Score: +2
(2/1/0)
San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury
• 2014-2015
California Men’s Colony Inspection Report
⚠️ 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 7 findings
F1
The chapels at CMC are dilapidated and by personal observations of the Grand Jury contain asbestos, and mold is growing on the walls and ceilings. Prison officials acknowledge this situation exists.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1
CMC should bring their chapels into compliance with current state building codes (California Code of Regulations Title 24).
F2
The chaplains at CMC report to a mid-level of management.
Related Recommendations (1)
R2
The chaplains should report to an associate warden.
F3
The chaplains at CMC do not receive expense money to support their ministries.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3
CMC should restore the expense allowance formerly provided to the chaplains; at least to the prior level of $10,000 annually. 7
F4
Attendance at religious services has been limited by custody staff.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4
CMC should accelerate the implementation of the Paws For Life program.
F5
While CMC has rehabilitation programs that can build technical skills, many of these will not be transferrable outside the prison.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5
CMC should ensure an acceptable and accessible GED test is available to inmates.
F6
CMC is not currently operating a program that allows inmates to take the GED test.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6
CMC and Corcoran State Prison PIA should redesign the distribution system for bread to ensure fresh and mold-free bread is delivered to inmates.
F7
CMC and its bread supplier lack a distribution system that ensures bread supplied to inmates is not moldy.
No recommendations for this finding
Conclusions 1
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CL1The Grand Jury found much to praise at CMC in terms of security and safety for staff and inmates, addiction support programs, medical and mental health services, skills accreditation opportunities and high school and higher education opportunities. The Grand Jury found six issues that require immediate attention: The chapels at CMC East are old, neglected and appear unsafe. They should be renovated top to bottom so that they are in complete compliance with current state building codes (California Code of Regulations Title 24) and can be used as appropriate places of worship for the prison community. The Grand Jury believes the chaplains should report directly to top management of the prison. This is important because top management, with its broad view of the institution’s goals, is much more likely to appreciate the nuanced difference between secular rehabilitation and professionally directed religious rehabilitation. That change in reporting will maximize the chaplains’ contribution to the prison community. The Grand Jury believes the chaplains, as important professional employees of CMC, should not have to go outside the prison to seek funds. A $10,000 allowance, only .00004 of this year’s prison budget, would cover the needs of all the chaplains and let them retain their dignity, strengthening the entire prison community. The Grand Jury found the food service operation is capable of meeting special dietary needs during religious holidays such as Lent, Passover and Ramadan, but does not currently do so. The Grand Jury believes food service can be improved to help support the religious life at CMC. Notwithstanding all of the above, Title 15, Division 3, of the California Code of Regulations requires these accommodations. Corcoran State Prison’s PIA is the bread supplier to CMC and the bread is often served moldy with no “use by” date on the packaging. Tighter scheduling from baking, 6 packaging, inspecting and serving of the bread should be introduced between Corcoran and CMC. Prison staff indicated that the GED program, currently paper-based, is becoming digital and internet access is not available to inmates. The Grand Jury believes it is imperative the GED program continues to be available to those inmates motivated to complete their high school work. Non-internet hardware and software systems for GED programs are available and should be investigated for use in GED education and related teaching programs.
Agency Responses 1
Government agencies' official responses to this report's findings and recommendations. Click on a response to see the structured breakdown.