Santa Barbara County Grand Jury
2012-2013
From the annual report
The consolidated year-end volume. The individual investigations it contains are listed separately below.
📑 Year-End Report
The full consolidated volume; individual reports are listed below.
Individual reports (6)
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Findings & Recommendations
3 findings
F1:
That the existing bus port creates a potential safety hazard for court officials and employees, as well as the public, because in the process of loading and unloading, the detainees can visually observe the vehicles in the parking lot. Response to Finding 1: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
That the existing bus port be modified so that detainees cannot visually observe the parking lot. Response to Recommendation 1: This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable. The Sheriff's Office agrees with this recommendation but does not own this property; it belongs to the State. The Sheriff's Office continues to work with the State of California and the Santa Barbara Superior Court to develop a security screen which will prohibit detainees from viewing the parking lot. Approval and funding of this screen must be granted from the State of California. If approval and funding are granted, the screen will be built and put into place. Santa Barbara Court Holding Facility, Figueroa Street
F3:
That the holding cell level lacks cameras. Response to Finding 3: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
That the Sheriff fund and install cameras to be placed on the cell level, for the safety of all detainees and deputies. Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office Response to the of 3 Response to Recommendation 3: This recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted or is not reasonable. The County of Santa Barbara does not own this property as this property belongs to the State of California. The Sheriff's Office will continue to work with the State of California to identify potential funding sources to address this security concern. If funds are earmarked for improvements by either the State or the County, additional security cameras will be installed to increase the safety and security of the facility. Santa Maria Station
F4:
That the facility is currently open only from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. daily. Response to Finding 4: The Sheriff's Office agrees with the finding.
Related Recommendations (2)
R4a:
That the Sheriff fund this location to be open and operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
R4b:
That the Sheriff hire and staff this location to allow it to stay open and be operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week. These recommendations will not be Response to Recommendations 4a and 4b: implemented because they are not warranted or are not reasonable. The Sheriff's Office is committed to operating safe and secure custodial facilities. Budgetary and staffing shortages, along with the implementation of AB109, have negatively impacted the Sheriff's ability to operate the Santa Maria Branch Jail 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A recent staffing analysis supports the Sheriff's position that additional staffing allocations are necessary to meet the current needs and enable continued safe and secure operations of the Main Jail. Until such time that staffing and funding are obtained to meet the obligations of operating all Custody facilities safely and securely, the Sheriff's Office will continue to partially operate the Santa Maria Branch Jail facility. Respectfully submitted,
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R2:
That the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors and the Sheriff support all efforts to address these potential hazardous situations. Response to Recommendation 2: This recommendation has been implemented. The County of Santa Barbara does not own this property; it belongs to the State of California. Currently, the State has a project plan to replace the Figueroa Street Santa Barbara Court Holding Facility. The Sheriff's Office has worked diligently with the State of California in the design phase of this project to ensure the compound meets the Sheriff's Office current and future needs. Unfortunately, due to the economic downturn this project has been temporarily placed on hold. However, the Sheriff's Office consistently reviews new ways of ensuring these detainees make their respective court appointments while decreasing the impact on the court holding facility. The Sheriff's Office is working with the State of California, Santa Barbara Superior Courts to perform scheduled transports according to a detainees scheduled court appointment. Additionally, the Sheriff's Office has taken a collaborative approach to overcrowding at this holding facility. The Sheriff's Office is working with a cooperative group of stakeholders (Judges, District Attorney's Office, Probation Department, Public Defender's Office, etc.) to review the use of technological improvements for detainee arraignments. Currently, the use of video conferencing for detainee arraignments is being reviewed and considered. Santa Maria Court Services Holding Facility, Cook Street
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Findings & Recommendations
7 findings
F1:
That the existing bus port creates a potential safety hazard for court officials and employees, as well as the public, because in the process of loading and unloading, the detainees can visually observe the vehicles in the parking lot.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
That the existing bus port be modified so that detainees cannot visually observe the parking lot. Santa Barbara Court Holding Facility, Figueroa Street
F2a:
That the holding cells in the basement of the Santa Barbara Court Holding Facility, Figueroa Street, do not have enough cells to house the detainees whose cases are before the courts that day.
