HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 08252015 - C.42RECOMMENDATION(S):
1. APPROVE response to Civil Grand Jury Report No. 1508, entitled "The Underutilization of the Marsh Creek
Detention Facility”, and
2. DIRECT the Clerk of the Board to forward the response to the Superior Court no later than August 26, 2015.
FISCAL IMPACT:
No fiscal impact. This is an informational report.
BACKGROUND:
On May 28, 2015 the 2014/15 Civil Grand Jury filed the above-referenced report regarding the status of the Marsh
Creek Detention Facility within Contra Costa County.
The Report was reviewed by the Board of Supervisors and subsequently referred to the County Administrator on the
July 7, 2015 Board of Supervisors agenda (Item No. C.176), who prepared the attached response that clearly specifies:
Whether a finding or recommendation is accepted or will be implemented;
APPROVE OTHER
RECOMMENDATION OF CNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
Action of Board On: 08/25/2015 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED OTHER
Clerks Notes:
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
AYE:John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Candace Andersen, District II
Supervisor
Mary N. Piepho, District III
Supervisor
Karen Mitchoff, District IV
Supervisor
ABSENT:Federal D. Glover, District V
Supervisor
Contact: Timothy Ewell, (925)
335-1036
I hereby certify that this is a true and correct copy of an action taken and entered on the minutes of the Board of Supervisors
on the date shown.
ATTESTED: August 25, 2015
David Twa, County Administrator and Clerk of the Board of Supervisors
By: Stephanie L. Mello, Deputy
cc:
C. 42
To:Board of Supervisors
From:David Twa, County Administrator
Date:August 25, 2015
Contra
Costa
County
Subject:RESPONSE TO CIVIL GRAND JURY REPORT NO. 1508, ENTITLED "THE UNDERUTILIZATION OF THE
MARSH CREEK DETENTION FACILITY"
Contra Costa County 2014-2015 Grand Jury Report 1508 Version 5/28/2015 8:41 AM Page 1
Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
Contact: Sherry Rufini
Foreperson
925-957-5638
Contra Costa County Grand Jury Report 1508
The Underutilization of the Marsh Creek Detention Facility
Overcrowding at the Martinez Detention Facility
TO: The Contra Costa County Sheriff
SUMMARY
Contra Costa County owns 164 acres of rural land at the eastern foot of Mt. Diablo,
approximately 5.5 miles south of downtown Clayton. The Contra Costa County Sheriff's
Office (SO) maintains a law enforcement shooting range and safety training area at the
site.
The minimum-security Marsh Creek Detention Facility (MCDF) was built on 32 acres on
the north side of the property in 1942. The male-only facility has the capacity to house
160 inmates, but is underutilized by almost 70%. There are two reasons for the
underutilization:
1. Inmates with cardiac/pulmonary issues, diabetes, intense allergies and asthma,
cannot be housed at the MCDF because they need access to emergency care
and the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC, the "County Hospital")
is over 20 miles away. Additionally, it is unsuitable for such inmates because
many of the daily activities are outdoors, the infirmary is not open at night or on
the weekends and there is no pharmacy on-site.
2. The facility lacks perimeter cameras and inmates can escape by climbing over
the fences. Thus, the facility is not suitable for un-sentenced pre-trial inmates
who are viewed as a flight risk.
Despite MCDF's minimum security, there has been no inmate escape in years. Due to
minimum misconduct by inmates, the facility is staffed by a lone deputy on the night
shift. A variety of vocational classes and the rural setting provide restorative benefits.
The Grand Jury has been told that both deputies and inmates consider being assigned
to MCDF a privilege.
Contra Costa County 2014-2015 Grand Jury Report 1508 Version 5/28/2015 8:41 AM Page 2
Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
In contrast, the overcrowded four-story Martinez Detention Facility (also referred to as
the County Jail) is situated on one square block of downtown Martinez. The Martinez
Detention Facility houses approximately 636 inmates per day on three of the four floors
(One floor is used for administration). There are no classes or vocational training at the
Martinez Detention Facility and inmates eat their meals in their cells. Staff report that
inmate-to-inmate violence has increased 50% over the last year. In March, one inmate
took a female guard hostage for several hours before releasing her unharmed.
California State Senate Bill 863 authorizes $500 million to non-rural counties for jail
construction. The SO intends to apply for $90 million, which it will use to construct a
240-bed mental health wing at the West County Detention Facility. This increased
capacity will relieve overcrowding at the Martinez Detention Facility. If the SO's
application is granted, construction will be completed by 2019. If the SO is
unsuccessful, the crowding at the Martinez Detention Facility could be relieved by
obtaining alternative funding.
