The Grand Jury's investigation of the Santa Barbara County
Superior Court’s holding facilities included the study of operations and
procedures, as well as the security of the courtrooms; the disembarking,
loading and escorting of the inmates, the escape of a high-risk inmate, and the
duty assignments of the courtroom bailiffs.
Grand Jury Finding 1:
The inmates do not always wear colored coveralls while they are being
transported.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Finding
1: The Sheriff’s Department agrees with this finding.
Board of Supervisor’s Response to
Findings 1-13: During its regular meeting of August 1,
2000, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Sheriff’s Department’s responses as
the Board’s responses to all of the 13 findings in the 1999-2000 Grand Jury’s
report on “Santa Barbara County Court Holding Facilities.”
Grand Jury Recommendation 1:
All inmates should wear coveralls while they are being transported and a
space provided, in the holding facility, to change to civilian clothes, when so
ordered by the judge.
Sheriff’s Department Response to
Recommendation 1: The recommendation will not be implemented
because it is not warranted or is not reasonable.
There are many circumstances when the court orders an inmate
to be dressed out when appearing on a case.
One example is drug court.
Inmates number from one to six or more each court day for this
program. Transportation officers do not
have time, nor is it realistic for officers to be responsible for dressing the
inmates for court. Ties, belts and
other personal property create security and safety problems for officers and
inmates.
As an example, when inmates are dressed
out for drug court, it is anticipated that they will not be returned to the
jail. Prisoners will be processed in
the same manner as an inmate being released time served. All their personal property, including cash
money, will accompany them to the compound.
If they are accepted on a program, they will be released to Probation or
a program representative from the holding facility or sometimes the courtroom.
Civilian clothing creates additional work
for our Transportation officers. To the
best of their ability, inmates in civilian clothing are kept separate from the
other inmates. When the compound is
full, this option does not exist.
Unfortunately, our court holding facilities are not set up to handle
multiple inmates being dressed out due to security, storage and privacy issues.
Board of Supervisor’s Response to
Recommendations 1–13: During its regular meeting of August 1,
2000, the Board of Supervisors adopted the Sheriff’s Department’s responses as
the Board’s responses to 12 of the 13 recommendations in the 1999-2000 Grand
Jury’s report on “Santa Barbara County Court Holding Facilities,” with a
refinement on Response 11.
Grand Jury Finding 2:
Kill buttons, flashing red lights, and radio/audio alarms are not
installed on all vehicles.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Finding
2: The Sheriff’s Department agrees with this
finding.
Grand Jury Recommendation 2:
Kill buttons, flashing red lights and radio/audio alarms should be
installed on all vehicles.
Sheriff’s Department Response to
Recommendation 2: The recommendation has not yet been
implemented, but is scheduled to be implemented by the end of October, 2000.
The Sheriff’s Department has never had
any inmate/ attempt to overpower an officer/ and try to steal a van or
bus. However, there is always the
potential for this to happen. Kill
buttons might stop the inmates from escaping.
It would at least distract them for a few moments giving the officers
time to take evasive action. It is a
good idea and would be inexpensive to install a simple switch. Installation of kill switches in
Transportation vehicles will be completed by General Services, Operations
Division.
Flashing red lights are currently on all
Transportation buses. The vans are
equipped with emergency lights. They
have wig/wags (headlights), a solid red and flashing blue light in the grill,
and a flashing amber light in the rear.
They also have the standard emergency flashers. However, flashing red lights draw attention
to Transportation vehicles during the loading and unloading of inmates, which
could create a security risk.
We do not have radio/audio alarms. However, it is estimated that within two
months a system will be on line that will give Dispatch the ability to track
all radio calls. Dispatch personnel
will be able to pinpoint the location and identify which vehicle made the
transmission. When this goes into
effect, even if an officer cannot talk, he can key the microphone to contact
Dispatch. Once Dispatch is alerted,
they will expect to talk to an officer.
If they cannot reach someone, assistance will be dispatched.
Grand Jury Finding 3:
Cloth seat covers are sometimes used in vehicles.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Finding
3: The Sheriff’s Department agrees with this
finding.
Grand Jury Recommendation 3:
Only washable plastic seat covers should be used for vehicles.
Sheriff’s Department Response to
Recommendation 3: The recommendation has been implemented.
Only one out of ten vehicles has cloth
seats. The newest van in the fleet,
3838, has cloth seats. The other six vans
and four buses have vinyl seats. Vinyl
seats were requested at the time Vehicle 3838 was ordered, but when it arrived,
the seats were cloth. Rather than delay
getting another vehicle, it was decided to keep the van as delivered. The cloth seats have not been an
inconvenience. This was an exception to
our current practice, not the rule.
Grand Jury Finding 4:
Correction officers in the holding cells have no radio linking them with
the Sheriffs’ Emergency Dispatch Center.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Finding
4: The Sheriff’s Department agrees with this
finding.
Grand Jury Recommendation 4:
Radios in the holding cells should be available to the correction
officers so immediate communication can be established with the Sheriff's
Emergency Dispatch Center in case of an emergency.
