HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07301985 - 2.2 BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
FROM: PHIL BATCHELOR Contra ,
'
County Administrator ^C}a
DATE: July 19, 1985 Cou II I
SUBJECT: DETENTION FACILITY STAFFING
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) & BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept report from County Administrator on detention facility staffing and direct
Administrator to submit recommendations to the Board for implementation after considera-
tion of comments received from interested agencies.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION/BACKGROUND:
At the request of the Board of Supervisors, this Office carried out a study of detention
facility staffing. The purpose of the study was to provide information which Contra Costa
County could use in developing, if possible, more cost-effective custody staffing patterns
for its adult detention facilities. This question is of particular importance because the
County is planning a new 560-bed pretrial and sentenced detention facility. This facility
is scheduled to open within the next five years and will require staff increases in the
Sheriff's Department Detention Division.
Preliminary telephone inquiries were made in each county in California regarding the
classification of staff that supervised inmates in the adult detention facilities. From
these inquiries, it was determined that there were three basic staffing models (Table 1
of Report) :
(1) Sworn deputy sheriffs only;
(2) Non-sworn correctional officers only;
(3) A combination of deputy sheriffs and correctional officers.
A questionnaire was developed, with the assistance of staff from the Contra Costa County
Sheriff and Personnel Departments, to obtain more detailed information regarding the
advantages and disadvantages of these staffing models. Thirteen counties were selected
for further study, including Contra Costa County. These counties have been included in
prior studies related to Sheriff's Department organizational issues because they are similar
in size and structure. to Contra Costa County. They also represent the three basic models
of detention staffing.
There are two main determinants of staff operating costs in the detention system: the wage
paid to personnel and the number of personnel needed to operate the system. A reduction in
either or both will achieve cost savings.
The issue is not deputy sheriff versus correctional officer. but, rather, what wage is paid
to the individuals providing supervision and the staff-to-inmate ratio employed.
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: X YES SIGNATURE:
X RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATIO OF BO RD COMMITTEE
-X APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S) �/
ACTION OF BOARD ON July 30, 1985 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER X
REFERRED to Internal Operations Committee.
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT III ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
Sheriff-Coroner 1. 0
CC: Contra Costa County Employees ATTESTED
Association, Local 1 PHIL BATCHELOR, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Deputy Sheriff's Association SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
Contra Costa County Taxpayers' Association L-- - - — — -
CAO-Justice System Programs
M382/7-99 BY , DEPUTY 1
Detention Facility Staffing
Page 2
July 19, 1985
The report has been circulated to interested individuals and organizations, including the
Sheriff-Coroner, the Deputy Sheriff's Association, Local 1 and the Contra Costa County
Taxpayers' Association. Recipients were notified that the report would be submitted to
the Board on July 30, 1985. Recipients were also asked to forward their comments on the
report to the County Administrator. This Office is prepared to analyze any comments
received and prepare a further report to your Board setting forth its recommendations for
whatever changes in detention system staffing are deemed appropriate for this County.