negative pressure rooms for airborne contagious diseases, and an infirmary with 15 rooms, including a visitation area

Recommendations 2

• R1

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  It is recommended that administrative staff continue to value and provide appropriate training and professional development to prison staff.
• R2

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  It is recommended that the same level of staffing and training be maintained, to ensure the same quality of treatment and supervision is provided for inmates. REQUIRED RESPONSES: No response is required as Centinela State Prison is a State Agency. DISCLAIMER: Reports issued by the Grand Jury do not identify individuals interviewed. Penal Code section 929 requires that reports of the Grand Jury not contain the name of any person or facts leading to the identity of any person who provides information to the Grand Jury. -38- 2018-2019 IMPERIAL COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT Imperial County 2018-2019 Civil Grand Jury Imperial County Jail ANNUAL INSPECTION JUSTIFICATION California State Law mandates that the Civil Grand Jury (Grand Jury) will inspect all prison and jail facilities on a yearly basis. -39- 2018-2019 IMPERIAL COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT BACKGROUND: The Imperial County Jail is operated by the Corrections Division of the Imperial County Sheriff’s Office (ICSO). The ICSO employs 132 individuals, including 1 Chief, 3 Lieutenants, 12 Sergeants, 11 Corporals, 67 Correctional Officers, 14 Clerical Staff, and 24 Support Staff. These employees work among the three facilities adjoining the main ICSO building. The three facilities include the Herbert Hughes Correction Center (HHCC), built in the 1960s, the Regional Adult Detention Facility (RADF), built in the 1970s, and the Oren Fox Detention Center (OFDF), which became operational in 2018. Regional Adult Detention Facility Incarceration admission occurs at the RADF. The process is as follows: First, individuals are booked and given a brief medical screening; Then, they are put into a temporary holding cell; Next, they are sent to a dressing room and issued clothing; Then, if needed, inmates are sent to the medical treatment center; Finally, inmates are placed in an incarceration cell. At the RADF, there are twelve separate cell modules, each consisting of ten to twenty cells. These modules are known as pods. The RADF has a capacity of 279 inmates, both male and female. The general population is made up of those who are unsentenced. There are also groups of sentenced inmates, including those under administrative segregation, those with special needs, and those who are high risk. Herbert Hughes Correctional Center The HHCC contains two dormitories and a multipurpose room, which were added to the facility in 1989. The dormitories are divided into six separate dormitories and have the total capacity to house 314 inmates. Originally, the HHCC was intended to house county inmates who had been sentenced for a period of up to one year. However, with the passing of Assembly Bill (AB) 109 in 2011, state-sentenced inmates may be housed in the HHCC facility for as long as twenty-two years. AB 109 transferred responsibility for supervising certain kinds of felony offenders and state prison parolees from state prisons and state parole agents, to county jails and probation officers. Oren Fox Detention Facility The Oren Fox Detention Facility is an 8,000 square foot medium security facility named after retired Imperial County Sheriff Oren R. Fox, who served 23 years in the ICSO, and who dedicated his life protecting the community among his 40 years in law enforcement. The $33 million facility was funded by the State through AB 900. It started housing inmates in September 2018. OFDF features six housing pods, which can each house 45 inmates. There are four additional medical beds designated for treating inmates. It has a capacity of 274 inmates. In addition to -40- 2018-2019 IMPERIAL COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT housing, it can provide healthcare, rehabilitative programs, educational programs, intake and release, and is the site of administrative and support service offices. OFDF is designed to encompass a new concept of detention in the Imperial County. The new concept, called Direct Supervision, will have a correctional officer stationed inside a pod 24 hours a day along with the inmates. This interaction has been proven to lower assaults and lower tension within a detention facility. Currently, much of the OFDF is unused. Due to funding limitations, it cannot operate at full capacity, and instead operates only one pod at a time (housing only 36 inmates). The other pods are empty. Although it was designed to improve and streamline the booking, intake, and health screening processes, these services continue to be performed at the RADF. The Imperial County Jail will trial the booking and intake process at the OFDF in the future and determine what services can be moved to this new building. METHODOLOGY: The Imperial County Civil Grand Jury (Grand Jury) conducted an inspection of the Imperial County Jail that included a tour of major areas of the facilities. Prior to their tour, the Grand Jury were given a presentation outlining the present and future goals of the jail. The Jail staff encouraged questions and answered them fully, providing backup statistics, as well as general information in writing. The Grand Jury used a checklist, developed by previous members, to guide their inspection. The checklist included, but was not limited to, the general safety and security of the facility, food services, medical services, as well as key and tool control. The Grand Jury toured various areas of each facility. All staff members encountered were courteous and open to answering questions posed by the Grand Jury. The Grand Jury found many staff members to be bilingual in English and Spanish, which appeared to be an asset in the Imperial County. The Grand Jury also learned that there are language services available for communicating with inmates who speak other languages. When asked, multiple staff members stated that the jail is often understaffed. DISCUSSION: Medical Care Physical Health The Imperial County Jail has medical staff on duty twenty-four hours daily for inmate injuries -41- 2018-2019 IMPERIAL COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY FINAL REPORT and illnesses. The county contracts with outside medical care services to evaluate the physical health needs of inmates. Medical services are part of the admission process, where a pre- medical questionnaire is filled out during booking. If the questionnaire indicates possible medical problems, after receiving their clothing, new inmates are sent to the medical treatment center for evaluation and screening. Mental Health The Imperial County Jail contracts with an outside mental health service to help evaluate the mental health needs of its inmates. There were reportedly 306 inmate mental health contacts up to the date of the Grand Jury tour. It was explained that the early diagnosis of mental health problems can be facilitated by having inmates sign a HIPAA waiver form. By alerting Imperial County Jail staff in advance of any medical diagnoses or issues, problems can be addressed before they arise. Food Preparation/Services The Imperial County Jail serves approximately 56,155 meals per year. Jail staff reported that the cost of each meal was about $2.30. Correctional staff serve meals in the pods directly, where the inmates are housed. The Grand Jury observed the food preparation area which appeared to be clean and sanitary. Some of that area appeared to be worn but still usable. Jury members did not notice any kitchen appliances to be deficient. The meals have a balanced calorie count and meal temperatures are recorded before serving. Safety and Security In each part of the jail, cameras have been installed so staff can monitor the inmates. Some of the cameras can zoom and pan-in to help increase safety and security. The OFDF has an Officer working in a control center in a second level located above the pod, allowing them to monitor and ensure the safety of both Correctional Officers and inmates. Recidivism Prior to the tour, the jury was given a presentation outlining the present and future goals of the Imperial County Jail. Some goals related to assisting inmates in not returning to jail (recidivism). This is targeted by helping inmates develop life skills through counseling with various issues, including drug and alcohol dependency, as well as family relationship counseling. The presentation outlined classes available to inmates, including education classes, cooking, yoga, electrician apprenticeship, graphic design, landscaping, choir, small engine repair, basic construction, and solar panel work. In addition, mentoring is provided by successful former inmates. Spiritual guidance is available through community volunteers. -42-