F2b:
That the detainees are handcuffed to railings in the corridors due to the lack of holding cell space.
F2c:
That this overcrowding creates a dangerous environment for both deputies and detainees.
F2d:
That shackled detainees have to be escorted across Figueroa Street to courtrooms by deputies in full view of the passing public. Such a procession is a potential security and safety hazard.
F3:
That the holding cell level lacks cameras.
Related Recommendations (1)
R3:
That the Sheriff fund and install cameras to be placed on the cell level, for the safety of all detainees and deputies. Santa Maria Station
F4:
That the facility is currently open only from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. daily.
Related Recommendations (2)
R4a:
That the Sheriff fund this location to be open and operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
R4b:
That the Sheriff hire and staff this location to allow it to stay open and be operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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Findings & Recommendations
4 findings
F1:
The principal vehicle for taxing oil production in California, the property tax, was lowered substantially with the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978.
F2:
The County of Santa Barbara is facing estimated budget gaps of $5 million in Fiscal Year 2013-2014 and $13.7 million in Fiscal Year 2014-2015.
F3:
Once the proposed North County Jail opens, its operating cost is projected to deplete the Santa Barbara County General Fund by $17.3 million annually.
F4:
An oil production tax could generate essential new and ongoing revenue for the County.
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
That the members of the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors follow the recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer of the County of Santa Barbara and allow the voters to decide if an oil production tax will be implemented by putting this issue on the next county-wide ballot.
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Findings & Recommendations
13 findings
F1:
The continuing use of part-time retired staff is not adequate to assist during autopsies.
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
That the Sheriff-Coroner employ a full-time forensic technician within the next two years.
F2:
Specialized training of the staff in the areas of infection control and blood-borne pathogens is inconsistent.
Related Recommendations (2)
R2a:
That the Sheriff-Coroner implement policies and procedures that require training of each Coroner’s Bureau employee in areas of infection control and blood borne pathogens on an annual basis.
R2b:
That the Sheriff-Coroner provide for employee training records to be maintained on site at the Coroner’s Bureau and to be updated annually.
F3a:
The presence of lingering noxious odors in the Coroner’s Bureau indicates that the existing ventilation system is not adequate.
F3b:
A code compliant ventilation system is necessary to control and prevent the potential of infectious agents affecting the health of Bureau staff and the public.
F4:
Currently there is no isolation area in the Coroner’s Bureau suitable for performing autopsies on high-risk cases.
Related Recommendations (1)
R4:
That the Sheriff-Coroner provide an isolated area in the Coroner’s Bureau suitable for performing autopsies on high-risk cases.
F5:
The current autopsy room air conditioner is not adequate to provide an efficient, comfortable working environment.
Related Recommendations (1)
R5:
That the Sheriff-Coroner upgrade the air conditioning system in the current autopsy room to provide an efficient, comfortable working environment until the engineering study is completed and recommendations are implemented.
F6:
The Goleta Sanitary District failed to issue the correct Industrial Wastewater Permit under its Ordinance No. 77, to the Coroner Bureau.
Related Recommendations (1)
R6:
That The Goleta Sanitary District issue the appropriate permit consistent with the Bureau’s application for discharge of medical waste from autopsies.
F7:
There is no log to record the internal temperature of the autopsy room evidence refrigerator.
Related Recommendations (1)
R7:
That the Sheriff-Coroner require that a daily refrigeration internal temperature log be maintained on the autopsy room evidence refrigerator.
F8:
The Coroner’s Bureau does not have an eye wash station.
Related Recommendations (1)
R8:
That the Sheriff-Coroner install an eye wash station in each autopsy room.
