Gran Jurado del Condado de San Joaquin
2024-2024
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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
8 hallazgos
F1:
Mountain House continues to be a “bedroom community” as the Valley Link Project offers only future benefits that rely on ongoing regional coordination and State and Federal funding/investment.
F2:
Mountain House remains an isolated community due to a lack of local transit options.
F3:
The incorporation of Mountain House has allowed the city to retain a greater share of revenue and to make local land decisions.
F4:
Mountain House’s high-performing schools and rapid population growth present opportunities and challenges for infrastructure.
F5:
Mountain House continues to pursue retail and commercial opportunities to offer essential services and retail options for its residents.
F6:
Mountain House continues to promote economic growth to increase employment opportunities within the city’s boundaries.
F7:
Service to Community Cadets must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community service, including participation in disaster relief efforts and supporting local community events.
F8:
Physical Fitness Daily physical training fosters confidence, collaboration, and discipline. Admissions and Structure The eligibility requirements include: • Must be between the ages of 16 and 18 at the start of the program. • Must be drug-free (confirmed through testing). • Cannot have felony or pending criminal charges. • Must be a California resident and U.S. citizen. Entry is voluntary and is on a first-come, first-served basis; however, only eligible applicants are selected. No priority is given to any applicant. Approximately half of the students are SJC residents. Two 22-week terms are offered each year, commencing in January and July. Student schedules run from 5:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., seven days a week. Enrollment Expansion and Challenges Plans to expand enrollment include an additional 50 cadets. Several challenges affect recruitment: the increased availability of alternative programs, post-COVID hesitancy toward residential programs, and growing mental health concerns. To address these 151 issues, SJCOE has hired a community liaison to partner with the National Guard Outreach Department. Mentorship and Long-Term Outcomes Cadets enter a 13-month post-residential mentorship phase designed to help graduates transition to life outside of DCA, secure job placements, pursue further education, and enlist in the military. DCA reports: • An 85% placement in employment, education, or training. • A 20% reduction in federal assistance enrollment among graduates. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, students who do not complete high school are significantly more likely to be incarcerated. Discovery ChalleNGe Academy has a per-cadet cost of approximately $27,000. In comparison, the average annual cost of juvenile detention is about $40,000 per youth. Studies, such as those from the RAND Corporation9, estimate programs in the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe network yield an estimated return of $2.66 for every dollar spent. A 53-minute video offers an in-depth look at student life and progression through the program: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SQUfFHdpC50&t=39s. Findings F1: DCA improves academic outcomes for at-risk youth. F2: The program continues to operate below full capacity due to recruitment challenges. SJCOE has hired a community liaison to partner with the National Guard Outreach Department to expand enrollment. F3: DCA offers a cost-effective intervention for at-risk youth facing potential academic failure. RAND’s study of ChalleNGe programs serves as the basis for an annual report to Congress by collecting and analyzing site-level data on enrollment, completion rates, credentials awarded, standardized test performance, community service participation, post-program placement, and funding and staffing metrics. The San Joaquin County Mock Trial Program: Bringing the Law to Life https://www.sjcoe.org/services-and-support/sea For over 20 years, the San Joaquin County (SJC) Mock Trial program has introduced high school students to the American judicial system through simulated courtroom experiences. The program is co-sponsored by the San Joaquin County Office of Education (SJCOE) and the San Joaquin County Bar Association, with additional support from the San Joaquin County Superior Court and Teach Democracy (formerly the Constitutional Rights Foundation). The competition allows students to develop critical thinking, public speaking, and legal reasoning skills while experiencing the realities of courtroom proceedings. Students portray attorneys, witnesses, courtroom artists, and journalists as they prepare and argue a fictional case. The 2025 case, People v. Gold, involved a campaign-related kidnapping allegation and included a pretrial motion10 on the admissibility of a statement made while in police custody. Students analyzed legal documents, built arguments, and presented their cases before judges and attorneys throughout the competition. This year, 200 students from 13 high schools in SJC participated in the six-round event held in February. Stockton Early College Academy (SECA) earned first place in the 2025 competition, advancing to represent the County at the California Mock Trial Finals in Los Angeles. Tracy High School placed second, followed by Mountain House High School, third, and San Joaquin County Office of Education’s Venture Academy, fourth. Individual awards were presented to recognize outstanding performances in both attorney and witness roles. Special honors included: • A $500 scholarship awarded by the San Joaquin County Bar Association 10 A pretrial motion is a legal request for a judge’s ruling before trial. 