Tuolumne County Grand Jury

2009-2010

17 reports

Findings & Recommendations 6 findings
F1: The CWS staff believes that funding, which is targeted for specific activities, is used wisely. Preventative measures, such as working with the extended family, have been found to save money while providing the best outcome for the child.
F2: The Administrative Office of the Courts, an arm of the Judicial Council of California, based in Sacramento, conducts an audit of CWS every two (2) years. Although the audit has been completed, the final report has not yet been issued. However, CWS has been assured by the State that the final report will reflect very favorably on CWS.
F3: The Masters of Social Work Program is a positive step toward assisting rural counties in addressing the need for more social workers with a Masters degree.
F4: The Structured Decision Making software, as demonstrated, appears to be an objective, thoughtful tool for determining the correct response to charges of child endangerment.
F5: Although the Civil Rights Coordinator acts on complaints received by the State and/or CWS, the position does not serve as an ombudsperson.
F6: The relationship between CWS and the Tribal Social Services has seen a distinct improvement over the past five (5) years.
Additional Recommendations 3

Not linked to specific findings.

R1: There are no specific recommendations for Findings 1 through 4 and Finding 6.
R2: This recommendation does not relate to any specific finding. While there has been a visible marketing campaign to recruit foster parents, the need for more available local foster homes continues to be an issue. We encourage CWS to intensify its campaign to recruit more foster parents.
R3: For Finding 5, although there are many resources available to the parent, this Civil Grand Jury agrees with past reports recommending that CWS create the position of ombudsperson.
Findings & Recommendations 2 findings
F1: According to the current White House Drug Czar, Gil Kerlikowske, “research shows that it doesn’t matter if an individual goes into a drug program by choice or in handcuffs! Drug treatment costs much less than incarceration.”
F2: Even though the numbers of individuals who fail to graduate from the program or the individuals who relapse after graduating from the program are significant, the Grand Jury believes the drug and alcohol program is well worth the time, effort, and cost. The Grand Jury believes that the drug and alcohol problem in Tuolumne County is both a public health problem and a public safety problem and should be addressed by the Behavioral Health Department, the Probation Department, the Sheriff’s Department, and the courts.
Additional Recommendations 1

Not linked to specific findings.

R1: The Grand Jury has no recommendations for the Drug Court in Department 2. The Grand Jury would recommend that citizens attend one of the Drug and Alcohol hearings. The hearings are open to the public.

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Findings & Recommendations 5 findings
F1: The Probation Department is being negatively impacted by the state’s early release program. The new policy of “non-revocable parole” requires parolees to be subject to search but not instant re-incarceration upon committing a crime. Now, if a parolee commits a crime, he is processed through the judicial system from scratch, the same as a person who is being prosecuted for the first time. This situation is increasing the work load on the Probation Department. To make matters worse, the Probation Department currently has vacancies in the following four positions; Relief Work Release Counselor, Probation Tech, Legal Clerk and Transportation Driver.
F2: The construction of the new Juvenile Hall currently being undertaken is necessary. The construction of the facility is being funded by Public Works bonds at a cost of 16 to 22 million dollars. The anticipated construction completion date for the hall will be in June, 2013. It is currently anticipated that the actual completion date will be sometime later. A designated, secure and supervised juvenile detention room is lacking in the existing Probation Department building creating an unsafe situation for juvenile detainees and probation staff alike. Juveniles are currently kept in the lunch room while accommodations are being made for them in other jurisdictions. The housing of juveniles out of county is energy intensive, expensive and emotionally difficult on the juvenile detainees. The cost per juvenile is $95.00 to $110.00 per day plus the cost of multiple transports required for court appearances. There are currently five (5) juveniles being housed at $110.00 per day and three (3) being housed at $95.00 per day. Last year the total cost to Tuolumne County for detention facilities and transportation was $491,730.00. In accordance with Welfare and Institutions Section 903, parents/guardians can be asked to repay the county for juvenile hall detention costs on a sliding scale based on income. The maximum charge to parents/guardians is $30.00 per day. If a juvenile is remanded by the court into a residential treatment program or group home then the back charge to parents/guardians could be higher.
F3: About fifty percent of crimes committed in our county involve drugs or alcohol while approximately thirty five percent involve some form of domestic violence. The Probation Department is utilizing programs emphasizing rehabilitation, restitution and a cognitive based approach to address and correct the root causes of dysfunction and criminal behavior thereby reducing recidivism.
F4: Probation officers are unarmed and often in close proximity to distraught and dangerous people, both adults and juveniles.
F5: The caged transport cars, though in good shape, are used a lot and have high mileages on them.
Additional Recommendations 5

Not linked to specific findings.