Crowding at the Martinez Detention Facility could also be relieved if the SO renovates
the permeable wood floors of the two abandoned dormitory wings at the MCDF and
opens the dormitories for occupancy. So that more men might have the opportunity to
rehabilitate in the MCDF setting, the SO could also add more medical personnel during
evenings and weekends so that the inmate classification could be broadened.
METHODOLOGY
Detention facility tours.
Interviews with county personnel.
Prison rehabilitation research and review.
INITIAL FINDINGS
Comparison of the Martinez Detention Facility and the Marsh Creek Detention
Facility.
The Martinez Detention Facility
Pursuant to Penal Code §919(b), "The Grand Jury shall inquire into the condition and
management of the public prisons in the county". The 2014 - 2015 Grand Jury toured
the County's adult and juvenile county detention facilities. There is a marked difference
between the Martinez Detention Facility and MCDF.
The Martinez Detention Facility is usually the first point of contact for people arrested in
the County. After people are booked and assessed at the Martinez Detention Facility,
they are housed there until they are released, have been tried and sentenced, or are
transferred to another facility. The Martinez Detention Facility is also adjacent to the
Contra Costa County 2014-2015 Grand Jury Report 1508 Version 5/28/2015 8:41 AM Page 3
Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
courts and administration for the SO.
Inmates who have medical or mental health issues are housed at the Martinez
Detention Facility because of its proximity to CCRMC in Martinez.
Of the three adult detention centers in the County - the Martinez Detention Facility, the
MCDF and the West County Detention Facility (WCDF) - the Martinez Detention Facility
houses the most violent inmates. Those who are a danger to society and/or to
themselves must serve their sentences in a highly-secured facility. Gang violence is
also a security concern. Gang inmates exact revenge on rival gang members as well as
men in the same gang. This makes congregating all inmates for classes or meals
impossible. Staff must coordinate the inmates so that rivals are not in contact with each
other during free time. Inmate-to-inmate violence is on the rise at the Martinez Detention
Facility.
The Martinez Detention Facility was never intended to house inmates for a long period
of time, but due to state-mandated prison realignment in 2011, inmates can be in
custody for years while awaiting trial. Inmates are doubled-up in the interior cells and
are allowed to leave their cells for only one to three hours per day. Maximum security
inmates are allowed to leave their cells for one hour and ten minutes every other day.
Outside areas are rectangular cement slabs surrounded by high walls. Inmates eat
meals in their cells. There is no dedicated space for classes.
A Martinez Detention
Facility cell for two
inmates.
A double cell at the Martinez
Detention Facility
Contra Costa County 2014-2015 Grand Jury Report 1508 Version 5/28/2015 8:41 AM Page 4
Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
The Martinez Detention Facility in
Downtown Martinez
The Outside Courtyard of
the Q Wing at the Martinez
Detention Facility
Contra Costa County 2014-2015 Grand Jury Report 1508 Version 5/28/2015 8:41 AM Page 5
Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
The Marsh Creek Detention Facility
MCDF, built in 1942 at the foot of Mt. Diablo in Clayton, has capacity for 160 inmates.
Its population fluctuates between 30 and 80 inmates, averaging approximately 50
inmates daily. There has not been an escape in years even though inmates could throw
a blanket or mattress on the razor wire and climb over the fence. The staff reports that
there are minimal behavioral conflicts among inmates. One deputy is assigned for the
night shift and the property lacks security cameras. The inmates spend their days
tending to the landscape and cultivating grape vineyards for commercial production.
They prepare food, take classes to obtain high school diplomas, learn job re-entry skills,
and master woodworking. There are substance abuse rehabilitation classes as well as
stress management classes. In addition to a lending library and basketball courts, there
is a chapel that provides weekly spiritual services for all denominations.
