HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 06201995 - 1.64 1.64
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS OF CONTRA COSTA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
Adopted this Order on June 20, 1995 by the following vote:
AYES: Supervisors Rogers, Smith, DeSaulnier, Torlakson, Bishop
NOES: None
ABSENT: None
ABSTAIN: None
SUBJECT Grand Jury Report No. 95-07 County Criminal Justice System and
Grand Jury Report No. 95-09 Social Service Department-Children's
Services Bureau
IT IS By THE BOARD ORDERED that Grand Jury Report 95-07 and 95-09 be REFERRED
to County Administrator and the Internal Operations Committee.
6 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: . L.vu o
PHIL B CHELOR,Clerk of the Board
of Supervisors and County Administrator
cc: County Adminstratore �lAL j'
Internal Operations Committee "�"i"U --- ;Deputv
Grand Jury
County Counsel
Criminal Justice System
Social Service Department
RECEMED
9 1995
i
CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
CONTRA COSTA CO.
A REPORT BY
THE 199495 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY
1020 Ward Street
Martinez, CA 94553
(510)646-2345
Report No. 9 5 0 7
Contra Costa County
Criminal Justice System
"Don't Pass The Buck($), Pass The Hat"
Approved by
bythe Grand Jury.
Date:--� ��— LLI!S
ZlydeUParkhurat
Grand Jury Foreman
Accepted for Filing:
L;64i
Date: I/✓ i V I�lanDePoel
the Superior Court
SECTION 933 (C) OF THE CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE
§933. Comments and Reports on Grand Jury
Recommendations.
. (c) No later than 90 days after the grand jury submits
a final report on the operations of any public agency
subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of
the public agency shall comment to the presiding judge
of the superior court on the findings and recommendations
pertaining to matters under the control of the governing
body, and every elective county officer or agency head
for which the grand jury has responsibility pursuant to
Section 914.1 shall comment within 60 days to the
presiding judge of the superior court, with an information
copy sent to the board of supervisors, on the findings and
recommendations pertaining to matters under the control
of that county officer or agency head and any agency or
agencies which that officer or agency head supervises or
controls. In any city and county, the mayor shall also
comment on the findings and recommendations. All such
comments and reports shall forthwith be submitted to the
presiding judge of the superior court who impaneled *the_
grand jury. A copy of all responses to grand jury reports
shall be placed on file with the clerk of the public agency
and the office of the county clerk, or the mayor when
applicable, and shall remain on file in those offices. One
copy shall be placed on file with the applicable grand jury
final report by, and in the control of the currently impan-
eled grand jury, where it shall be maintained for a
minimum of five years. Leg.H. 1961 ch. 1284, 1963 ch.
674, 1974 chs. 393, 096, 1977 chs. 107, 187, 1980 ch.
543, 1981 ch. 203, 1982 ch. 1408 §5, 1985 ch. 221 §1,
effective July 12, 1985, 1987 ch. 690 §1, 1988 ch. 1297.
Cross-References
Admissible evidence. Penal Code §939.6.
"Grand jury" defined. Penal Code §888.
Grand jury report to be based only on own investigation. Penal
Code §939.9.
Contra Costa County
Criminal Justice System
"Don't pass the buck ($), Pass the hat"
SUMMARY:
This final report regarding the County's criminal justice system covers several topics
of concern, namely; Detention Facilities; Municipal/Superior Court/Police Holding
Cells; Sheriffs Office/Police Departments; Probation Department/Juvenile Facilities;
and the Marine Patrol. These topics were all included in one final report because the
Grand Jury feels that all of the concerns have a problem in common, that is, a
shortage of funds for the criminal justice system.
INTRODUCTION:
California Penal Code #919b states: "The Grand Jury shall inquire into the condition
and management of the public prisons within the county." This includes County
Detention facilities as well as temporary holding facilities found in the County Courts
and City Police Departments.
California Penal Code #925 allows the Grand Jury to investigate the operations of the
Probation Department. This includes juvenile holding and detention facilities.
The Contra Costa County Grand Jury has, 'as in past years, also taken "ride-alongs"
with Police Departments in the County. The 1994 - 1995 Contra Costa County Grand
Jury took 43 "ride-alongs" with 23 law enforcement agencies, and inspected 20
holding and temporary holding facilities during the year.