F9:
Inefficient and obsolete dictation equipment is currently used during autopsies.
Related Recommendations (1)
R9:
That the Sheriff-Coroner purchase and install digital dictation equipment for efficiency in preservation of and access to the pathologist’s findings.
F10:
The air conditioning unit in the portable building is not sufficient to provide a comfortable working environment on warm days.
Related Recommendations (1)
R10:
That the Sheriff-Coroner provide an air conditioning system sufficient to cool the portable building.
F11:
The landscape area surrounding the Coroner’s Bureau is a weed patch overrun by rodents.
Related Recommendations (1)
R11:
That within the next six months the Sheriff-Coroner install landscaping, provide rodent removal and implement a regular maintenance schedule.
F12:
A Coroner’s Bureau is not required to be accredited.
Related Recommendations (1)
R12:
That the Board of Supervisors include in all long-range strategic planning the goal of establishing and staffing a more centrally located facility that is eligible for full accreditation by the National Association of Medical Examiners.
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Findings and recommendations not yet extracted.
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Findings & Recommendations
1 findings
F1:
ways to address them. The only negative common factor identified by the Jury is the <sup>1</sup> Education Codes §§ 48260-48273. time-consuming paperwork which is required by law if the District Attorney is to prosecute any chronic truants and/or their parents.<sup>2</sup> To address the recordkeeping challenge, the Lompoc Unified School District entered into a two- year contract with School Innovations and Achievement (SIA) to implement a letter-generating program called Attention to Attendance (A2A). After the letters are reviewed by the schools, SIA sends them to the families of truant children as required by law. SIA maintains the data base and is in close communication with the schools. This leaves the attendance personnel free to work directly with students and their families. After one year, using the A2A, the program has contributed to 9,957 increased learning days over the previous year, or the equivalent of 55 more students in class every day. Because state funding for Lompoc is based on attendance, the original $45,000 investment resulted in a funding increase to this District from the State of California of $242,374. Countywide truancy figures for the 2012-2013 school year are not yet complete. With nine of 21 districts in the County reporting, an estimated 665 letters were sent informing parents of their child's three days of truancy, only 167 students and their parents have been referred to SARBs. Of these, 25 were referred to Probation for review and 14 parents were cited for truancy law infractions. The Board of Supervisors, the District Attorney's Office, the school districts and the various support agencies are to be commended for their dedication in developing and implementing the CLASS program and for their ongoing efforts to support the educational success of all students. This is a status report and no response is required. <sup>2</sup> Ibid. Appendix A Unexcused Absences (*12 periods block schedule) (*24 periods block schedule) 84 periods<br>(*56 periods block schedule) (*36 periods block schedule) 72 periods<br>(*48 periods block schedule) Number of 18 periods 36 periods 54 periods 12 days 3 days 6 days 9 days 14 days ö ŏ ö ö 0 ö A letter sent to welcome all families into the new school year, reminding them of the A letter informing parents of their child's unexcused absences and the relevant laws regarding A group meeting focusing on parent and student accountability, social and legal consequences A meeting with a team comprising of representatives from the school, the District Attorney's Office, Law Enforcement, Probation, Mental Health, Public Health and various community A meeting with an administrator focusing on addressing individual attendance needs, and School Attendance Review Board (SARB) A meeting with an independent panel of district, county and community participants with importance of education and informing them that school attendance is required by law. Community Leadership in Achieving Student Success 125 CLASS Program of truancy, and information regarding county and community resources. Santa Barbara County Description of Intervention possible referral to Probation or the District Attorney. District Attorney Informational Letter Truancy Mediation Team (TMT) where a contract may be signed. Administrator Meeting (AM) After School Meeting (ASM) Referral to Probation or the District Attorney Notification Letter #1 school attendance. organizations. Beginning of the<br>School Year Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5
Related Recommendations (1)
R1:
was categorized as "unreasonable". The
* 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.