Score: 0
(0/9/0)
Santa Cruz County Grand Jury
• 2020-2021
Justice in the Jail “The degree of civilization in a society can be judged by entering its prisons.” –
⚠️ Aviso de traducción: Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.
Findings and Recommendations 9 findings
F1
The Board of Supervisors has failed to assert and exercise proper oversight within their purview of the Main jail.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
the Board of Supervisors should either establish a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General as provided in Government Code § 25303.7, or alternatively place the issue before the voters in the county. (F1–F9)
R2
the Board of Supervisors should agendize and open for public comment issues raised by Government Code § 25303.7. (F1–F9)
R3
the Sheriff should propose for the Board of Supervisors’ review and approval an increase in Correction Officer staffing and associated budget to reduce the need for mandatory overtime and to sufficiently staff the Main Jail. (F1, F9)
F2
Adoption of a Sheriffs Oversight Board or Inspector General under Government Code § 25303.7 will provide necessary public transparency and structure to support the Board of Supervisors’ supervision of the Sheriff’s Office Corrections Bureau.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
the Board of Supervisors should either establish a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General as provided in Government Code § 25303.7, or alternatively place the issue before the voters in the county. (F1–F9)
R2
the Board of Supervisors should agendize and open for public comment issues raised by Government Code § 25303.7. (F1–F9)
F3
Adoption of a Sheriffs Oversight Board or Inspector General under Government Code § 25303.7 will provide an effective advocate before the Board of Supervisors and the public regarding the Sheriff’s needs.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
the Board of Supervisors should either establish a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General as provided in Government Code § 25303.7, or alternatively place the issue before the voters in the county. (F1–F9)
R2
the Board of Supervisors should agendize and open for public comment issues raised by Government Code § 25303.7. (F1–F9)
F4
The Correction’s Policy Manual must provide timely, comprehensive, applicable, and consistent guidelines for jail operations that serve to assure the safety of inmates and staff.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
the Board of Supervisors should either establish a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General as provided in Government Code § 25303.7, or alternatively place the issue before the voters in the county. (F1–F9)
R2
the Board of Supervisors should agendize and open for public comment issues raised by Government Code § 25303.7. (F1–F9)
R4
the Sheriff should amend the Correction’s Policy Manual to remove inapplicable provisions and to add provisions relating to razors that more effectively limit and control the conditions of their use by inmates. (F4, F5)
F5
The policies in the Correction’s Policy Manual regarding razors do not sufficiently assure that razors cannot be used by inmates to harm themselves or others.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
the Board of Supervisors should either establish a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General as provided in Government Code § 25303.7, or alternatively place the issue before the voters in the county. (F1–F9)
R2
the Board of Supervisors should agendize and open for public comment issues raised by Government Code § 25303.7. (F1–F9)
R4
the Sheriff should amend the Correction’s Policy Manual to remove inapplicable provisions and to add provisions relating to razors that more effectively limit and control the conditions of their use by inmates. (F4, F5)
F6
Events of violence and death in the Main Jail contrast negatively with the Sheriff's Office mission, visions, and goals.
Related Recommendations (2)
R1
the Board of Supervisors should either establish a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General as provided in Government Code § 25303.7, or alternatively place the issue before the voters in the county. (F1–F9)
R2
the Board of Supervisors should agendize and open for public comment issues raised by Government Code § 25303.7. (F1–F9)
F7
Old and outdated equipment and systems in the Main Jail are detrimental to safe, efficient, and effective management of the facility.
