Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 09102002 - C165 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS Contra FROM: JOHN SWEETEN, County Administrator . : Costa P- DATE: SEPTEMBER 10, 2002 County SUBJECT: RESPONSE TO GRAND JURY REPORT NO. 0210, ENTITLED "CONTRA COSTA DETENTION FACILITIES — CAPACITIES AND HEALTH SERVICES" SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION RECOMMENDATION: ADOPT report as the Board of Supervisors" response to Grand Jury Report No. 0210 entitled, " Contra Costa County Detention Facilities - Capacities and Health Services". BACKGROUND: The 2001-2002 Grand Jury filed the above-referenced report on June 14, 2002, which was reviewed by the Board of Supervisors and subsequently referred to the County Administrator, Sheriff-Coroner, and Health Services Department, who prepared the attached response that clearly specifies: A. Whether the finding or recommendation is accepted or will be implemented; B. If a recommendation is accepted, a statement as to who will be responsible for implementation and a definite target date; C. A delineation of the constraints if a recommendation is accepted but cannot be implemented within a six-month period; and D. The reason for not accepting or adopting a finding or recommendation. y CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE: ' o-- ---_----- -- -----------------------------------------------_---------—------- —----------- RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMIV ND TION OF BOARD COMMITTEE APPROVE OTHER s ,e SIGNATURE(S): ` a - e -------- --- _- ---- :.r��_----` = `'==------- _ __-- --_—.._.....---_------------------------------------------------------ ACTION OF BOKRD QTN IO 2002 APPROVE AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER s VOTE OF SUPERVISORS €HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN __2L UNANIMOUS(ABSENT Nrrip ) AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE AYES: NOES: SHOWN. ABSENT: ABSTAIN: ATTESTED S2W2 CONTACT: JULIE ENEA(925)335-1077 JOHN SWEETEN, CLERK OF THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR CC: PRESIDING JUDGE OF THE GRAND JURY COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR SHERIFF-CORONER —e r HEALTH SERVICES D€RECTOR �` BY DEPUTY Contra Costa Detention Facilities -Capacities and Health Services September 10, 2002 County Response to Grand Jury Report No. 0210 Page 1 RESPONSE TO GRAND JURY REPORT NO. 0210 CONTRA COSTA DETENTION FACILITIES -- CAPACITIES AND HEALTH SERVICES FINDINGS 1. The Martinez Detention Facility (MDF) was constructed in 1982 to hold 388 inmates. The current State of California Board of Corrections rated capacity of the MDF is 617 inmates. Response: Partially disagree. The Martinez detention Facility opened in June 9981 and has a current State Board of Corrections (BOC) rated capacity of 531. The MDF also has 924 special use or"non-rated"beds that, when combined with the rated beds, provides housing for 655 inmates. The BOC recognizes the current MDF capacity of 655 beds comprising both rated and non-rated beds. 2. During the year 2001, the average daily population of the MDF was 838 inmates. Response: Agree. 3. During the first three months of the year 2002, the average daily population of the MDF was 854 inmates or 38.4% over capacity. Response: Partially disagree. The average daily population of the MDF during the first three months of 2002 was 822, or 25.5% over the BOC-recognized capacity. 4. The West county Detention Facility (WCDF) was constructed in 1994 with a State of California Board of Corrections rated capacity of 865 inmates. Response: Partially disagree. The WCDF was opened in June 1991 with a Board of Corrections rated capacity of 608 beds. In 1994, the Board of Corrections raised the rated capacity to 864. 5. During the year 2001, the average daily population of the WCDF was 716 inmates. Response: Agree. 6. During the first three months of the year 2002, the average daily population of the WCDF was 801 inmates. Response: Agree. 7. The Sheriffs Department reports that the overcrowding of inmates at the MDF (by an average of 237 inmates per month for the first three months of 2002) has resulted in an increase of both inmate-to-inmate assaults/battery and inmate-to-staff assaults/battery. Response: Agree. 8. Currently, there is 24-hour medical staff and 8-hour psychiatric staff at the MDF. Response: Partially disagree. Currently, there are 24-hours per day medical staff and 16-hours per day psychiatric staff at the MDF. 9. Currently, there is 16 hour per day medical staff and 8 hour per day psychiatric staff at the WCDF. Response: Partially disagree. Currently, there are 8-hours per day medical staff, and no psychiatric staff at the WCDF. 10. The Grand Jury inspected the medical and psychiatric facilities at the MDF. They found these to be filthy, unsanitary and inadequate to serve the inmate population. For example, an existing exam room was being used to store toilets and the dental room had inadequate patient protection. Contra Costa Detention Facilities—Capacities and Health Services September 10, 2002 County Response to Brand Jury Report No. 0210 Page 2 Response: Partially disagree. The toilets stored in the medical examination room were "Portable Medical Toilet Chairs"for use on the medical housing unit. Otherwise, the medical and psychiatric facilities at the MDF are clean, albeit crowded. 