Gran Jurado del Condado de Santa Barbara
2022-2023
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
7 hallazgos
F1:
Under the existing agreement between the County and Wellpath, Santa Barbara County does not provide mental health professional care onsite in the Jails from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. See n 465.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
That by the end of the second quarter of FY 2023-24, Santa Barbara County amend the existing agreement between the County and Wellpath to provide Jail inmates, in both the north and south facilities, with overnight (24/7) mental health professional onsite services.
F2:
Wellpath medical staff do not receive advanced training on mental health crisis intervention, which can be critical in circumstances when mental health staff are not on duty or not otherwise available and is required under a federal court order.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (3)
R2:
Whether the custody staff followed Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office training policies when they employed the on-stomach prone restraint hold on JT. REQUEST FOR RESPONSE Pursuant to California Penal Code Section 933 and 933.05, the Santa Barbara County Jury requests each entity or individual named below to respond to the enumerated findings and recommendations within the specified statutory time limit: Responses to Findings shall be either: Agree; Disagree wholly; or Disagree partially with an explanation. Responses to Recommendations shall be one of the following: Has been implemented, with brief summary of implementation actions taken; Will be implemented, with an implementation schedule; .
R2a:
That by the end of the first quarter of 2023-24, Santa Barbara County amend the existing agreement between the County and Wellpath (or its successor) to provide all medical staff with advanced 40-hour mental health crisis response training.
R2b:
That by the end of the first quarter of 2023-24, Santa Barbara County amend the existing agreement between the County and Wellpath (or its successors) that requires Wellpath medical staff, when faced with an emergent or urgent mental health case when Wellpath mental health staff is not on duty or available, to be trained on how to obtain outside assistance from a) senior regional Wellpath mental health staff and/or b) an available County Behavioral Wellness Crisis Management Team.
F3:
The majority of the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office custody staff hired pre-2021 have not been provided 40-hour mental health crisis response training. Although the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office offers an advanced mental health 40-hour training course for members of its patrol co-response teams and for Santa Barbara County · . · · ٠. Sheriff's Office custody staff recent hires, it does not mandate this for custodial staff hired before 2021.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R3:
That by the end of the first quarter of FY 2023-24, Santa Barbara County and Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office provide funding so that the Sheriff's Office implement effective advanced mental health crisis response training consisting of at least 40 hours of instruction and annual refresher training consisting of at least eight-hours for its custody staff.
F4a:
JT's mental health crisis was not adequately evaluated at the local hospital because municipal law enforcement patrol officers did not share with hospital staff available vital information of JT's suicidal threats and ideation.
F4b:
All cities in Santa Barbara County with their own police departments, i.e., cities of Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria, and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office patrol officers and supervisory personnel would benefit from advanced mental health crisis response training consisting of at least 40 hours of instruction and annual refresher training consisting of at least eight-hours.
F5:
Lawfully shared data collection and analysis among multiple Santa Barbara County law enforcement agencies (Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office, Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, Santa Barbara County Public Defender, Santa Barbara County Probation Department), the municipal police departments in Santa Barbara County (Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria), mental health (County Behavioral Wellness) and public health (County Public Health) agencies would provide relevant county personnel with better tools to effectively serve community members with mental health illness.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R5:
That by the end of the first quarter of 2024 Santa Barbara County, the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office, Santa Barbara County District Attorney's Office, Santa Barbara County Public Defender, Santa Barbara County Probation Department, and all local municipal city councils with police agencies (Guadalupe, Lompoc, Santa Barbara, and Santa Maria), mental health (County Behavioral Wellness), and public health (County Public Health) agencies adopt relevant recommendations for more effective data sharing in the referenced San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG) study.58
F6:
The Santa Barbara County Sheriff-Coroner investigation and the District Attorney's Office review of the medical cause and manner of JT's death that left the Jury with questions: 58 See fn 6. ٠, a) whether within reasonable medical certainty, the custody staff's use of on-stomach prone restraint and JT's vigorous resistance to it was the direct cause of JT's cardiac arrest; and b) whether the custody staff followed Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office training policies when they employed the on-stomach prone restraint hold on JT.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R6:
That the County of Santa Barbara and the Sheriff-Coroner's Office request an independent review from the State Attorney General of all facts and circumstances leading up to the death-in-custody of JT, and any legal consequences that result from that review to include the following questions: 1. Whether within reasonable medical certainty, the custody staff's use of on-stomach prone restraint and JT's vigorous resistance to it was the direct cause of JT's cardiac arrest; 2. Whether the custody staff followed Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office training policies when they employed the on-stomach prone restraint hold on JT.