FINDINGS:
The 1994-95 Contra Costa County Grand Jury finds that regarding:
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM:
1. The County is currently proposing an across the board 20% reduction in the
budgets applicable to our criminal justice system departments.
DETENTION FACILITIES:
1. The Contra Costa County Sheriff Department operates three adult detention
facilities in Contra Costa County:
A. Martinez Detention Facility (MDF) is rated as a maximum-security
facility located in downtown Martinez.
Page 1
Contra Costa County
Criminal Justice System
"Don't pass the buck ($), Pass the hat"
Findings - Detention Facilities continued...
B. West County Detention Facility (WCDF) is rated as a medium-
security facility located near Richmond/Point Pinole.
C. Marsh Creek Detention Facility (MCDF) is rated as a minimum-
security facility located near Clayton.
2. The only new Detention Facility in the County; the West County Detention .
Facility, was not built to handle today's more violent criminal. It was built with
campus style units that require more manpower to operate than the (old style)
tiered units. It does not have a lock-down capacity in case of a riot.
3. The West County Detention Facility booking station has never been opened for
use. The Sheriff's Department budget does not include the funds needed to
staff it. The only booking facility currently in operation in the County is at the
Martinez Detention Facility. This has a substantially negative impact
throughout the County's law enforcement agencies. For example, this means
that a Kensington Policeman must call another Officer on an over time basis to
cover their shift, while they take several hours to transport and book the
prisoner in Martinez, and return to their shift in Kensington.
4.. The detention facility system in the County is not built to handle today's prison
population. Most facilities are often over-crowded, holding more prisoners
than they were originally built for. Some single bed cells now hold two beds.
Dormitory units have been placed in the receiving area of the Martinez facility.
Today's criminal is more numerous, younger, and much more violent.
5. The Sheriff's Department is to be,commended in the.care they take with their
facilities:
A. The Martinez facility is very clean and well maintained. However,
there are no surveillance monitors in the cells for visual contact
and there are blind areas in the modules.
B. The West County facility is also very clean. However, it has no
maximum security area.
Page 2
e
Contra Costa County
Criminal Justice System
"Don't pass the buck ($), Pass the hat"
Findings - Detention Facilities continued
C. At the Marsh Creek Detention Facility, the Sheriff's Department,
uses much ingenuity in repairing what they can themselves with
minimal outside assistance.
6. There is a closed circuit television system in place in several of the County
detention facilities for remote video arraignments. Rooms are set aside with
video equipment connecting the detention facility with a Judge and his/her
courtroom. These systems can be'utilized for increased courtroom security
and court efficiency. These rooms/systems are seldom used.
MUNICIPALISUPERIOR COURT/POLICE HOLDING CELLS:
1. There are five Courts with holding cells in this County:
A. The A.F.Bray Court Building (New Court House) located in down-
town Martinez.
B. Bay Judicial District in Richmond.
C. Delta Judicial District in Pittsburg.
D. Mt Diablo Judicial District in Concord.
E. Walnut Creek/Danville Judicial District in Walnut Creek.
2. The Court's holding cells are either out-dated, badly situated and accessible to
public areas (Bray,, Mt. Diablo), inadequate for the population they are
supposed to contain (Mt. Diablo), or poorly maintained (Bray, Mt. Diablo).
3. There is little protection for the Judges, or for the public, in the Courts. There
is no consistent use of metal detectors at the entrances to the Court Houses.
In some Court Houses, prisoners are escorted through a public area in order
to get to the Courtroom (Bray, Mt. Diablo).
4. In the Mt. Diablo Judicial District, because of a lack of holding cell space,
female prisoners are often shackled to a chair in an open area used by Court
clerks until called to Court.
Page 3
fi
Contra Costa County
Criminal Justice System
"Don't pass,the buck ($), Pass the hat"
Findings - Municipal/Superior Court/Police Holdinct Cells continued...
5. Fire Inspections are required yearly in Court facilities. They were not found to
be current in: Bay Judicial-Richmond; last dated 11-20-91, and Walnut Creek,
last dated 9-23-91. Bray, Delta Judicial and Mt. Diablo do not have any proof
of their last fire inspection.
