San Benito County 2018-2019 - California Grand Jury Reports

May 09, 2019 — Count Hollister*

17 pages 3 recommendations

Additional Recommendations 3

Not linked to specific findings.

R50-31: 17,860,388 30-0 45.42% FAILED The analysis shows that 83.79% of the County's pavement is in Poor to Failed condition. Details of each street segment are provided in the Reference Reports. According to San Benito County RMA, the condition of the roads within San Benito County have deteriorated since this report was published. FINDINGS F1) Inadequate funding for San Benito County roads has led to significant deferred maintenance and a "Very Poor" PCI rating. F2) SB-1 funding and Measure G funding will maintain county roads but will not provide funding for improvements. According to a Google search, professional grant writers are available to assist counties F3) in securing funds for road projects as well as for payroll expenses associated with said projects. RECOMMENDATIONS The San Benito County Board of Supervisors hire a professional grant writer to assist R1) with securing funds for the maintenance and improvement of San Benito County roads. The Civil Grand Jury recommends that the San Benito County Planning Commissioners R2) attend training on the effective negotiation of any new Development Agreement (DA) with persons or entities building new homes in San Benito County. That the San Benito County Board of Supervisors increase funding in the Resource R3) Managment Agency, Planning Division, and the County Counsel's Office to assist with effective management of resources, ensure compliance with all local, state and federal laws associated with same, to promote a more holistic approach to construction of new home subdivisions in the county, and to foster the promotion of San Benito County to potential investment by industry. REQUIRED RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code section 933.05, the following response is required. San Benito County Board of Supervisors: respond to F1-F3 and R1-R3. San Benito County Jail Investigation and Inspection of County Jail on November 13, 2018 Summary: The San Benito County Grand Jury inspected the San Benito County Jail, talked to inmates and Jail staff. Purpose of investigation: The California Penal Code Section 919, subdivision (b) mandates annually: "The Grand Jury shall inquire into the condition and management of the public prisons (Jails) within the County." Methodology: The Grand Jury Jail Committee questioned staff and inmates as well as conducted an inspection of the County Jail. Discussion: The San Benito County Sheriff's Office operates the County Jail. The Jail houses men and women over 18 years of age. The Jail Commander and staff supervise the Jail and inmates on a daily schedule. At the time of the inspection the Jail had 128 inmates, 12 were women. During the walkthrough the Jail seemed to be very clean and well run. Although the Jail is 26 years old, there are many upgrades needed such as air conditioning, bathrooms and kitchen plumbing. There is no operable central air conditioning system and the staff and inmates have only portable air conditioning. The current system is not adequate to maintain a safe temperature for the inmates during hot weather. The plumbing under the kitchen floor is clogged and the sewer backs up into the kitchen drains. As a result, the kitchen is not being used to full capacity. All food preparation is contracted with an outside source. Further discussion with the Jail staff was centered around the need for additional mental health resources. The Jail only has part-time mental and physical health services. Sometimes there can be a waiting time for inmates to get help. Findings: The central air conditioning system is not adequate to maintain a safe temperature F1) for the inmates during hot weather. The kitchen is not being used to full capacity. The plumbing under the kitchen floor is F2) clogged and the sewer backs up into the kitchen drains. As a result all food preparation is contracted with an outside source. The Jail only has part-time mental and physical health services, sometimes resulting in F3) a waiting period for inmates to get help. Recommendations: The County should apply for grants and/or the San Benito County Board of Supervisors R1) should allocate funds for needed repairs to the central air conditioning system, so that it will maintain a safe temperature for the inmates during hot weather. The San Benito Board of Supervisors should allocate money to fix the plumbing to R2) make the kitchen useable. The County should obtain additional mental and physical health services in the County R3) Jail, to fill the needs of the inmates. REQUIRED RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code section 933.05, the following response is required. The San Benito County Board of Supervisors: respond to F1-F3 and R1-R3. . San Benito County Sheriff: Respond to F1-F3 and R1-R3. • Responses are to be submitted to the presiding judge of the San Benito County Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of Penal Code section 933.05, San Benito County Juvenile Hall Investigation and Inspection of Juvenile Hall on November 13, 2018 Summary: The San Benito County Juvenile Hall is a temporary detention facility that houses boys and girls under 18 years of age. Purpose of investigation: Every year the San Benito County Grand Jury inspects the Juvenile Hall to investigate operations and staff. Methodology: The San Benito County Grand Jury questioned staff regarding operating procedures, and conducted an inspection of the County Juvenile Hall. Discussion: The San Benito County Probation Department operates the Juvenile Hall, which is run by a superintendent and staff. They watch over youths ages 12 to 18 years old. The Juvenile Hall staff expressed commitment to help each youth reach their potential with a positive attitude, and overall care for each youth. At the time of our inspection there were only 4 youths in custody at Juvenile Hall. The facility was clean and well run with a multipurpose room, classroom, sleeping cells and showers. The facility also has a court room which is currently utilized 1 day per week. They have a new recreational yard to exercise, play tennis and basketball. Future plans are in place to build planter boxes to grow flowers and vegetables in another part of the facility. The youths get 3 meals per day and are able to purchase other snacks with their own money. The youths get up at 6am eat breakfast by 7am and attend school from 8am until 12 noon. However, there are no vocational programs for the youths to help them be able to study and learn a new trade after their time spent in Juvenile Hall. Findings: The Juvenile Hall staff are committed to help each youth reach their potential with a F1) positive attitude and an overall caring for each youth. There were no vocational programs for the youth to help them be able to study and F2) learn a new trade after their time spent in Juvenile Hall. More mental health time is needed to help the youths cope with the daily life of Juvenile F3) Hallx . Recommendations: Institute an on-site vocational program to include classes in auto, electrical, plumbing R1) or carpentry trades, with an instructor that has a background in these areas. Increase mental health services to counsel and advise youths during their time spent R2) in Juvenile Hall and after they are released. REQUIRED RESPONSES Pursuant to Penal Code section 933.05, the following response is required. The San Benito County Board of Supervisors: Respond to F2-F3 and R1-R2. • Responses are to be submitted to the presiding judge of the San Benito County Superior Court in accordance with the provisions of Penal Code section 933.05, -2

R70-51: 38.36% 15,084,813 POOR

R90-71: 12.15% 4,779,320 FAIR

* This report's PDF did not contain easily extractable text and required Optical Character Recognition (OCR) for analysis. There may be minor errors in the extracted findings and recommendations due to OCR limitations with scanned documents.