The Marsh Creek Detention Facility
Contra Costa County 2014-2015 Grand Jury Report 1508 Version 5/28/2015 8:41 AM Page 6
Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
Classroom Buildings at
the MCDF
The MCDF "D" Wing
and Outside
Courtyard
Contra Costa County 2014-2015 Grand Jury Report 1508 Version 5/28/2015 8:41 AM Page 7
Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
The Grounds of the
MCDF
The MCDF Vineyards
Contra Costa County 2014-2015 Grand Jury Report 1508 Version 5/28/2015 8:41 AM Page 8
Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
Inmate Rehabilitation
For certain inmates who have already been sentenced and are not at risk of escaping,
MCDF's monastery-like setting provides a unique opportunity to rehabilitate. Stress
reduction and mental restoration are benefits associated with living near green areas
and spending time in natural settings. Research demonstrates that gardens - similar to
MCDF - provide opportunities to reconnect with nature and that this can be a catalyst to
self-improvement. Prison gardens reduce violence, improve mental health, teach
horticulture skills, and reduce recidivism rates.
Furthermore, residents of urban, low socioeconomic neighborhoods often experience
chronic stress due to higher exposure to noise, violence, unemployment, and crime.
Chronic stress, combined with little opportunity for recovery, can lead to unhealthy
levels of psychological and physiological reaction. Individuals experiencing chronic
stress are more likely to suffer from impaired memory, sleep problems, loss of appetite,
poor mental health, cardiovascular complications, and Type II diabetes.
Inmates spend a large portion of everyday working outdoors at the MCDF. Research
shows that the human body's systems respond quickly to contact with nature.
Experiencing nature can inspire feelings of contemplation, impressions that are
reinforced by calmed heart rate, reduced stress response and healing processes.
(See Appendix A)
Ways to Increase Occupancy at the MCDF
Four of the six dormitory wings at MCDF are uninhabited. Wings A and B are
uninhabited due to unreinforced wooden floors and Wings E and F are uninhabited due
to mold damage. The occupancy rate at MCDF is also limited because the MCDF
infirmary is only open 8:30 - 4:30 Monday - Friday, and lacks a pharmacy.
The SO cannot currently increase occupancy at MCDF due to these conditions. To
prepare the property for increased occupancy, the following should be done at MCDF:
1. Reinforce the floors of Wings A and B.
Wings A and B could be occupied after the aged wooden floors are
reinforced.
2. Expand the infirmary hours and add a pharmacy.
If the infirmary expanded its hours and provided care seven days a week,
more inmates with medical conditions could be transferred to the MCDF.
An on-site pharmacy would also broaden the scope of medical care.
Contra Costa County 2014-2015 Grand Jury Report 1508 Version 5/28/2015 8:41 AM Page 9
Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
Ways to Decrease Occupancy at the MDF
1. SB 863 Jail Construction Funding to increase inmate capacity
In August 2015, the SO will apply for Senate Bill 863 funding (jail
construction) that would provide $90 million to build a 240-bed mental
health wing at WCDF. The County will provide a 10% match of $9 million.
If the bid is successful, the new facility will not be completed until late
2018 or early 2019.
Conclusion
The Grand Jury recommends that the SO maintain strong inmate classification
oversight so that each individual has an opportunity for restorative rehabilitation.
Increasing the MCDF occupancy is an opportunity to provide more inmates with the
benefits of living in a natural setting.
If the SO is unsuccessful in obtaining new construction funds for a WCDF mental health
wing, the Grand Jury recommends that the SO find alternative funding to relieve the
crowding at the Martinez Detention Facility.
FINDINGS
F1. The MCDF uses 1/3 of its dormitory space.
F2. The five-year average daily occupancy rate at the MCDF is 52 inmates, although
there is capacity for 160 inmates.
F3. MCDF, built in 1942, is 73 years old.
F4. MCDF occupies 32 acres of a 164-acre parcel owned by the County at the
southeastern foot of Mt. Diablo.
F5. The Sheriff's Office has a shooting range and a training facility on the County's
164-acre parcel at the southeastern foot of Mt. Diablo.
F6. There are six dormitory wings at the MCDF.
F7. The MCDF dormitory, W ings F and G, are permanently closed, Wings B and C are
open; and W ings A and B are closed but could re-open if the flooring were
reinforced.
F8. Barbed wire fences surround the perimeter of the MCDF.
F9. MCDF is a low-security prison.
Contra Costa County 2014-2015 Grand Jury Report 1508 Version 5/28/2015 8:41 AM Page 10
Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
F10. MCDF lacks security cameras.
F11. The SO does not transfer offenders who are flight risks and prone to violence to
the MCDF because it lacks adequate security.
F12. One Contra Costa County deputy sheriff is on duty at night at the MCDF.
F13. There are minimal behavioral conflicts at the MCDF.
F14. The infirmary at the MCDF is open 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.
