Ventura County Grand Jury
1998-1999
Findings & Recommendations
8 findings
F1:
Figure 1 depicts all Cable TV franchises in the County of Ventura (County) and the current availability of public access. The County controls only franchises in the unincorporated areas. Incorporated areas are covered by individual city-granted franchises. One of the complications in establishing these franchises is frequently a franchise covers a city and its immediately surrounding area with the identical service. This requires two franchise agreements, one with the city and one with the County. The County has attempted to coordinate these franchises for ease of management.
F2:
The only County franchises that charge for public access are the GTE Americast services. The charge is 19 cents per month per subscriber and was established by calculating the $250,000 cost (see paragraph 4 below) to equip the Board of Supervisors’ hearing room and spreading it over the seven-year franchise agreement period. (It should be noted that Ventura County is unique in that in many areas of the County the GTE service is competitive with other services and that subscribers have a choice of providers.) At face value, charging only GTE customers appears to be unfair, but the intent is to modify each franchise agreement as it comes up for renewal to include this charge, assuming that the televising of public meetings is approved.
F3:
There is little enthusiasm for televising Board of Supervisors meet- ings. Perhaps this is, in part, because of concerns about public grandstanding and similar actions by individual board members.
F4:
An estimate of $250,000 was prepared by a consultant to equip the Board’s meeting room for this service. Admittedly this is a “Cadillac” approach. The County is seeking a less costly alterna- tive solution. However, they are mindful of the Board’s desire, if not insistence, that the quality must be first rate to deter criticism.
F5:
Regarding the issue of televising live vs video taping for delayed showing, it is felt that the latter approach is the most feasible one. Networking all cable services throughout the county, while techni- cally possible is difficult. Blocking the full Board’s meeting time on all services would be nearly impossible. In addition, since the Board meets during normal business hours, video taping would permit viewing the meetings at night for working people. 4
F6:
It should be noted that this service is available only on cable and not via over the air transmission or via satellites.
F7:
Staff was asked if radio coverage had been considered. The reply was that it was not thought to be a good idea because following such meetings is very difficult and there is not an equivalent public access radio service readily available.
F8:
The staff presented this issue to the Board on September 22 to seek Board direction. The matter will be brought back at a later date. Conclusions The Public Works Department is doing a reasonable job of managing its franchises. Staff is very knowledgeable of Federal law require- ments and is also taking advantage of cities’ experience in the nego- tiations. It is not clear however, that all communities have legally required public access service. It is the Grand Jury’s opinion that the Board of Supervisors has not shown leadership in determining whether or not they should televise their meetings. This could change next month when they reconsider the issue at one of their meetings.
Additional Recommendations
3
Not linked to specific findings.
R1:
The County should continue its efforts to assure public access service in all areas of the county. Perhaps a formal committee or board consisting of the County and the cities could be tasked with this effort. This might be a task under the VCOG umbrella.
R2:
The Board of Supervisors should seriously consider televising its meetings even if only on a video taping basis. Almost all cities throughout the nation provide this service and the public has the right to expect it. Public awareness and full open government is more important than ever.
R3:
Not exactly in the same category as the above, but for the same purpose of more openness in government affairs, the Board should be encouraged to have its agendas published in local newspapers.
Quick View
Full Details →
Additional Recommendations
1
Not linked to specific findings.
R4:
The parking areas be labeled in a clear and concise manner. 5.All exit areas be free of obstruction. 6.Stickers with emergency phone numbers be placed on every 178 county phone. The county phones could have a designated number such as 1234, which would go through to the proper authority. 7.A comprehensive evacuation drill of all buildings in the Ventura County Government Center including the Main Jail be done simultaneously. Volunteers could be used to simulate prisoners. 8.A phone number be specified, in an evacuation policy, for em- ployees to call in their whereabouts if they are not in the office during a disaster.