153 • A two-week, all-inclusive pre-college experience at the University of the Pacific, valued at $3,500 Thirty-two counties competed at the state level. Although SECA did not place, its long-time coach, who is retiring after many years of service, was honored as California’s Adult Advocate of the Year. To increase participation, the Office of Student Engagement and the Arts (which oversees Mock Trial) plans to contact individual high school principals to invite them to participate. Interested schools will have the opportunity to attend an informational meeting to learn more about the program. The cost for each participating school is $425. The Art of Mock Trial: Sketching Justice An art component of the Mock Trial offers students the opportunity to participate in the program as courtroom sketch artists. Each artist submits a drawing inspired by a scene from their team’s Round 2 competition. The winning student artist attends the state finals. The winner, Jean Kylo Tunyol from Mountain House High School, is featured on the Eyes on San Joaquin County cover page, while the other five artists are featured below in no particular order: 154 Ava White from Ripon High School Daniella Chavez from Able Charter School 155 Araya Underdue from Aspire Langston Hughes Academy Willow Russell from Able Charter 156 Shrootee Thatte from Tracy High School Through Mock Trial, students gain practical experience in civic engagement and legal literacy, inspiring many to pursue careers in law, public service, or education. Findings F1: The San Joaquin County Mock Trial program provides valuable experiential learning in legal processes, civic engagement, and critical thinking. F2: The 2024-2025 Civil Grand Jury acknowledges the program’s collaborative sponsorship and ongoing efforts to expand participation across county schools. Sources • https://caaspp-elpac.ets.org/ • https://data1.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/ • https://www.sjcoe.org/ • https://iamdiscovery.org/ 157 • https://www.caschooldashboard.org/ • https://newsroom.courts.ca.gov/news/california-high-school-students-compete- become-2025-state-mock-trial-championship-team • https://www.nationalmocktrial.org/about/general-information/ • https://www.makerspaces.com/what-is-a-makerspace/ • https://sjcoefablab.org/ • https://data1.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/ • https://sjcoepublicprodwest2.blob.core.windows.net/attachments/mocktrial/Moc k%20Trial%20Rules.Agreement%2024.25.pdf • https://www.sjcoe.org/services-and-support/sea • https://publicschoolsk12.com/ • sjcoepublicprodwest2.blob.core.windows.net+3sjcoe.org+3sjcoepublicprodwest2. blob.core.windows.net+3 • https://dq.cde.ca.gov/dataquest/ Disclaimer Civil Grand Jury reports are based on documentary evidence and the testimony of sworn or admonished witnesses, not on conjecture or opinion. However, the Civil Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing such evidence except upon the specific approval of the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court or another judge appointed by the Presiding Judge (Penal Code Sections 911, 924.1 (a), and 929). Similarly, the Civil Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing the identity of witnesses except upon an order of the court for narrowly defined purposes (Penal Code Sections 924.2 and 929). Eyes on San Joaquin County Registration… Registrar of Voters Office Introduction Election integrity is in the national spotlight. The San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury decided to take a closer look at the Registrar of Voters (ROV). The Civil Grand Jury attended two presentations from ROV staff, toured the department, attended poll worker trainings, examined operations before and after the 2024 Presidential Election, and observed polling locations on Election Day. This report is to inform the public about the processes and safeguards in place and to assess the Registrar’s performance in light of past incidents and increased public scrutiny. The findings are based on observations, interviews, and a review of state and federal law. Division of Authority: Federal, State, and Local Roles in Elections Elections in the United States are decentralized, with responsibilities divided among federal, state, and local authorities. ``````` 159 • Federal Government: Establishes broad protections but does not directly manage state or local elections. • California State Government: Establishes detailed election procedures, including voter registration rules, ballot handling, and certification deadlines. The California Secretary of State oversees local compliance. • County Registrar of Voters: Conducts local, state, and federal elections, including the management of voter registration, maintaining accurate voter rolls, distributing and verifying ballots, staffing polling places, certifying results, and safeguarding election integrity. This approach guarantees consistent standards while remaining responsive to the needs of local communities. The San Joaquin County ROV operates under the authority of the California Elections Code. It must comply with federal legislation, including the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, and the Help America Vote Act of 2002. Oversight is also provided by the California Secretary of State. 