F15. Inmates needing access to medical personnel 24-hours a day, such as those with
cardiac and pulmonary issues, diabetes, asthma and severe allergies, may not be
housed at the MCDF
F16. The MCDF lacks a pharmacy.
F17. The MCDF inmates have opportunities for rehabilitation.
F18. The So provides classes for personal growth, academic education and job skills to
inmates at the MCDF.
F19. Gang issues are a primary reason why Martinez Detention Facility inmates do not
eat in a communal setting or take group classes.
F20. Inmates at the Martinez Detention Facility are released to an interior room and a
cement-walled courtyard for one to three hours either once a day or every other
day, based on an inmate's classification.
F21. In August 2015, there are plans to submit an application on behalf of Contra Costa
County, for $90 million of State funds made available pursuant to Senate Bill 863.
The funds will be used to build a 240-bed mental health wing at the WCDF.
F22. If the State awards Contra Costa County with Senate Bill 863 funds, the SO
estimates that construction of the 240-bed mental health wing at the WCDF will be
completed by late 2018 or early 2019.
RECOMMENDATIONS
R1. The SO should consider ways to fund the restoration of MCDF Wings A and B.
R2. The SO should consider providing medical staffing 24-hours a day, seven days a
week and a pharmacy at the MCDF, and ways to fund such staffing and the
pharmacy.
Contra Costa County 2014-2015 Grand Jury Report 1508 Version 5/28/2015 8:41 AM Page 11
Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
R3. Once Recommendations 1 - 2 have been accomplished, the SO should consider
broadening the classification of MCDF inmates so that the facility will be fully
utilized.
R4. If the State does not award SB 863 jail construction funds to the County, the SO
should consider alternative plans and associated funding methods to reduce
inmate occupancy at the Martinez Detention Facility.
REQUIRED RESPONSES
Findings Recommendations
The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office Findings 1-22 (Recommendations
1-4]
Appendix A
TGF Foundation Naturesacred.org UNDERSTANDING STRESS
Hartig, T, M Mang, & GW Evans. 1991. RESTORATIVE EFFECTS OF NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT EXPERIENCES. Environment and Behavior 23, 1: 3-26.
Tyrväinen, L., A. Ojala, K. Korpela, T. Lanki, Y. Tsunetsugu, & T. Kagawa. 2014. THE
INFLUENCE OF URBAN GREEN ENVIRONMENTS ON STRESS RELEASE
MEASURES: A FIELD EXPERIMENT. Journal of Environmental Psychology 38: 1-9.
Ulrich R.S., 1984. VEIW THROUGH A WINDOW MAY INFLUENCE RECOVERY
FROM SURGERY. Science 224, 27: 420-1.
Wright, Kevin. 1993. PRISON ENVIRONMENT AND BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES,
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, Vol 20, 93-113
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Page1of3
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CIVIL GRAND JURY REPORT NO. 1508
"THE UNDERUTILIZATION OF THE MARSH CREEK DETENTION FACILITY"
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS’ RESPONSE
FINDINGS –California Penal Code Section 933.5(a) requires a response to the designated findings of
the Grand Jury.
1. The MCDF uses 1/3 of its dormitory space.
Response: Agree.
2. The five-year average daily occupancy rate at the MCDF is 52 inmates, although there is
capacity for 160 inmates.
Response: Agree.
3. MCDF, built in 1942, is 73 years old.
Response: Agree.
4. MCDF occupies 32 acres of a 164-acre parcel owned by the County at the southeastern
foot of Mt. Diablo.
Response: Agree.
5. The Sheriff's Office has a shooting range and a training facility on the County's 164-acre
parcel at the southeastern foot of Mt. Diablo.
Response: Agree.
6. There are six dormitory wings at the MCDF.
Response: Agree.
7. The MCDF dormitory, Wings F and G, are permanently closed, Wings B and C are open;
and Wings A and B are closed but could re-open if the flooring were reinforced.
Response: Partially Disagree. To clarify, Wings D and E are currently being used to house inmates and
Wings B and C could be used immediately if needed.
8. Barbed wire fences surround the perimeter of the MCDF.
Response: Agree.
9. MCDF is a low-security prison.
Page2of3
Response: Partially Disagree. MCDF is a county adult detention facility for sentenced inmates. The
facility is not classified as a prison.
10. MCDF lacks security cameras.
Response: Partially Disagree. The MCDF has security cameras monitoring two secured holding cells
related to detention transportation and the Sheriff’s Range facility.