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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
12 hallazgos
F1:
Although the Sheriff's Office hired a statistician in July 2022 to compile information about inmates suffering from mental health conditions, as of the date of this Report, the Jury was not provided with any information regarding the number of inmates who have substance abuse and/or mental health disorders or illnesses.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
That the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office compile and report monthly to the County and the public the number of inmates who have substance abuse, mild to moderate mental health disorders or serious mental illness.31 31 "Mild to moderate mental health disorders" are defined as those that cause mild to moderate distress or impairment of mental or emotional, or behavioral functioning. "Serious mental illnesses" are defined as diagnosable mental, behavioral, or emotional disorders resulting in serious functional impairment, which substantially interferes with or limits one or more major life activities. These disorders and illnesses include but are not limited to: Anxiety Disorders, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders (ADHD, ADD), Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), Bipolar Disorder, Borderline Personality Disorder, Depression, Disruptive Mood Regulation Disorder (DRMD), Eating Disorders, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post- Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and Schizophrenia, Source: CalBudgetCenter.org, Mental Health In California, p. 74, https://calbudgetcenter.org/resources/mental-health-in-california/ Last viewed June 17, 2023. 4
F2:
Santa Barbara County could not provide to the Jury the costs of incarcerating people who suffer have substance abuse, mild to moderate mental health disorders or serious mental illnesses compared with the costs of providing meaningful community treatment for such persons.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R2:
Outreach efforts and referrals must be well coordinated based on the client's needs, diagnosis, current service status, and history;
F3:
In December 2024, Santa Barbara County is mandated to create and implement the CARE Court program, which will run concurrent with AOT and an IST Solutions program.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (3)
R3:
Avoid unnecessary criminalization of mental illness;
R3a:
That when Santa Barbara County creates and implements its CARE program, which will run concurrent with AOT and an IST Solutions program, the County ensure that there are community-based programs organized and operated with sufficient staffing and adequate resources.
R3b:
That when Santa Barbara County creates and implements its CARE program, which will run concurrent with AOT and a revamped IST program, the County ensure that community-based programs are adequately resourced, including but not limited to the following: ٠ ś
F4:
For the first two quarters of FY2022-23, the Santa Barbara County Incompetent to Stand Trial caseload is one of the highest in the state.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)
R4a:
That Santa Barbara County work with countywide criminal justice agencies32 to analyze why the Santa Barbara County Incompetent to Stand Trial caseload is one of the highest in the state.
R4b:
That the County work closely with the Santa Barbara Superior Court and criminal justice agencies to identify effective community-based treatment programs to reduce Incompetent to Stand Trial orders and Department of State Hospitals commitments.
F5:
Clinical providers must be adequately staffed, experienced, and able to engage demanding clients long-term;
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R5:
Clinical providers must be adequately staffed, experienced, and able to engage demanding clients long-term;
F6:
Providers must be able to meet clients' essential needs, including adequate and coordinated County resources; Provide needed substance abuse treatment coordinated with mental health care;
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R6:
Providers must be able to meet clients' essential needs, including adequate and coordinated County resources; Provide needed substance abuse treatment coordinated with mental health care;
F8:
Provide stable housing in the County for the mentally ill and those suffering from substance abuse in areas where housing is currently severely limited;
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R8:
Provide stable housing in the County for the mentally ill and those suffering from substance abuse in areas where housing is currently severely limited;
F9:
Provide clients with medications and dosages adjusted as needed, early medical appointments, and timely follow-ups;
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R9:
Provide clients with medications and dosages adjusted as needed, early medical appointments, and timely follow-ups;
F10:
Provide clients continuity of care and do not discharge them before their treatment plan is completed;
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R10:
Provide clients continuity of care and do not discharge them before their treatment plan is completed;
F11:
Use private-public partnerships to provide adequate system coordination and hospital bed space for those with mental health challenges, including those diagnosed with severe mental illness;
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R11:
Use private-public partnerships to provide adequate system coordination and hospital bed space for those with mental health challenges, including those diagnosed with severe mental illness;
F12:
Prevent repeated hospitalization and release after only short stays without notification to the clinical provider; and
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R12:
Prevent repeated hospitalization and release after only short stays without notification to the clinical provider; and
F13:
Only incarcerate and release clients with adequate coordination with the clinical provider. Finding 4 For the first two quarters of FY2022-23, the Santa Barbara County Incompetent to Stand Trial caseload is one of the highest in the state.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R13:
Only incarcerate and release clients with adequate coordination with the clinical provider.