11. As inmates undergoing both medical and psychiatric exams are in full view of anyone in the facility, there is a basic lack of privacy. Response: Partially disagree. While both medical and psychiatric "intake screeningfinterviews"take place in the intake area, which does not provide privacy, medical and psychiatric examinations are conducted in a private setting on a separate module. 12. Moving the inmates in Modules E (female) and F (medical) in the MDF to the WCDF will relieve the overcrowding in Martinez by approximately 100 inmates. Response: Agree. 13. Moving the inmates in Modules E and F in the MDF to the WCDF will allow for improved medical and psychiatric services, and accommodate more inmates, by consolidating those inmates who require these services. Response: Agree, provided that 24-hour medical services are established at the WCDF_ 14. Moving the inmate gang population from Building 4 at the WCDF, and consolidating them with the inmate gang population at MDF, will allow more efficient regulation by the Sheriff's Department of this high risk inmate group. Response: Partially disagree. Managing the "gang„population requires separation of some categories of inmates. According to the Sheriff, there are advantages to managing this volatile population both at one facility or multiple facilities, depending on the circumstances. The Sheriff requires maximum flexibility in housing options to safely and effectively manage the gang population. 15. Capital improvements to the WCDF to accommodate the expansion of the inmate population and the medical facilities necessary to make the above changes would be borne by the Sheriffs Department. Response: Partially disagree. Capital expenditures are dependent upon availability of funds either through department management of resources, or Board of Supervisors allocation or reallocation of funds. 16. As per Title 15 of the State of California Penal Code, moving the inmates in Modules E and F to the WCDF will require 24 hour a day, 7 day a week medical staffing at the WCDF. Response: Agree. 17. The Contra Costa County Health Department has difficulty recruiting and maintaining medical and psychiatric staff for the detention medical facilities. Response: Agree. 18. The Contra Costa County Health Department believes that an improved physical environment at the detention facilities will enhance recruitment of medical and psychiatric personnel. Response: Agree, 19. The Contra Costa County Health Department believes that the quality of care of the inmate population will improve with better facilities. Response: Agree. Contra Casts Detention Facilities Capacities and Health Services September 10, 2002 County Response to Grand Jury Report No. 0210 Page 3 20. The Contra Costa County Health Department does not have the funding in their budget to increase the hours of medical and psychiatric staff at the WCDF. Response: Disagree, The 200212003 Final Budget includes$1,355,000 to increase the hours of medical staff and to provide psychiatric staff at the WCDF, effective January 1, 2003. 21. The Contra Costa County Sheriffs Department and the Contra Costa County Health Department both support this reallocation of inmates as described previously in this report. Response: Agree. RECOMMENDATIONS The 2001-2002 Contra Costa County Grand Jury recommends that: 1. The Board of Supervisors and the County Administrator tour the facilities at the Martinez Detention Facility, with particular emphasis on the medical and psychiatric facilities. Response: Will be implemented by December 31, 2002. 2. The Sheriffs Department move the inmates in Modules E and F from the Martinez Detention Facility to the West County Detention Facility. Response: Will be implemented beginning January 1, 2003. 3. The Sheriffs Department move the inmate gang population in Building 4 of the West County Detention Facility to the Martinez Detention Facility. Response: This recommendation is more properly within the discretion of the Sheriff- Coroner. The Board defers to the Sheriff Coroner for response. 4. The Health Department establish a 24 hour per day and 7 day per week medical staff at the West County Detention Facility. Response: Will be implemented beginning January 1, 2003. 5. The Board of Supervisors approve the additional funds required by the Health Department to establish 24 hour per day and 7 day per week medical staff at the West County Detention Facility. Response: Has been implemented. The 2002-2003 Final Budget includes $1,355,000 for 2417 medical and psychiatric staffing at the WCDF for six months.