Findings & Recommendations
14 findings
F1:
Title 15, Section 1006, defines detention facilities as follows: 1. Type I facility means a local detention facility used for the detention of persons for not more than 96 hours exclud- ing holidays after booking. 2. Type II facility means a local detention facility used for the detention of persons pending arraignment, during trial, and upon a sentence of commitment. 3. Type III facility means a local detention facility used only for the detention of convicted and sentenced persons. 4. Type IV facility means a local detention facility or portion thereof designated for the housing of inmates eligible under Penal Code Section 1208 for work, education, and furlough and other programs involving inmate access into the community. Final Report 1998-99 Ventura County Grand Jury
F2:
The Ventura County adult detention facilities are classified as follows: 1. Main Jail Type II 2. Todd Road Type III 3. Ojai Honor Farm Men Type III Women Type II 4. East County Jail Type I
F3:
Table 1 provides the average daily population of the Ventura County Adult Detention Facilities for 1998. FACILITIES AVERAGE RATED POPULATION CAPACITY Main Jail Male 594 400 Female 18 12 Total 612 412 Honor Farm Male 132 152 Female 163 96 Total 295 248 Todd Road 514 782 East Valley 24 31 TOTAL Male 1264 1365 Female 181 108 Total 1445 1473 Table 1. Average Daily Population for 1998
F4:
Initiatives to alleviate overcrowding in the Ventura County Adult Detention Facilities include: 1.An increase in the use of the Cite and Release option by deputies in the field. 2.Liberalizing of the Own Recognizance release program. 3.Expansion of the Work Release program. 4.Expansion of the Work Furlough program.
F5:
Table 2 provides staffing levels for the Ventura County Adult Detention Facilities: 170 Position Mgmt Main Todd Honor East Total Jail Road Farm VaLLEY Chief Deputy 1 1 Commanders 1 1 2 Captains 1 5 1 1 8 Sergeants 3 13 11 6 33 Senior Deputies 15 14 4 4 37 Deputies 61 38 15 8 122 SSTs 73 44 27 144 Other Civilians 12 55 33 13 113 TOTAL 17 223 142 66 12 460 Table 2. Adult Detention Facility Staffing The Commander in charge of the Main Jail also supervises the East Valley Jail, The Commander in charge of Todd Road also supervises the Ojai Honor Farm.
F6:
Table 3 provides budget figures for the Ventura County Adult Detention Facilities: FISCAL 97/98 97/98 98/99 UNIT BUDGET EXPENSES BUDGET Administration $8,105.0 $8,772.4 $7,585.7 Main Jail $16,938.0 $16,573.6 $16,959.9 Honor Farm $5,094.5 $5,260.3 $5,132.8 Todd Road $13,988.3 $11,993.1 $13,952.9 TOTAL $44,125.8 $42,599.4 $43,631.3 Table 3. Adult Detention Facility Budget. (In thousands) Based on an average daily population of 1445 (F-1), the yearly cost to maintain an inmate in a Ventura County Adult Deten- tion Facility was $29,480.
F7:
Title 15, Section 1050, requires the County to develop and implement a written classification plan. This plan assigns inmates to housing units and activities according to the cat- egories of sex, age, criminal sophistication, seriousness of crime charged, physical or mental health needs, assaultive/ non-assaultive behavior, and other criteria that provide for safety of inmates and staff.
F8:
The Sheriff classifies inmates as follows: 1. Administrative Segregation is for inmates segregated for their own safety or the safety of others. Final Report 1998-99 Ventura County Grand Jury a. Inmates in custody for a warrant of arrest for violence or assault against a parent or guardian. b. Inmates in contempt of court. c. High Profile cases. d. Inmates who are blatantly homosexual or transsexual. 2.Psychiatric Inmates are those who display a continual pattern of bizarre behavior or have a mental disorder. 3.Protective Custody is for inmates segregated for their own safety. This classification includes: a. Inmates in contempt of court. b. Inmates charged with crimes against children. 4. Violent/Assaultive inmates are those charged with violent crimes within the past ten years. Violent crimes include: a. Murder, attempted murder, and mayhem. b. Kidnapping, abduction, and false imprisonment. c. Battery against a public official or battery involving serious bodily injury. d. Inciting a jail riot or using force during a riot. e. Violence in obstructing or resisting a peace officer. 5. Security Threat includes inmates charged, within a 10-year period, with: a. Escape or attempted escape from jail, prison, work release, or home detention. b. Aiding or abetting and escape or attempted escape. c. Bringing controlled substances into a jail, camp, prison etc. 6. Level 3 includes inmates who, within 5 years, have been charged with: a. Robbery or car-jacking. b. Rape or assault. c. Terrorist threats. 7. Level 2 includes all other unsentenced inmates. 8. Level 1 includes all other sentenced inmates. Inmates wear color coded wrist bands to represent these categories. For example: Administrative Segregation inmates wear green wristbands and Psychiatric inmates wear gold wrist bands. The wrist band has the inmate’s picture and other identifying information imprinted on it. Officers count the inmates several times a day using the wrist band for positive identification. They observe sleeping inmates hourly to guarantee that all is well. They also separate members of opposing gangs within the facility. 172
F9:
Title 15, Section 1061, requires the county to provide for the voluntary academic and/or vocational education of both sentenced and pretrial inmates housed in Type II or III facili- ties.