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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
3 hallazgos
F1:
7 https://westernsierraresource.com/ Last viewed May 15, 2023. 8 https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/WSRC/overview Last viewed May 15, 2023. MSL and WSRC are separate legal entities, but constitute a single economic entity, therefore financial reports consolidate them. 10 e.g., Negative working capital of approximately $12 million and an accumulated deficit from recurring losses of approximately $29 million. . . . . The Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District's transparency needs to be improved both in terms of timeliness and adequacy.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
That the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District bring its website disclosures up to best practices comparable to those recommended by the Special District Leadership Foundation and those employed by other special districts in northern Santa Barbara County.
F2:
The Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District's inadequate disclosure regarding its contract with Mitigation Solutions, LLC resulted in Western Sierra Resource Corporation's inaccurate news releases becoming the only public source of information about ongoing mitigation activities at Twitchell Dam and Reservoir.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R2:
That the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District's website report at least quarterly on ongoing mitigation projects.
F3:
The Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District failed to exercise financial due diligence in its evaluation of Mitigation Solutions, LLC's ability to meet its contractual obligations, particularly considering Western Sierra Resource Corporation and Mitigation Solutions, LLC's financial condition.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R3:
That within six months, the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District establish and follow policies for thoroughly vetting the financial capacity and capabilities of potential parties to all contracts.
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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
4 hallazgos
F1:
The vacancies on the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District Board of Directors reduce the efficacy of the Board and impede good governance by limiting procedural actions. Since the Board has only four District Directors for the seven total divisions, the Board is often deadlocked, so motions fail to pass.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
That the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District move to fill the vacant seats on its Board of Directors within three months (with aid from the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors if necessary), or by general election, whichever occurs first.
F2:
The training received by the Directors of the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District is insufficient for the requirements of their role.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R2:
That all Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District Directors receive training annually in the following topics: The Brown Act; Basic parliamentary procedures in Robert's Rules of Order; • Ethics Training as required by Assembly Bill 1234, Chapter 700; and Leadership and Best Practices Training offered by the State of California and the California Special Districts Association.
F3:
The Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District is short-staffed and the one employee who works in the District Office is overburdened.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)
R3a:
That, at a minimum, the Directors of the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District hire a General Manager and one or more Administrative Assistants within three months, and full-time Dam Tender(s) within six months.
R3b:
That, concurrent with the hiring of additional staff, the Directors of the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District create an organizational chart and adopt an administrative operating manual.
F4:
The Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District's financial management practices do not satisfy public expectations for transparency and fiscal accountability from a governing body, where information is created and freely available to the public in a timely manner, in open data formats, and without restrictions on use and reuse.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (3)
R4a:
That the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District's independent audits of financial reports, including opinions on internal controls, be completed no later than 180 days after the fiscal year's end.
R4b:
That the Directors of the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District establish written policies and procedures for expenditures made by District Directors and employees using District credit cards, which include the requirement that a receipt and other supporting documents be submitted monthly.
R4c:
That the Directors of the Santa Maria Valley Water Conservation District establish written policies and protocols within three months for the use of District-owned vehicles and equipment, including that personal use of District-owned vehicles and equipment be strictly prohibited. . . . .
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Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
5 hallazgos
F1:
Santa Barbara County school districts have not mandated formal cybersecurity training for school administrators, teachers, staff, and students. •
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R1:
That the Santa Barbara County Education Office require all school administrators, teachers, staff, and students who use district networks and computers (including laptops, iPads, and any other electronic media) receive formalized cybersecurity training at least once per year.