:4
6. In the old Court House in Martinez, the elevators have not been inspected
since September 30, 1993. The permits expired September 30, 1994.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE/POLICE DEPARTMENTS:_
1. There are only six police departments (Antioch, B.A.R.T.- Concord, Pinole,
Pleasant Hili, San Ramon, and the Sheriff's Office at West County) that are
located in facilities less than ten years old. These agencies should be fully
capable of meeting current specifications and passing the requirements of Fire,
Board of Corrections, and Health Department inspections. Other agencies
have infractions ranging from minor to those requiring extensive building
renovations to meet current codes and specifications.
t
2. Many patrol vehicles are kept in service longer than they should be, and are
seldom replaced in a timely manner. Many jurisdictions do not have adequate
quantities of vehicles to allow shift overlaps. Often, shifts share a vehicle, and
if an Officer responds to a call toward the end of their shift, the next officer has
to wait until the first Officer and their vehicle return to the station. Examples of i
this were found at San Pablo, Kensington and the Sheriff's office (West
County).
3. Each Department has barely enough manpower to fill their shifts and cover .
their patrol areas. If there is a shift vacancy, the other Officers in the
department must fill those shifts. The resulting under-staffed shift has tired,
over-stressed Officers working,alone, without backup. Examples of this
situation were found in San Pablo, Kensington, Sheriff's Office (West County),
Moraga, Brentwood, and Clayton. San Pablo Police Department averaged 1961
incidents per officer per year in 1994.
Page 4
Contra Costa County
Criminal Justice System
"Don't pass the buck ($), Pass the hat"
Findings - Sheriffs Office/Police Departments, continued...
4. Some Officers are required to purchase their own computers, software,
equipment (such as firearms, badges, uniforms), and cameras. Officers in
Kensington are even required to purchase their own pens and notebooks to
write shift reports.
5. Perpetrators may be cited and released because a Department may elect not
to use departmental funds to cover the County's booking fees at the Martinez
Detention Center, and/or spend the Officer's time driving the perpetrator to and
returning from the Martinez facility.
6. Unless the dollar value of an arrest warrant justifies the costs of arrest and
booking, the criminal remains on the streets. This is contrary to Penal Code
Section 848, which states, "An Officer making an arrest, in obedience to a
warrant, must proceed with the person arrested as commanded by the
warrant, or as provided by law."
7. There is an inconsistency in forms for booking inmates among the Sheriff's
Booking Facility and many City Police Departments. This results in a duplica-
tion of forms, and a waste of Officers' time and Cities' money.
PROBATION DEPARTMENT/JUVENILE FACILITIES:
1 The Probation Department operates two juvenile facilities in Contra Costa
County:
A. Juvenile Hall. This is a locked holding facility located in Martinez.
B. Orin Allen Youth Rehabilitation Facility ("Byron Boys' Ranch").
This is an unlocked detention facility located east of Byron.
2. The two juvenile facilities in the County are in disrepair. They are out-dated,
holding more juveniles than they were built for, dilapidated and in poor
condition. In order to fund the very good vocational education programs at
these facilities, the buildings are being allowed to deteriorate. Due to
overcrowding, the County is forced to house some juveniles outside of the
County.
Page 5
Contra Costa County
Criminal Justice System
"Don't pass the buck ($), Pass the hat"
Findings - Probation Dgpartment/Juvenile Facilities continued...
3. The juveniles currently housed in.County facilities, on the average, are
younger; and much more violent than in the, past. At the time of this
investigation, the County.was housing a 10 year old child accused of
committing murder.
4., Repairs and maintenance at Byron Boys' Ranch have been deferred. The
gutters have deteriorated, dry rot is present, cement floors in the dormitory are
cracked and crumbling, and windows cannot be opened or closed.
5. The ovens, refrigerators, freezers, and emergency generator at ByronBoys'
Ranch are past the point of serviceability. They are old, overused, do not pass
Health Department requirements, and/or don't work well.
3
6. There is no physical separation of younger boys from the older boys at Byron
Boys' Ranch.
7. Contra Costa County girls.are sent out of County to group homes in other
Counties. There is no equivalent of Byron Boys' Ranch for the girls in this
f
County.
8. There is little or no screening and correction of vision and/or hearing for
juveniles entering County detention facilities.
9. At the time of this investigation, there is no proof of a current Fire Inspection at
Byron Boys' Ranch.