2024 Election: Voting by the Numbers Voter Turnout Category Value Eligible Voters 516,865 Registered Voters 378,801 Ballots Cast 267,627 Turnout Rate 70.68% 160 How People Voted Voting Ballots % of Ballots Type Method Counted Cast U.S. Mail 105,194 39% Drop Boxes 76,722 29% Vote-by-Mail Registrar's OMice 678 0.25% Dropped at Polling Sites 34,200 13% TOTAL Vote-by-Mail 216,794 81% Early Voting 1,933 0.72% In-Person Election Day Voting 48,900 18% Voting TOTAL In-Person Voting 50,833 19% Voting Systems in California: Vote Centers vs. Polling Places California approved the Voters Choice Act of 2016, allowing counties to choose between two primary voting models: • Precinct-Based Model: Voters are assigned to specific neighborhood polling places. o Voting typically takes place only on Election Day. o • Vote Center Model (Voter’s Choice Act counties): Voters may cast their ballots at any voting center in the county. o Centers open 3 to 10 days prior to Election Day. o According to the latest available data, 25 out of 58 California counties (43%) still utilize the traditional precinct-based voting system. The remaining 33 counties (57%) have adopted the Voter’s Choice Act (VCA) model, which replaces conventional polling places with vote centers. In 2019, the San Joaquin County Board of Supervisors voted to maintain traditional neighborhood polling places after gathering public input and consulting with the Registrar of Voters. ``````` 161 Early Voting in San Joaquin County San Joaquin County voters who wish to cast their ballots in person before Election Day may do so only at the Registrar of Voters’ Office during regular business hours. For voters seeking alternatives to in-person early voting, the county provides other options: • Vote-by-Mail: All registered voters receive a ballot by mail1, which can be returned by mail, dropped off at any polling location, brought to the ROV office, or placed in an official ballot drop box. Mail-in ballots must be postmarked on or before Election Day and received no later than seven days after the election. • Ballot Drop Boxes: There are 25 official drop box locations throughout San Joaquin County. The county elections official announces the drop box locations publicly at least 30 days before each election. They are available daily until Election Day at 8:00 PM, when they are locked and covered. Polling Place Operations and Training San Joaquin County operates 171 polling locations, each staffed by trained volunteers and election officials. In response to complaints and procedural concerns, in 2024, the Registrar introduced a three-part training model for poll workers. The program includes instructional videos, live demonstrations, and hands-on practice with equipment and procedures. It is designed to improve consistency, confidence, and service across polling locations. Ballot Handling, Verification, and Counting Ballots are received by mail, drop boxes, or in-person delivery. Upon arrival, they are logged and tracked. Each envelope undergoes signature verification. If a mismatch is identified, the voter is notified and given time to address the issue. California began mailing a ballot to all registered voters during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021, Assembly Bill 37 (AB 37) made this practice permanent and expanded the use of ballot drop boxes statewide. Provisional ballots are used when eligibility is uncertain and are counted only after verification. Because California allows ballots postmarked by Election Day to arrive up to seven days later, the 30-day canvass period offers time to complete signature curing2, provisional validation, and a mandatory 1% manual audit. In 2024, San Joaquin County provided ballot scanning machines at polling locations for voters dropping off their mail-in ballots. These machines ensure immediate error detection, enhance the accuracy of vote recording, and streamline the vote-counting process, thereby increasing overall confidence in election integrity. Although voter use of the scanning machines was limited, the ROV plans to improve public awareness and actively encourage greater use and trust in the machines to enhance voter confidence in the system’s security and accuracy. Safeguarding Voter Rolls The ROV uses data from the Department of Motor Vehicles, the Office of the Secretary of State, and vital records to maintain up-to-date registration lists. Prior to each election, a report flags addresses with ten or more registered voters. Staff investigates each location to prevent fraud or clerical errors. An incident occurred in 2024 involving an elderly voter who was mistakenly removed from the rolls based on inaccurate information suggesting he was deceased. Once the ROV became aware of the error, it was corrected, and the 102-year-old Army veteran was able 2 Signature curing is the process of notifying voters when their mail-in ballot signature is missing or does not match their voter registration record and gives them an opportunity to correct it by a deadline so their ballot can be counted. ``````` 163 to vote in the election. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining thorough, multi-source voter list updates. Response to Publicized Election Fraud Incident Following a publicly reported case of election fraud from 2020 involving a former Lodi City Council member, the Registrar of Voters strengthened internal safeguards. According to news reports, multiple ballots were found to be improperly registered to a single address, raising concerns about the accuracy of the voter rolls. In response, the ROV took the following actions: • Pre-election audit of addresses for properties with 10 or more registered voters • Expanded community engagement through an Election Advisory Committee • Closer coordination with law enforcement and public agencies to safeguard the election process. Public Outreach and Voter Education The Registrar’s outreach team engages with the public in various ways: • Participates in community events and civic fairs • Conducts voter registration drives at schools and community centers • Offers pre-registration for teenagers aged 16 and 17 • Assists newly naturalized citizens in understanding their voting rights To keep the community informed, the ROV offers: • Quarterly newsletters • Active social media updates • Online ballot tracking through “Where’s My Ballot?” • A hotline for voter fraud Security and Transparency The Civil Grand Jury noted the security practices during the processing of ballots, including: 164 • Restricted access to sensitive workstations through keycodes and cable-locked hardware • Passwords and keys are stored separately in a locked safe • Continuous video surveillance and retention policies for footage Policies and practices continue to improve election security. For example, in the November 2024 election, the placement of drop boxes was evaluated using past data, which led to the relocation of several boxes to maximize voter convenience. Additionally, all 25 drop boxes were reinforced, secured into the ground, and monitored by 24/7 live- stream cameras. Furthermore, on Election Night, final ballot pickups and polling place transports were escorted by Sheriff's deputies. The department welcomes election observers, offers facility tours, and provides data to encourage transparency and voter confidence. Election Observers California law allows election observers to monitor nearly every aspect of the election process. In San Joaquin County, observers may view ballot receipt, signature verification, equipment testing, tabulation, and the post-election manual audit. Observers are required to check in with election staff and follow established guidelines. Their presence contributes to transparency and public trust. Technology Investments and Future Improvements In addition to introducing scanning machines to reduce mail-in ballot processing time, the ROV continues to modernize its operations. IT security staff oversee systems that support ballot tracking, internal audits, and digital backups. Improvements are continuously under consideration, including upgraded ballot imaging systems and expanded training on cybersecurity best practices. ``````` 165 Findings F1: The ROV complies with all legal requirements and has taken meaningful steps to improve transparency, voter outreach, and ballot integrity. F2: Response to public incidents has resulted in improvements to security protocols. F3: New technologies, such as ballot scanning stations, have reduced post-election processing time. Sources • California Secretary of State’s Okice (https://www.sos.ca.gov/) • Federal Role in Local Elections (https://bipartisanpolicy.org/explainer/visualize- federal-role-elections/) • https://www.kcra.com/article/world-war-ii-veteran-mistaken-for-dead- voting/64247406 • https://www.recordnet.com/story/news/courts/2024/01/04/ex-lodi-councilman- shakir-khan-to-serve-two-years-after-plea-deal-da/72112231007/ • San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters public documents and website materials (https://www.sjgov.org/department/rov/home) • Interviews with San Joaquin County Registrar of Voters stak (2024–2025) • Direct observations by the 2024–2025 San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury Disclaimer Civil Grand Jury reports are based on documentary evidence and the testimony of sworn or admonished witnesses, not on conjecture or opinion. However, the Civil Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing such evidence except upon the specific approval of the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court or another judge appointed by the Presiding Judge (Penal Code Sections 911, 924.1 (a), and 929). Similarly, the Civil Grand Jury is precluded by law from disclosing the identity of witnesses except upon an order of the court for narrowly defined purposes (Penal Code Sections 924.2 and 929). Two members of the 2024–2025 San Joaquin County Civil Grand Jury were recused from all phases of this report. 166
Recomendaciones adicionales
7
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
R1:
By October 1, 2025, the City Council should pursue regional and state partnerships to advance transportation projects such as Valley Link.
R2:
By October 1, 2025, the City Council should explore partnering with the City of Tracy or another entity to improve connectivity to the local Tracy area, ACE, and BART transit systems, as well as within its city limits.
R3:
By October 1, 2025, the City Council should continue to evaluate law enforcement and public safety staffing needs, along with infrastructure requirements, as the city's population increases.
R4:
By October 1, 2025, the City Council should engage in proactive planning and funding for K-8 schools and Mountain House High School construction and educational programs to accommodate the expected student growth.
R5:
By October 1, 2025, the Lammersville Unified School District Board of Governors and City Council should maintain proactive planning and funding for K-8 schools and the construction and educational programs of Mountain House High School to meet the expected student growth. 135
R6:
By October 1, 2025, the City Council should identify additional funding opportunities to support the future growth of Mountain House High School.
R7:
By October 1, 2025, the City Council should prioritize retail and commercial development to increase tax revenues and create employment opportunities within its city limits.