11. The Sheriff’s Office does not transfer offenders who are flight risks and prone to
violence to the MCDF because it lacks adequate security.
Response: Agree. The MCDF environment is not designed for inmates classified as violent and/or a
flight risk.
12. One Contra Costa County Deputy Sheriff is on duty at night at the MCDF.
Response: Disagree. Minimum staffing maintained at the MCDF is at least one Sergeant and two
Deputy Sheriff positions at all times.
13. There are minimal behavioral conflicts at the MCDF.
Response: Agree.
14. The infirmary at the MCDF is open 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.
Response: Agree.
15. Inmates needing access to medical personnel 24-hours a day, such as those with
cardiac and pulmonary issues, diabetes, asthma and severe allergies, may not be housed at
the MCDF.
Response: Partially Disagree. Medical conditions alone do not exclude inmates from having the
opportunity to be housed at the MCDF.
16. The MCDF lacks a pharmacy.
Response: Agree.
17. The MCDF inmates have opportunities for rehabilitation.
Response: Agree.
18. The Sheriff’s Office provides classes for personal growth, academic education and job
skills to inmates at the MCDF.
Response: Agree.
19. Gang issues are a primary reason why Martinez Detention Facility inmates do not eat in
a communal setting or take group classes.
Response: Partially Disagree. There are many issues that contribute to population management within
the Martinez Detention Facility (MDF). Gang affiliation is a factor; however, type of offense, criminal
history, and special needs housing (e.g. sex offender, gang drop-out) also play a significant role in
how inmates are allowed to interact with one another in the facility.
20. Inmates at the Martinez Detention Facility are released to an interior room and a
cement-walled courtyard for one to three hours either once a day or every other day, based
on an inmate's classification.
Page3of3
Response: Partially Disagree. During “Free-Time” inmates are allowed between 1-3 hours in the
exterior courtyard each day. The remainder of the day, inmates are allowed access to common areas.
21. In August 2015, there are plans to submit an application on behalf of Contra Costa
County, for $90 million of State funds made available pursuant to Senate Bill 863. The funds
will be used to build a 240-bed mental health wing at the WCDF.
Response: Partially Disagree. The application will include not only mental-health space, but also
22,000 square feet for important re-entry programming for inmates.
22. If the State awards Contra Costa County with Senate Bill 863 funds, the Sheriff’s Office
estimates that construction of the 240-bed mental health wing at the WCDF will be
completed by late 2018 or early 2019.
Response: Partially Disagree. If approved, the new facility is scheduled to be completed in late 2019.
RECOMMENDATIONS -California Penal Code Section 933.05(b) requires a response to the
designated recommendations of the Grand Jury.
1. The Sheriff’s Office should consider ways to fund the restoration of MCDF Wings A and B.
Response: The recommendation has been implemented. Wing B has been fully restored.
2. The Sheriff’s Office should consider providing medical staffing 24-hours a day, seven
days a week and a pharmacy at the MCDF, and ways to fund such staffing and the
pharmacy.
Response:The recommendation has been implemented. For FY 2015/16, the Community Corrections
Partnership budget includes Family Nurse Practitioner, Registered Nurse and Mental Health Clinical
Specialist positions for the MCDF.
3. Once Recommendations 1 - 2 have been accomplished, the Sheriff’s Office should
consider broadening the classification of MCDF inmates so that the facility will be fully
utilized.
Response: The recommendation has been implemented. The Sheriff’s Office consistently reviews
inmate eligibility to be housed at the MCDF.
4. If the State does not award SB 863 jail construction funds to the County, the Sheriff’s
Office should consider alternative plans and associated funding methods to reduce inmate
occupancy at the Martinez Detention Facility.
Response: The recommendation has not yet been implemented, but will be once the outcome of the
SB 863 grant process is known.
Contra Costa County 2014-2015 Grand Jury Report 1508 Version 5/28/2015 8:41 AM Page 1
Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
Contact: Sherry Rufini
Foreperson
925-957-5638
Contra Costa County Grand Jury Report 1508
The Underutilization of the Marsh Creek Detention Facility
Overcrowding at the Martinez Detention Facility
TO: The Contra Costa County Sheriff
SUMMARY
Contra Costa County owns 164 acres of rural land at the eastern foot of Mt. Diablo,
approximately 5.5 miles south of downtown Clayton. The Contra Costa County Sheriff's
Office (SO) maintains a law enforcement shooting range and safety training area at the
site.