F2:
Santa Barbara County school districts have not required the use of multi-factor authentication.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R2:
That the Santa Barbara County Education Office require multi-factor authentication for anyone logging onto the districts' networks.
F3:
That some Santa Barbara County school districts are not adequately insured for losses arising from cybersecurity incidents, not insured for cybersecurity or lack sufficient coverage limits.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)
R3:
a That the Santa Barbara County Education Office purchase cyber insurance that will provide limits of between $1-2 million for each district.
R3b:
That the Santa Barbara County Education Office require contribution of funds from all districts.
F4:
That the districts fail to report cyber-attacks.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R4:
That the Santa Barbara County Education Office require districts to report cyber-attacks.
F5:
Although some district IT members meet from time to time to discuss recent cyber updates, problems, and problem resolution, attendance is voluntary and many rarely attend.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)
R5a:
That the Santa Barbara County Education Office issue a written policy requiring collaboration amongst school district IT staff.
R5b:
That the Santa Barbara County Education Office issue a written policy requiring IT staff to attend regularly scheduled meetings at least four times per year.
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
2 hallazgos
F1:
Wellpath electronic medical records established that KP had a long history of substance abuse and severe mental health illness. When the Sheriff's Office custody staff decided to house KP with a cellmate, it did not have access to the full extent of KP's well- established severe mental illness history. Inmates' safety and overall health would be better protected if those making classification decisions had access to inmates' vital medical and mental health information.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (2)
R1a:
That Santa Barbara County and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office promptly request that Santa Barbara County Counsel prepare a legal opinion as to whether, consistent with Federal and California law, Wellpath (or its successors) may provide F . * * critical inmate mental health information to Sheriff's custody staff that have an appropriate need to know that information for inmate housing and programming. Recommendation 1b That if County Counsel determines that Wellpath (or its successors) has any legal authority to provide inmate mental health information, then Santa Barbara County shall amend the agreement between Wellpath and the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office to provide inmate mental health and substance abuse information sharing on an appropriate need to know basis.
R1b:
That if County Counsel determines that Wellpath (or its successors) has any legal authority to provide inmate mental health information, then Santa Barbara County shall amend the agreement between Wellpath and the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office to provide inmate mental health and substance abuse information sharing on an appropriate need to know basis.
F2:
KP was severely mentally ill, was traumatized by witnessing his cellmate's attempted suicide, and should not have been rehoused alone, back into the same cell.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (1)
R2:
That Santa Barbara County and the Santa Barbara Sheriff's Office ensure that inmates with severe mental illness and suicidal ideation histories receive immediate mental health professional care after they are exposed to traumatizing events, including, but not limited to, the suicide attempt of a cellmate. Ji 🚅 😘
Hallazgos & Recomendaciones
3 hallazgos
F1a:
A list of mental health and addiction treatment program contacts was offered to NM upon his discharge to the Electronic Monitored Home Release program, but the Sheriff's Office did not monitor whether NM contacted or participated in any of those programs.
F1b:
Beginning July 1, 2022, the Sheriff's Office transferred the Electronic Monitored Home Release program monitoring responsibility to the Santa Barbara County Probation Department.
F2:
If the Sheriff's Office had known of NM's mental health history, it indicated it would have more closely monitored him to ensure meaningful participation in effective substance abuse and mental health clinical programs.
Recomendaciones relacionadas (3)
R2:
Requires further analysis, with analysis completion date of no more than six
R2a:
That the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office and the Santa Barbara County Probation Department promptly request that Santa Barbara County Counsel prepare a legal opinion as to whether, consistent with Federal and California law, Wellpath or any successor may provide critical inmate mental health information to Sheriff's Office personnel who need to know that information for inmate housing, programing, and Electronic Monitored Home Release program decisions.
R2b:
That if Santa Barbara County Counsel determines that Wellpath does have legal authority to provide inmate mental health information to Sheriff's Office personnel and Santa Barbara County Probation Department, then the County and the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Office shall amend the existing agreement with Wellpath to require such sharing to the full extent of the law.
Recomendaciones adicionales
2
No vinculadas a hallazgos específicos.
R3:
months after the issuance of the report; or Will not be implemented, with an explanation of why.
R4:
Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors - 90 days
* 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.