R1: For Finding 1, it is important to maintain the current employees of the Probation Department and fill the aforementioned four vacant positions as soon as possible.
R2: For Finding 2, the new Juvenile Hall must be built as soon as possible. Until the new Juvenile Hall is ready for use a secure, designated and supervised juvenile detention/interview room must be created in the current Probation Department building. The committee members support the use for juvenile detention of the current room with restroom facilities in it. This should be augmented with a large safety glass window so a probation officer can sit in the adjoining room and monitor the juvenile while making arrangements for the juvenile in privacy.
R3: For Finding 3, the Civil Grand Jury supports the continuation of outreach programs, work furlough and work release programs, restitution programs and the continued funding for these programs.
R4: For Finding 4, consideration should be given to allowing the probation officers the use of pepper spray. In light of the possibility of costly liability to Tuolumne County resulting from the use of tazers, the Civil Grand Jury does not support the use of tazers by Probation Officers.
R5: For Finding 5, the caged transportation cars need to be replaced over the next several years as they age out. Driving detainees in a car prone to breakdown because of age is not safe for anyone involved.
Findings & Recommendations 8 findings
F1: The function of the Cooperative Extension Office is to transfer information from the University of California to the citizens of Tuolumne County to meet problems in agriculture, natural resources, food and nutrition, food safety, and community development.
F2: The Cooperative Extension Office is funded by a mix of federal, state, and county resources as well as grants and fund-raising. The fiscal year 2009-2010 budget was $716,465, of which Tuolumne County contributed $184,865.
F3: The Farm Advisor/County Director is responsible for initiating research programs that meet the needs of Tuolumne County residents. Projects have included a trail Safflower planting which is good for poor soils; techniques for controlling Medusahead, a weed grass; as well as workshops for dealing with Yellow Star Thistle.
F4: The Director of the Nutrition, Family and Consumer Services program stated the program aims at earlier intervention in the lives of school children and their parents to encourage better food choices.
F5: The Food Stamp Nutrition Education Program is actively reaching children whose families receive food stamps be promoting nutritional food choice. The program served three (3) schools in 2009-2010. They expect to serve as many as six (6) schools within the next two (2) years, (2010-2012).
F6: The Program Coordinator of the Master Gardener Program reported the Gardeners are working specifically on water reduction this year.
F7: The Tuolumne County 4-H Program Manager stated the 4-H activities focus on Youth Development. There are youth-adult partnerships, opportunities to build life skills, and year-round participation.
F8: Financial support from the county is the Cooperative Extension Office’s biggest problem as this is not a state-mandated program.
Additional Recommendations 3

Not linked to specific findings.

R1: The Grand Jury has no specific recommendations for Findings 1 through 7.
R2: For Finding 8, the Grand Jury has no specific recommendation. It should be noted and acknowledged that the amount of funding contributed by the County is minimal, but well-spent.
R3: This recommendation does not relate to any specific finding. The Grand Jury recommends more publicizing of the material and services available to the County’s citizens at little or no cost to the citizen via the Cooperative Extension Office.
Findings & Recommendations 3 findings
F1: The initial bid and project for land fill sealing was adopted in spite of objections by personnel with the county who felt the end result of the project would not be successful.
F2: Acceptance of the initial sealing plan could have been supported by more aggressive consultation of the RWQCB members and other knowledgeable contractors.
F3: Other land fill and sealing activity in other counties where aggressive terrain was involved was not researched aggressively. This could have been used to confirm or refute the feasibility of the initial plan adopted and funded by the County.
Additional Recommendations 2

Not linked to specific findings.

R1: For Finding 1, additional effort should be made to resolve conflicts and lack of project confidence expressed by engineering staff members.
R2: For Findings 2 and 3, the experiences of both the RWQCB and other counties should be researched (known as best practice) as a due diligence action prior to releasing very costly projects, should they be necessary in the future.
Findings & Recommendations 4 findings
F1: An impressive amount of effort is made in retaining clients' confidentiality.
F2: Rent for Department of Social Services is $16,834 per month, Division of Public Health and Child Welfare Services building is $13,376 a month, and Environmental Health building is $3,998 per month.
F3: There are 1175 women and children in the WIC Program; an increase of 200 over the last year.
F4: The BOB van is an important and visible component of the Health Department. It serves a very necessary function.
Additional Recommendations 3

Not linked to specific findings.

R1: There are no recommendations for Findings 1 and 3.
R2: For Finding 2, it is the Jury's understanding that a large sum of money is spent for rent on the building which houses the various clinics and programs. It would be more cost effective if all Health Department services were to locate to the currently nearly empty old Tuolumne General Hospital Campus. The money saved by the relocation could then be applied to other programs and services such as the BOB van and to other community health needs.
R3: For Finding 4, keep the BOB van funded by continuing fundraisers and by applying for grants.
Additional Recommendations 3

Not linked to specific findings.

R1: Check with the city of Palo Alto or other cities/counties that may have surplus Animal Control vehicles. Network with other areas with much larger Animal Control budgets.
R2: Expand their visibility to the community about the need for donations. For example, the county’s citizens may not know of the arrangement between Hurst Ranch and Animal Control for monetary donations.
R3: The Grand Jury recommends the hiring of additional Animal Control Officers and Shelter Attendants to better serve the citizens of Tuolumne County when budget constraints permit.

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