The minimum-security Marsh Creek Detention Facility (MCDF) was built on 32 acres on
the north side of the property in 1942. The male-only facility has the capacity to house
160 inmates, but is underutilized by almost 70%. There are two reasons for the
underutilization:
1. Inmates with cardiac/pulmonary issues, diabetes, intense allergies and asthma,
cannot be housed at the MCDF because they need access to emergency care
and the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center (CCRMC, the "County Hospital")
is over 20 miles away. Additionally, it is unsuitable for such inmates because
many of the daily activities are outdoors, the infirmary is not open at night or on
the weekends and there is no pharmacy on-site.
2. The facility lacks perimeter cameras and inmates can escape by climbing over
the fences. Thus, the facility is not suitable for un-sentenced pre-trial inmates
who are viewed as a flight risk.
Despite MCDF's minimum security, there has been no inmate escape in years. Due to
minimum misconduct by inmates, the facility is staffed by a lone deputy on the night
shift. A variety of vocational classes and the rural setting provide restorative benefits.
The Grand Jury has been told that both deputies and inmates consider being assigned
to MCDF a privilege.
Contra Costa County 2014-2015 Grand Jury Report 1508 Version 5/28/2015 8:41 AM Page 2
Grand Jury Reports are posted at http://www.cc-courts.org/grandjury
In contrast, the overcrowded four-story Martinez Detention Facility (also referred to as
the County Jail) is situated on one square block of downtown Martinez. The Martinez
Detention Facility houses approximately 636 inmates per day on three of the four floors
(One floor is used for administration). There are no classes or vocational training at the
Martinez Detention Facility and inmates eat their meals in their cells. Staff report that
inmate-to-inmate violence has increased 50% over the last year. In March, one inmate
took a female guard hostage for several hours before releasing her unharmed.
California State Senate Bill 863 authorizes $500 million to non-rural counties for jail
construction. The SO intends to apply for $90 million, which it will use to construct a
240-bed mental health wing at the West County Detention Facility. This increased
capacity will relieve overcrowding at the Martinez Detention Facility. If the SO's
application is granted, construction will be completed by 2019. If the SO is
unsuccessful, the crowding at the Martinez Detention Facility could be relieved by
obtaining alternative funding.
Crowding at the Martinez Detention Facility could also be relieved if the SO renovates
the permeable wood floors of the two abandoned dormitory wings at the MCDF and
opens the dormitories for occupancy. So that more men might have the opportunity to
rehabilitate in the MCDF setting, the SO could also add more medical personnel during
evenings and weekends so that the inmate classification could be broadened.
METHODOLOGY
Detention facility tours.
Interviews with county personnel.
Prison rehabilitation research and review.
INITIAL FINDINGS
Comparison of the Martinez Detention Facility and the Marsh Creek Detention
Facility.
The Martinez Detention Facility
Pursuant to Penal Code §919(b), "The Grand Jury shall inquire into the condition and
management of the public prisons in the county". The 2014 - 2015 Grand Jury toured
the County's adult and juvenile county detention facilities. There is a marked difference
between the Martinez Detention Facility and MCDF.
The Martinez Detention Facility is usually the first point of contact for people arrested in
the County. After people are booked and assessed at the Martinez Detention Facility,
they are housed there until they are released, have been tried and sentenced, or are
transferred to another facility. The Martinez Detention Facility is also adjacent to the
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courts and administration for the SO.
Inmates who have medical or mental health issues are housed at the Martinez
Detention Facility because of its proximity to CCRMC in Martinez.
Of the three adult detention centers in the County - the Martinez Detention Facility, the
MCDF and the West County Detention Facility (WCDF) - the Martinez Detention Facility
houses the most violent inmates. Those who are a danger to society and/or to
themselves must serve their sentences in a highly-secured facility. Gang violence is
also a security concern. Gang inmates exact revenge on rival gang members as well as
men in the same gang. This makes congregating all inmates for classes or meals
impossible. Staff must coordinate the inmates so that rivals are not in contact with each
other during free time. Inmate-to-inmate violence is on the rise at the Martinez Detention
Facility.
The Martinez Detention Facility was never intended to house inmates for a long period
of time, but due to state-mandated prison realignment in 2011, inmates can be in
custody for years while awaiting trial. Inmates are doubled-up in the interior cells and
are allowed to leave their cells for only one to three hours per day. Maximum security
inmates are allowed to leave their cells for one hour and ten minutes every other day.