10. County Probation Officers do not have the time to monitor post detention care
for juveniles, and their re-entry into the community,
11. Work load/case load per Probation Officer is unmanageable. An average of
less than 1 hour per case per month is spent on those cases that are
considered of higher impact. There are thousands of other cases that are not
assigned to any specific Officer. They become merely entries on a computer
with no Probation Officer involvement,
Page 6
Contra Costa County
Criminal Justice System
"Don't pass the buck ($), Pass the hat"
Findings continued...
MARINE PATROL:
1. There are more than 35,000 pleasure vessels registered by Contra Costa
County residents.
2. Marine Patrol coverage in Contra Costa County is part time and extremely
limited in its scope of operation relative to the 1200 mile coastline of the
County.
3. There is no on-going program of safety inspections, waterway law
enforcement, or registration of marine craft. Boats are being launched and
used with multiple County and State violations.
4. The State of California has offered funds ($55,000) towards the purchase of a
new vessel for the Marine Patrol. Contra Costa County must come up with
approximately $10,000 to complete the purchase and is attempting to find the
funds to do so. There are no funds budgeted for the manning, maintenance or
operation of said vessel.
CONCLUSIONS:
The 1994•-95 Contra Costa County Grand Jury concludes that for:
THE CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM:
1. There is no fat in this system. In fact,,past belt tightening and budget cutting
has pared the system below the bare minimum of officers, equipment, safety
and maintenance of facilities.
The previous budget cuts have stretched all Departments too far. The Officers
are doing an excellent job. Members of the Grand Jury were met with
enthusiasm, courtesy, and patience, but the community is asking too much of
them. The Officers are making the system work in spite of itself and should be
commended for continuing to provide excellent service. The system is
desperately in need of additional funding in order to meet its obligations.
2. Some of the agencies responsible for fire inspections are not doing their job.
Page 7
Contra Costa.County
Criminal Justice System
°Don't pass the buck ($), Pass the hat"
Conclusions continued...
DETENTION FACILITIES:
1. The detention facilities in the County are not adequate to handle the volume of
younger, violent inmates requiring incarceration in a higher security facility.
County detention facilities are not in good repair or properly equipped to
provide safety for Officers and inmates.
MUNICIPAL, SUPERIOR COURT/POLICE HOLDING CELLS:
1. In the majority of Courts and Police agencies, the buildings and facilities are
old and need updating, renovation or repair.
2. Security precautions at the Courthouses, if present at all, are minimal.
SHERIFF/POLICE DEPARTMENTS:
1. The majority of these agencies have been operating on bare minimum budgets
for far too long.
PROBATION DEPARTMENT/JUVENILE FACILITIES:
1. Both juvenile facilities are inadequate to safely hold the populations they are
attempting to handle.
2. Probation Officers have too high a case load to be effective.
MARINE PATROL:
1. Coverage of waterways is inadequate for public safety.
Page 8
Contra Costa County
Criminal Justice System
"Don't pass the buck ($), Pass the hat"
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The 1994-95 Contra Costa County Grand Jury recommends that for:
CONTRA COSTA COUNTY CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM:
1. The County Board of Supervisors should not decrease, but immediately
increase, the budgets applicable to our criminal justice system departments.
2. The Board immediately impanel an independent advisory board to seek out
additional funding sources. These sources may include funding from other
County departments and/or additional county-wide tax revenues.
DETENTION FACILITIES:
1. The West County Detention booking facility be opened immediately and used,
on a trial basis, during heavy intake periods to eliminate the bottleneck at the
Martinez Detention Facility booking center and to decrease the county-wide
impact on local jurisdictions.
2. Within sixty (60) days, the Board of Supervisors appoint a Board to review and
standardize booking procedures and documentation for the County and Cities.
All Police Departments should adopt standardized procedures and booking
forms consistent with the Sheriff's department.
3. Within sixty (60) days, the Board of Supervisors appoint an independent review
board to study the Detention Facilities, and determine how the existing facilities
can best be utilized to serve the County's needs.
4. Additional funding be allocated to maintain and operate the County's existing
facilities in a safe and well maintained manner for the health, safety and
welfare of the personnel and inmates.
Page 9
Contra Costa County
Criminal Justice System
"Don't pass the buck ($), Pass the hat"
Recommendations continued...
MUNICIPAL/SUPERIOR COURT/POLICE HOMING CELLS:
1. Within one hundred twenty (120) days, metal detectors be installed and used
at all public entrances to all Court Buildings.