Related Recommendations (4)
R1
the Board of Supervisors should either establish a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General as provided in Government Code § 25303.7, or alternatively place the issue before the voters in the county. (F1–F9)
R2
the Board of Supervisors should agendize and open for public comment issues raised by Government Code § 25303.7. (F1–F9)
R5
Within three months the Sheriff’s Office and the General Services Department should establish formal protocols for regular monthly meetings to review the status of all correctional facilities, including providing estimates of completion for any repairs and/or replacements that are outstanding, and prioritizing items that directly affect the health and safety of inmates and/or staff. Such meetings should be documented and open to inspection by the County Administrative Officer and the Board of Supervisors. (F7, F8)
R6
the Sheriff’s Office and the General Services Department should provide a written report to the Board of Supervisors and the Chief Administrative Officer providing both the specifications for, and a timeline for completion of each stage of the project to replace and/or repair the backup emergency power system, and thereafter update such report every thirty days until such project is completed. (F7, F8)
F8
Long delays in replacing the backup power generators put staff and inmates at risk in the event of a power failure.
Related Recommendations (4)
R1
the Board of Supervisors should either establish a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General as provided in Government Code § 25303.7, or alternatively place the issue before the voters in the county. (F1–F9)
R2
the Board of Supervisors should agendize and open for public comment issues raised by Government Code § 25303.7. (F1–F9)
R5
Within three months the Sheriff’s Office and the General Services Department should establish formal protocols for regular monthly meetings to review the status of all correctional facilities, including providing estimates of completion for any repairs and/or replacements that are outstanding, and prioritizing items that directly affect the health and safety of inmates and/or staff. Such meetings should be documented and open to inspection by the County Administrative Officer and the Board of Supervisors. (F7, F8)
R6
the Sheriff’s Office and the General Services Department should provide a written report to the Board of Supervisors and the Chief Administrative Officer providing both the specifications for, and a timeline for completion of each stage of the project to replace and/or repair the backup emergency power system, and thereafter update such report every thirty days until such project is completed. (F7, F8)
F9
Limited staffing and requiring mandatory overtime of Correction Officers at the Main Jail are detrimental to performance, staff morale, and contribute to human error which can threaten the health and safety of staff and inmates.
Related Recommendations (3)
R1
the Board of Supervisors should either establish a Sheriff Oversight Board or Inspector General as provided in Government Code § 25303.7, or alternatively place the issue before the voters in the county. (F1–F9)
R2
the Board of Supervisors should agendize and open for public comment issues raised by Government Code § 25303.7. (F1–F9)
R3
the Sheriff should propose for the Board of Supervisors’ review and approval an increase in Correction Officer staffing and associated budget to reduce the need for mandatory overtime and to sufficiently staff the Main Jail. (F1, F9)
Conclusions 1
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CL1 Page 16Based on everything learned in this investigation we believe that it is critically important that everything be done to assure the health and safety of jail staff and inmates alike, and to go the extra mile to compensate for the reported structural deficiencies of the Main Jail. This paramount need includes the SO and the General Services Department making every effort to prioritize maintaining the necessary equipment and systems and upgrading them when necessary as expeditiously as possible. This need includes assuring that the Correction’s Policy Manual is current, and that necessary amendments be adopted to better control inmates’ access to potentially dangerous items. This need includes providing the Corrections Bureau with sufficient personnel to both fully staff the facility and reduce the dependence on mandatory overtime that is detrimental to both morale and efficiency. Last, but certainly not least, we believe that it is essential and in the public interest to improve oversight by adoption of a Sheriffs Oversight Board or Inspector General as authorized by Government Code § 25303.7. The Grand Jury strongly recommends that the issue be brought up before the Board of Supervisors. If the Board won't adopt it, put it on the ballot and let the voters decide.
Commendations 1
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CM1 Page 18C1. The Grand Jury commends the Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Office, and the Chief Deputy of the Corrections Bureau for their aggressive, efficient, and entirely successful actions that prevented any outbreak of COVID-19 in the inmate population. C2. The Grand Jury commends the Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Office and the Chief Deputy of the Corrections Bureau for adopting innovative programs designed to promote reentry and reduce recidivism. C3. The Grand Jury commends the Sheriff, the Sheriff’s Office and the Chief Deputy of the Corrections Bureau for fully cooperating with our investigation and providing requested documents and information.
Agency Responses 1
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.
No Responses Found 1
Government entities assigned to respond to this report. No response documents have been linked in our database.
Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors
Elected County Office