F10:
The Sheriff’s Department contracts with the Oxnard Adult Education Division to provide certified educators for its aca- demic programs. The Sheriff offers classes the following areas: 1. GED preparation and testing. 2. Reading programs for adults (literacy). 3. English as a second language (ESL). 4. Substance abuse education and counseling. 5. AIDS/HIV education and anonymous testing. 6. Vocational training is available in computer repair, print shop operations, and horticulture.
F11:
Title 15, Section 1200, requires the county to provide emer- gency and basic health care services to all inmates.
F12:
The Sheriff’s Department contracts with the California Foren- sic Medical Group for medical services at all Adult Detention Facilities except the East Valley Jail. The California Medical Association accredits these medical services, and the State Board of Corrections inspects them regularly. Nurses are on duty, and doctors conduct Sick Call at all locations. The nurses keep track of inmate prescriptions, issue proper dos- age, and monitor consumption. Sick inmates are transported to the Medical Ward at the Main Jail. Inmates who require advanced diagnosis or treatment are transported to the Ventura County Medical Center.
F13:
Title 15, Sections 1240 through 1248, requires the county to provide inmates with three meals a day that meet the Recom- mended Dietary Allowances (RDA) of the Food and Nutri- tional Board of the National Research Council, National Acad- emy of Sciences (1989), and of the California Daily Food Guide.
F14:
The Sheriff’s Food Services Staff provides meals for inmates of the Main Jail, Todd Road, the Ojai Honor Farm, the East Valley Jail, the Work Furlough program, and to all of the Juvenile Detention facilities within the county. The Food Services Staff prepares more than 5,000 meals a day. Supervi- sors maintain monthly planning menus. A civilian staff oper- ates the kitchen facilities, supported by inmate labor. Final Report 1998-99 Ventura County Grand Jury Conclusions The above findings led the Grand Jury to the following conclusions concerning Ventura County Adult Detention Facilities: C-1 The inmate population is nearing the rated capacity of facili- ties (F-3). However with the conversion of the Honor Farm to an all-female facility, the opening of the fourth quadrangle at Todd Road Jail, double bunking of inmates, and the steps taken to alleviate overcrowding (F-4), we conclude that the Ventura County Adult Detention Facilities are not over- crowded, and will not be overcrowded in the near future. C-2 The Grand Jury has no issue with the cost of operating Adult Detention Facilities within Ventura (F-6). C-3 The Sheriff’s Department properly segregates, accounts for, and monitors inmates for security purposes and for the safety of the inmates (F-7), (F-8). C-4 The Sheriff’s Department offers an academic and vocational training program that meets or exceeds the requirements of Title 15 (F-9), (F-10), C-5 Medical facilities at the Adult Detention Facilities are sparse, but adequate. Medical care provided to inmates meets or exceeds the requirements of Title 15 (F-11), (F-12). C-6 Food Service at the Adult detention facilities meets or exceeds the requirements of Title 15. (F-13), F-14). C-7 While no system is perfect, and there is always room for improvement, the Grand Jury concludes that the citizens of Ventura County are well served by its Adult Detention Facili- ties. Recommendations Since the Grand Jury concludes that the Adult Detention facilities operate in an efficient and effective manner, we make no recommen- dations. Responses Required Since the Grand Jury makes no recommendations concerning the operation of the Adult Detention Facilities, no response is required. Response Letter 175
Additional documents
Documents found alongside this year's reports, not grand jury reports or responses.