Orange County Grand Jury • 2011-2012

Detention Facilities Report – Part II - Juvenile Orange County Juvenile Detention and Treatment Facilities

Published: October 01, 2012 14 pages
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Findings and Recommendations 6 findings

F1
The placement of male and female detainees in a coed unit at Central Juvenile Hall at Central Juvenile Hall resulted in a boy and girl being together, in the female’s room for an extended period of time possibly engaging in sexual conduct without staff’s knowledge or consent.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
The Probation Department should review and possibly reconsider the placement of male and female juveniles in the same living unit. (See F1).
R2
Probation Department management should review and revise policies and procedures, training and performance of staff responsible for supervision and security in the unit where the alleged sexual misconduct occurred. (See F1).
F2
Maintenance in Unit I at Central Juvenile Hall needs attention with respect to the condition of the painted surfaces and general cleanliness of the unit.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
Probation Department management should conduct a thorough inspection of Unit I and other units to determine the condition of painted surfaces, cleanliness of vents and other maintenance problems and issue work orders to take corrective action where indicated. (See F2).
F3
Improvements are needed in the CJH visiting area including modification to the trailer to improve the general appearance (new carpeting), comfort (upgrade air conditioning), improve signage, and provide outdoor seating at the visitor’s entrance for early arrivals.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
Probation Department management should budget for replacement of the carpeting and improvement of the air conditioning in the visitation trailer. (See F3).
F4
The runaway rate at the Joplin Youth Center exceeded the norm during the past year. This is most likely because of the failure to screen minors with high runaway potential at the intake process.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
During the intake process, minors should be thoroughly screened for high runaway potential and those who have such potential should not be placed at Joplin Youth Center, an open camp with little security. (See F4)
F5
The brief length of stay at the Joplin Youth Center results in a high rate of turnover of students creating a difficult situation for the school teaching staff and minimizes the lasting effects of a positive rehabilitative experience.
No recommendations for this finding
F6
The risk management aspects of operating juvenile detention and correctional facilities could benefit from the availability of the Office of Independent Review to follow-up on serious behavioral incidents and assist in investigating allegations of staff misconduct.
Related Recommendations (2)
R6
A bench should be installed near the entrance to the visitation trailer for early arrivals. (See
R8
The Board of Supervisors should expand the scope of work for the Office of Independent Review to include reviews of the Probation Department Juvenile facilities operations. (See F6). REQUIREMENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS: The California Penal Code §933 requires any public agency which the Grand Jury has reviewed, and about which it has issued a final report, to comment to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court on the findings and recommendations pertaining to matters under the control of the agency. Such comment shall be made no later than 90 days after the Grand Jury publishes its report (filed with the Clerk of the Court); except that in the case of a report containing

Additional Recommendations 1

These recommendations are not explicitly linked to specific findings.