2. Within 30 days, bring fire inspections up to date in all Court facilities.
3. 'Within 30 days, have the elevators in the Old Courthouse inspected and
recertified.
4. Within sixty (60) days of formation, the independent review board should study
all County holding facilities, prisoner transportation procedures and court
rooms used for criminal trials in order to address public safety concerns over
inmate contact with the public.
5. Within 30 days, the County owned video arraignment system be put into
regular use to reduce movement of high-risk prisoners.
SHERIFF'S OFFICE/POUCE DEPARTMENTS:
1. Within 30 days, fire inspections shall be brought up to date and kept current.
2. Each responsible jurisdiction shall seek immediate funding to provide
adequate personnel, safety equipment, vehicles, computers and other
equipment essential to performing their duties.through reallocation of internal
budgets or additional tax revenues.
PROBATION DEPARTMENT/JUVENILE FACILITIES:
1. The Board of Supervisors continue to seek funds to modernize or replace
County Juvenile Detention Facilities.
2. Within sixty (60) days, the Board of Supervisors implement the Juvenile Justice
System Continuum of Services plan prepared by the Juvenile Systems
Planning Advisory Committee.
3. Within 30 days, a fire inspection shall be performed at Byron Boys' Ranch
immediately.
Page 10
Contra Costa County
Criminal Justice System
"Don't pass the buck ($), Pass the hat"
Recommendations- Probation Department/Juvenile Facilities continued...
4. Within six (6) months, the Board of Supervisors review, and restructure if
necessary, the entire Probation Department program in order to better focus
the Department on the needs of the community. If the program cannot be
adequately funded, the program should be revised accordingly. The Board
should consider having Probation Officers concentrate on the handling of
Court cases in the pre-sentencing phase and juvenile probation.
5. Within 90 days, separate quarters be provided for the younger boys at Byron
Boys' Ranch.
6. Within 6 months, the County develop and implement a program to place more
emphasis on re-entry into the community after detention, and greater
assistance and supervision provided to youth to encourage them to stay in
school and to develop a more productive life.
r
MARINE PATROL:
1. Within sixty (60) days, the Board of Supervisors appoint a committee to review
the entire Marine Patrol program and its funding in order to increase law
enforcement and public safety on the waterways.
2. The Sheriff's Department immediately grant Harbor Masters the power to cite
offenders for safety and registration violations.
COMMENTS:
The law enforcement and criminal justice system in Contra Costa County is in serious
financial trouble. Years of continued tight budgets and repeated demands for
additional budget cuts are seriously impacting the ability of our criminal justice
system to be effective in its charge to serve and protect.
Officer and Public safety is severely compromised as departmental budgets are so
restricted that there are inadequate numbers of officers to even cover required shifts
and patrol areas. Officers, frequently, find themselves without adequate backup
when needed.
Page 11
Contra Costa County
Criminal. Justice System
"Don't pass,the buck ($), Pass the hat"
Comments continued...
Officer efficiency and Public safety is further compromised in our.County by the
incredible lack of adequate facilities, equipment and supplies provided to these
heroes of our community so that they can do their basic jobs. From dilapidated
buildings with inadequate holding facilities, to vehicles considered antiques, to Tack of
basic office machinery, to officers purchasing their own pencils and note books, our
system provides very little support to the over-worked, over-stressed, under-manned,
under-equipped and `inadequately housed protectors of our freedom.
Yet, they endure and somehow do an incredible job. The 199495 Contra Costa
County Grand Jury found the law enforcement officers of our County and its Cities to
be courteous, brave and patient. They have pride in their communities, treat the
community with respect and are more at risk than they deserve to be.
The Grand Jury also commends the recent independent study and conclusions of the
Juvenile Systems Planning Advisory Committee for replacement and improvement of
Juvenile Hall. We strongly support their conclusions and commend the Board of
Supervisors for taking the issue seriously and for seeking the funds to comply with it.
It is amazing how well and how much our Criminal Justice System does with so very
little financial support. As members of the Contra Costa Community,'we need to
wake up and, instead_ of passing more laws, or passing the buck, we need to pass
the hatl
Page 12
I RECEIVE
JUN 1 3195 I
CLERK BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
A REPORT BY CONTRA COSTA CO.
THE 199495 CONTRA COSTA COUNTY GRAND JURY
1020 Ward Street
Martinez, CA 94553
(510)646-2345
Report No. 9509
Contra Costa County
Social Services Department
"How Long Must The Children Wait?"
