Public Safety in the Time of Covid Inspection of the Lake County Detention and Holding Facilities 2021

Recommendations 3

• R1

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  Due to its exceptional facility and programs, the County should continue to contract with Tehama County for detaining troubled youths. (F-5)
• R2

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  Using Probation officers as school resource officers should be encouraged by the County’s school districts. (F-6) REQUESTED RESPONSES: Pursuant to Penal Code section 933(c), the following responses are required: Board of Supervisors – R-1 – 90 days Probation Department – R-1, R-2 – 60 days Lake County Superintendent of Schools – R-2 – 60 days 3. LAKE COUNTY COURTHOUSE HOLDING FACILITY: This facility has “aged out” of the BSCC system and is on permanent waiver. As a part of the courthouse, the holding facility falls under state jurisdiction and is only maintained by the County. The facility is very basic and has had no improvements for many years and is rarely used. Inmates are usually taken directly to the courtroom for appearances and are rarely placed in the holding cells. CONCLUSION: There were no reportable findings. 4. KONOCTI CONSERVATION CAMP #27: The facility is jointly operated by the State Departments of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CalFire) and the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR). Its primary mission is to provide inmate fire suppression crews wherever needed in California. There are 35 minimum-security camps, statewide, in 25 counties, of which two are for women. Inmates volunteer to be assigned to a camp, and only those with fewer than five years left on their sentences and no history of arson, rape, or other sex crimes are eligible. Rehabilitation is continuously emphasized, beginning with simple discipline, such as getting up at 6 a.m., to help 107 them “make it in the world.” The formal disciplinary procedures progress from verbal warnings to written warnings to, at the extreme, being returned to prison. The Camp has a capacity of 100 inmates and currently houses 33 inmates, with some on fire crews and the rest in support roles (kitchen, vehicle maintenance, water treatment, office). In order to build cohesion, each fire crew has 12-16 members that train together, work together, sleep in the same pod, eat together, and relax together 24/7. All of the training is for wildland, not structure, fires. If an inmate passes an initial one week of physical education, he is then sent for two weeks of firefighting training. The inmates also prepare food in the field using mobile trailers. The inmates are paid $2.45/day, with an extra $1/hour when actually fighting a fire. Their sentences may be reduced because of their participation in this program. During the recent years of wildland fires, the inmates spent nearly eight thousand man-hours fighting fires throughout the State. CalFire has changed its policies to permit hiring qualified inmates after release. The US Forest Service and private fire agencies also can hire inmates, but municipal fire departments cannot. CC#27 also provides equipment maintenance and repair for all manner of fire service equipment. This unit can also operate as a mobile unit that travels to make repairs on-site. CC#27 also participates in conservation, fuel-reduction, and community-service programs in Lake, Napa, Sonoma, Yolo, Colusa, and Mendocino counties. The BSCC does not inspect this facility. FINDINGS:
• R3

  Page 115
  The County should negotiate a higher hourly rate for correctional officers and aides in accordance with the Class & Comp survey findings and supplement their health-care benefit costs on a par with the patrol officers. (F-5, F-8) 115 REQUEST FOR RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code section 933(c), the following responses are required: Board of Supervisors R-1, R-2, R-3 90 days Lake County Sheriff R-1, R-2, R-3 60 days The following response is invited: Behavioral Health (via BOS) R-2 90 days 116 117 118