerely, ADAM CHRISTIANSON Sheriff-Coroner Stanislaus County cc: Supervisor Dick Monteith, Chairman Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors Edward Halsey, Foreperson Pro Tempore Stanislaus County Civil Grand Jury 2015-2016 Stan Risen, Chief Executive Officer Stanislaus County
* 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.