Approved by the Grand Jury: (�
Date:
Clyde Parkhurst
Grand Jury Foreman
Accepted for Filing:
Date• ��%�,i _
o .VanDePoel
Jud a of the Superior Court
SECTION 933 (C) OF THE CALIFORNIA PENAL CODE
4 §933. Comments and Reports on Grand Jury
Recommendations.
(c) No later than 90 days after the grand jury submits
a final report on the operations of any public agency
subject to its reviewing authority, the governing body of
the public agency shall comment to the presiding judge
of the superior court on the findings and recommendations
pertaining to matters under the control of the governing
body, and every elective county officer or agency head
for which the grand jury has responsibility pursuant to
Section 914.1 shall comment within 60 days to the
presiding judge of the superior court, with an information
copy sent to the board.of supervisors, on the findings and
recommendations pertaining to matters under the control
of that county officer or agency head and any agency or
agencies which that officer or agency head supervises or
controls. In any city and county, the mayor shall also
comment on the findines and recommendations. All such
comments and reports shall forthwith be submitted to the
presiding judge of the superior court who impaneled the,
grand jury. A copy of all responses to grand jury reports
shall be placed on file with the clerk of the public agency
and the office of the county clerk, or the mayor when
applicable, and shall remain on file in those offices. One
copy shall be placed on file with the applicable grand jury
final report by, and in the control of the currently impan-
eled grand jury, where it shall be maintained for a
minimum of five years. Leg.H. 1961 ch. 1284, 1963 ch.
674, 1974 chs. 393, 1396, 1977 chs. 107, 187, 1980 ch.
543, 1981 ch. 203, 1982 ch. 1408 §5, 1985 ch. 221 §1,
effective July 12, 1985, 1987 ch. 690 §1, 1988 ch. 1297.
Cross-References
Admissible evidence. Penal Code §939.6.
"Grand jury" defined. Penal Code §888.
Grand jury report to be based only on own investigation. Penal
Code §939.9.
Contra Costa County
Social Service Department - Children's Services Bureau
"How Long Must The Children Wait?"
INTRODUCTION:
Of the children currently in Contra Costa County's Foster/Adoptive care system between the
ages of 2 and 18, 83-percent have been in Foster Care over 24-months.
The 1993-94 Contra Costa County Grand Jury issued Report #9405, "Bureaucratic Child
Abuse", calling for an impartial investigation of the Adoptions Unit* of the Social Service
Department.
In response, the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors contracted with the Child Welfare
Research Center (11CWRC"), at the University of California, Berkeley to review the practices of
the Adoption Program* in the Contra Costa County Social Service Department.
The CWRC review team made their findings and recommendations known in November,
1994. This report entitled: "Evaluation Of The Contra Costa County Social Service
Department Adoptions Program" made six (6) major recommendations:
1. Establish a systematic process for early identification and referral to the
Adoption Program of children who may be "adoptable."
2. Revise the home study process.
3. Increase the mutual understanding of social workers and persons working in the
juvenile court (i.e., judge, attorneys and county counsel) regarding the effect of
the judicial system on children in foster care.
4. Improve the relationship between foster parents and County social workers.
5. Set up a continuing education curriculum and training for all social workers.
6. Automate, to the extent possible, controls and record keeping now performed
manually.
*(Renamed Children's Services Bureau)
Page 1
. f
Contra Costa County
Social Service Department - Children's Services Bureau
$'How Long Must The Children Wait?"
FINDINGS:
The 1994-95 Contra Costa County Grand Jury finds that:
1. The Social Service Department, Children's Services Bureau has made progress in the
following areas:
A. The Department hired a new Assistant Director of the Children's Services
Bureau.
B. The Department, by Board of Supervisors action, contracted with the University
of California, Berkeley, Child Welfare Research Center ("CWRC'), for a "Third
Party Evaluation of Adoption Program", at a cost of $23,000.
C. The management of,the Social Service Department accepted the report and its
recommendations titled; "Evaluation Of The Contra Costa County Social Service
Department Adoptions Program."
D. The Children's Services Bureau held a workshop January 18, 1995 and a public
meeting on January 30, 1995, to develop an action plan to address the
recommendations of the report by CWRC.