Outside areas are rectangular cement slabs surrounded by high walls. Inmates eat
meals in their cells. There is no dedicated space for classes.
A double cell at the Martinez
Detention Facility
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The Martinez Detention Facility in
Downtown Martinez
The Outside Courtyard of
the Q Wing at the Martinez
Detention Facility
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The Marsh Creek Detention Facility
MCDF, built in 1942 at the foot of Mt. Diablo in Clayton, has capacity for 160 inmates.
Its population fluctuates between 30 and 80 inmates, averaging approximately 50
inmates daily. There has not been an escape in years even though inmates could throw
a blanket or mattress on the razor wire and climb over the fence. The staff reports that
there are minimal behavioral conflicts among inmates. One deputy is assigned for the
night shift and the property lacks security cameras. The inmates spend their days
tending to the landscape and cultivating grape vineyards for commercial production.
They prepare food, take classes to obtain high school diplomas, learn job re-entry skills,
and master woodworking. There are substance abuse rehabilitation classes as well as
stress management classes. In addition to a lending library and basketball courts, there
is a chapel that provides weekly spiritual services for all denominations.
The Marsh Creek Detention Facility
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Classroom Buildings at
the MCDF
The MCDF "D" Wing
and Outside
Courtyard
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The Grounds of the
MCDF
The MCDF Vineyards
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Inmate Rehabilitation
For certain inmates who have already been sentenced and are not at risk of escaping,
MCDF's monastery-like setting provides a unique opportunity to rehabilitate. Stress
reduction and mental restoration are benefits associated with living near green areas
and spending time in natural settings. Research demonstrates that gardens - similar to
MCDF - provide opportunities to reconnect with nature and that this can be a catalyst to
self-improvement. Prison gardens reduce violence, improve mental health, teach
horticulture skills, and reduce recidivism rates.
Furthermore, residents of urban, low socioeconomic neighborhoods often experience
chronic stress due to higher exposure to noise, violence, unemployment, and crime.
Chronic stress, combined with little opportunity for recovery, can lead to unhealthy
levels of psychological and physiological reaction. Individuals experiencing chronic
stress are more likely to suffer from impaired memory, sleep problems, loss of appetite,
poor mental health, cardiovascular complications, and Type II diabetes.
Inmates spend a large portion of everyday working outdoors at the MCDF. Research
shows that the human body's systems respond quickly to contact with nature.
Experiencing nature can inspire feelings of contemplation, impressions that are
reinforced by calmed heart rate, reduced stress response and healing processes.
(See Appendix A)
Ways to Increase Occupancy at the MCDF
Four of the six dormitory wings at MCDF are uninhabited. Wings A and B are
uninhabited due to unreinforced wooden floors and Wings E and F are uninhabited due
to mold damage. The occupancy rate at MCDF is also limited because the MCDF
infirmary is only open 8:30 - 4:30 Monday - Friday, and lacks a pharmacy.
The SO cannot currently increase occupancy at MCDF due to these conditions. To
prepare the property for increased occupancy, the following should be done at MCDF:
1. Reinforce the floors of Wings A and B.
Wings A and B could be occupied after the aged wooden floors are
reinforced.
2. Expand the infirmary hours and add a pharmacy.
If the infirmary expanded its hours and provided care seven days a week,
more inmates with medical conditions could be transferred to the MCDF.
An on-site pharmacy would also broaden the scope of medical care.
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Ways to Decrease Occupancy at the MDF
1. SB 863 Jail Construction Funding to increase inmate capacity
In August 2015, the SO will apply for Senate Bill 863 funding (jail
construction) that would provide $90 million to build a 240-bed mental
health wing at WCDF. The County will provide a 10% match of $9 million.
If the bid is successful, the new facility will not be completed until late
2018 or early 2019.
Conclusion
The Grand Jury recommends that the SO maintain strong inmate classification
oversight so that each individual has an opportunity for restorative rehabilitation.
Increasing the MCDF occupancy is an opportunity to provide more inmates with the
benefits of living in a natural setting.
If the SO is unsuccessful in obtaining new construction funds for a WCDF mental health
wing, the Grand Jury recommends that the SO find alternative funding to relieve the
crowding at the Martinez Detention Facility.
FINDINGS
F1. The MCDF uses 1/3 of its dormitory space.
F2. The five-year average daily occupancy rate at the MCDF is 52 inmates, although
there is capacity for 160 inmates.