E. The Department made staff changes.within the Children's Services Bureau.
2. The Board of Supervisors created a sub-committee, The Family and Human Services
Committee". They oversee and review the "Adoption Program"* along with other items
referred to them.
3. Additional adoption workers were hired by Board of Supervisors I action.
4. The Board of Supervisors sub-committee, "The Family and Human Services
Committee" held a Public Forum for Foster/Adoptive parents and other concerned
individuals on April 11, 1995, and taped it for rebroadcast.
5. At present, there is little positive interaction between the Foster/Adaptive-Relative Care
Parents and Social Workers.
*(Renamed, Children's Services Bureau)
Page 2
Contra Costa County
Social Service Department - Children's Services Bureau
"How Long Must The Children Wait?"
Findings continued...
6. The Social Workers are not taking advantage of information and knowledge that Court
Appointed Special Representatives ("CASRII) have regarding foster children in their
care.
7. Many Foster/Adoptive children are kept from permanant placement.because of court
continuances due to social workers not having completed their assigned court case
reports prior to court dates.
8. Case reports to the court do not present a full.picture of the Foster/Adoptive child's
current situation.
9. A Foster/Adoptive child's case is often moved from Social Worker to Social. Worker as
the child moves through the system.
10. Currently, Social Workers in the Children's Services Bureau are not evaluated on a
regular basis.
11. There are some Social Workers who have experienced stress due to heavy case loads
and lack of resources for the Foster/Adoptive children in their care.
12. The existing Children's Services Bureau's manual is out-moded and out of date.
13. The existing Children's Services Bureau's computer system is outdated, obsolete and
in need of replacement.
14, There is not a long term action plan for the Foster/Adoptive children in the system.
CONCLUSIONS:
The 1994-95 Contra Costa County Grand Jury concludes that:
1. The Contra Costa County Social Service Department's Children's Services Bureau has
begun to address the recommendations from the U.C. Berkeley, Child Welfare
Research Center ("CWRCI) report, "Evaluation Of The Contra Costa County Social
Service Department Adoptions Program".
Page 3
4�
Contra Costa County
Social Service Department - Children's Services Bureau
"How Long Must The Children Wait?"
Conclusions continued...
2. The-needs of children waiting permanent placement demand constant, attention and
renewed effort.
3. The Foster/Adoptive-Relative Care children should not have to wait for the bureaucratic
system to change to be placed in a permanant home.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The 1994-95 Contra Costa County Grand Jury recommends that:
1. Within ninety (90) days, a team building approach for Foster/Adoptive and Relative
Care Parents be implemented by the Children's Services Bureau.
2. Within sixty (60) days, a program be implemented by the Children's Services Bureau
whereby trained Court Appointed Special Representatives ("CASR") be used as
enhancement to:
A. Social Worker Training.
B. Foster/Adoptive-Relative Care Parent Training.
C. Children's Court Report Preparation.
3. Social workers be required to complete-their child's court case report, when due, to
avoid unnecessary court continuances.
4. The following attachments to the child's court case report be added to the social
worker's preparation:
A. The CSAR observations.
B. Educational and behavioral observations.conducted by.the child's teacher.
C. The Foster/Adoptive-Relative Care Parent observations.
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Contra Costa County
Social Service Department - Children's Services Bureau
"How Long Must The Children Wait?"
Recommendations continued-
5. Within thirty (30) days, team building exercises such as reverse role playing should be
implemented by the Children's Services Bureau in joint training sessions to improve
relationships between Foster/Adoptive-Relative Care parents and social workers.
6. Within ninety (90) days, a child in Foster/Adoptive-Relative Care be assigned one
social worker to remain with that child throughout the time that child is in the system,
thus allowing for continuity in the child's otherwise fragmented life.
7. The Children's Services Bureau establish annual evaluations of all social workers in
their department.
8. Within thirty (30) days, the Children's Services Bureau establish stress reduction
workshops and intervention to reduce bum out and lack of compassion by social
workers.
10. Within ninety (90) days, the Children's Services Bureau's manual be reviewed for out
of date materials, updated and kept current.
11. Within six (6) months, a computer system be developed to provide:
A. The reduction of paperwork.
B. Access for necessary information at the local level from any social worker's
desk monitor.
12. The Children's Services Bureau develop a five (5) year action plan to be presented to
the Board of Supervisors sub-committee, "The Family and Human Services Committee"
no later than November 13, 1995.
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