F3. MCDF, built in 1942, is 73 years old.
F4. MCDF occupies 32 acres of a 164-acre parcel owned by the County at the
southeastern foot of Mt. Diablo.
F5. The Sheriff's Office has a shooting range and a training facility on the County's
164-acre parcel at the southeastern foot of Mt. Diablo.
F6. There are six dormitory wings at the MCDF.
F7. The MCDF dormitory, Wings F and G, are permanently closed, Wings B and C are
open; and Wings A and B are closed but could re-open if the flooring were
reinforced.
F8. Barbed wire fences surround the perimeter of the MCDF.
F9. MCDF is a low-security prison.
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F10. MCDF lacks security cameras.
F11. The SO does not transfer offenders who are flight risks and prone to violence to
the MCDF because it lacks adequate security.
F12. One Contra Costa County deputy sheriff is on duty at night at the MCDF.
F13. There are minimal behavioral conflicts at the MCDF.
F14. The infirmary at the MCDF is open 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday.
F15. Inmates needing access to medical personnel 24-hours a day, such as those with
cardiac and pulmonary issues, diabetes, asthma and severe allergies, may not be
housed at the MCDF
F16. The MCDF lacks a pharmacy.
F17. The MCDF inmates have opportunities for rehabilitation.
F18. The So provides classes for personal growth, academic education and job skills to
inmates at the MCDF.
F19. Gang issues are a primary reason why Martinez Detention Facility inmates do not
eat in a communal setting or take group classes.
F20. Inmates at the Martinez Detention Facility are released to an interior room and a
cement-walled courtyard for one to three hours either once a day or every other
day, based on an inmate's classification.
F21. In August 2015, there are plans to submit an application on behalf of Contra Costa
County, for $90 million of State funds made available pursuant to Senate Bill 863.
The funds will be used to build a 240-bed mental health wing at the WCDF.
F22. If the State awards Contra Costa County with Senate Bill 863 funds, the SO
estimates that construction of the 240-bed mental health wing at the WCDF will be
completed by late 2018 or early 2019.
RECOMMENDATIONS
R1. The SO should consider ways to fund the restoration of MCDF Wings A and B.
R2. The SO should consider providing medical staffing 24-hours a day, seven days a
week and a pharmacy at the MCDF, and ways to fund such staffing and the
pharmacy.
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R3. Once Recommendations 1 - 2 have been accomplished, the SO should consider
broadening the classification of MCDF inmates so that the facility will be fully
utilized.
R4. If the State does not award SB 863 jail construction funds to the County, the SO
should consider alternative plans and associated funding methods to reduce
inmate occupancy at the Martinez Detention Facility.
REQUIRED RESPONSES
Findings Recommendations
The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office Findings 1-22 (Recommendations
1-4]
Appendix A
TGF Foundation Naturesacred.org UNDERSTANDING STRESS
Hartig, T, M Mang, & GW Evans. 1991. RESTORATIVE EFFECTS OF NATURAL
ENVIRONMENT EXPERIENCES. Environment and Behavior 23, 1: 3-26.
Tyrväinen, L., A. Ojala, K. Korpela, T. Lanki, Y. Tsunetsugu, & T. Kagawa. 2014. THE
INFLUENCE OF URBAN GREEN ENVIRONMENTS ON STRESS RELEASE
MEASURES: A FIELD EXPERIMENT. Journal of Environmental Psychology 38: 1-9.
Ulrich R.S., 1984. VEIW THROUGH A WINDOW MAY INFLUENCE RECOVERY
FROM SURGERY. Science 224, 27: 420-1.
Wright, Kevin. 1993. PRISON ENVIRONMENT AND BEHAVIORAL OUTCOMES,
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation, Vol 20, 93-113
BACKGROUND: (CONT'D)
If a recommendation is accepted, a statement as to who will be responsible for implementation and by what
definite target date;
A delineation of the constraints if a recommendation is accepted but cannot be implemented within a six-month
period; and
The reason for not accepting or adopting a finding or recommendation.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
In order to comply with statutory requirements, the Board of Supervisors must provide a response to the Superior
Court no later than August 26, 2015 (90 days after receipt). The last Board meeting prior to the August 26, 2015
deadline is today, August 25, 2015.
CHILDREN'S IMPACT STATEMENT:
No impact.
ATTACHMENTS
Response to Grand Jury Report No. 1508
Grand Jury Report No. 1508