Sheriff’s Department Response to
Recommendation 4: The recommendation will not be implemented
because it is not warranted or is not reasonable.
The radios carried by Transportation
officers are the most suitable for their job description. They are the exact models carried by patrol
deputies. The radios have OPS 1 and 2,
plus Clemar and two (5 & 6) transport frequencies.
On a court day, three officers are
assigned to each compound. Currently,
there are two facilities. That means
the other twelve officers are transporting inmates. Their portables can reach Sheriff’s Dispatch once they are beyond
the concrete block walls. As an
example, an officer making a radio call from the driveway of the Santa Barbara
Court Holding Facility will be able to talk directly to Sheriff’s Dispatch.
Inside the facility, there are two floor
officers and a control room officer.
The person monitoring the board is there to make sure nothing happens to
the officers working with the inmates.
They communicate with each other using the radios. If there is a problem, the control room
officer will call the bailiffs, via radio, for assistance. This is almost an immediate response as they
are the closest deputies available. If
a situation dictates more manpower, the control room officer will call
Dispatch.
Lompoc
Division
Grand Jury Finding 5:
At the Lompoc Court Holding there are no visual alerts or warnings for
the casual driver or unwitting pedestrian when inmates are disembarking in the
alleyway from the bus. This could endanger the public and place the officers at
risk.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Finding
5: The Sheriff’s Department disagrees wholly
with this finding. Inmates will not be
walking in the alleyway and safety of the public and officers is paramount.
Grand Jury Recommendation 5:
Flashing red lights should be installed and used by all vehicles
unloading and loading inmates, in the alleyway, to alert and warn the foot and
vehicular traffic.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Recommendation
5: The recommendation will not be implemented
because it is not warranted or is not reasonable.
Transportation officers have been
unloading a bus at the Lompoc City Jail for several years. There is very little (or no) foot traffic in
that area early in the morning. When
the rare walker happens by, they usually change direction or make a wide arc to
avoid getting close to the bus. If
necessary, one of the officers can exit the bus and ask vehicles or the public
to move away from the bus. We would
never endanger the public or put the officers and inmates at risk.
As mentioned in our response to
Recommendation 2, we prefer not to use flashing lights as it draws attention to
our vehicles.
Santa
Maria Division
Grand Jury Finding 6:
The proximity of the parked cars south of the sallyport entrance at the
Santa Maria Court Holding interferes with the maneuverability of the buses.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Finding
6: The Sheriff’s Department agrees with this
finding.
Grand Jury Recommendation 6:
Eliminate the designated parking area that adversely affects the
maneuverability of the Sheriff’s vehicle.
Sheriff’s Department Response to
Recommendation 6: The recommendation has not been implemented,
but is scheduled to be implemented by the first part of August, 2000.
Parking is severely limited at the Santa
Maria campus for employees and the public.
Eliminating parking spaces would create a burden adding to an already
frustrating situation.
Sheriff’s Department personnel are
working with General Services to either make that area designated as “Law
Enforcement Vehicles Only” or a designated parking area for compact vehicles
only.
Grand Jury Finding 7:
A pedestrian doorway, number 149 on the west side of sallyport, is not
monitored by a video camera, as the other doors are.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Finding
7: The Sheriff’s Department agrees with this
finding.
Grand Jury Recommendation 7:
Install a video camera to monitor doorway number 149.
Sheriff’s Department Response to
Recommendation 7: The recommendation will not be implemented
because it is not warranted or is not reasonable.
Placement of a camera on the exterior of
doorway number 149 is not necessary.
This doorway is seldom used.
Sheriff's Department staff will instruct personnel wishing access to the
Court Holding Facility to utilize doorway number 132, which is monitored by a
camera, thus eliminating the need to install a camera to monitor doorway number
149.
Grand Jury Finding 8:
The hard surfaces of the walls, floors and ceiling all contribute to a
high level of noise, which the GJ members found disturbing and irritating.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Finding
8: The Sheriff’s Department disagrees partially
with this finding. Sound is at an
acceptable level and is controlled by corrections staff.
Grand Jury Recommendation 8:
Correct the acoustics so that the sound is at an acceptable level.
Sheriff’s Department Response to
Recommendation 8: The recommendation will not be implemented
because it is not warranted or is not reasonable.
Installation of acoustics would be
considered an improvement to the facility not necessarily a maintenance or
repair issue. Acoustical panels for the
Santa Maria Court Holding Facility will be expensive. Funding of projects are based on priorities which dictate the
most need. Sheriff’s personnel have not
complained about the noise level and this has not been identified as a spending
priority. However, Sheriff’s staff will
continue to monitor the noise level and work with General Services in the
future should official complaints of noise be received.
Figueroa
Division, Santa Barbara
Grand Jury Finding 9:
The present sallyport at the downtown Santa Barbara facility is unsafe
and endangers both the public and the correction officers. This failing has been cited by previous
grand juries.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Finding
9: The Sheriff’s Department agrees with this
finding.
Grand Jury Recommendation 9:
Enclose the present sallyport with an acceptable and permanent
construction.
Sheriff’s Department Response to
Recommendation 9: The recommendation has not yet been
implemented, but is scheduled to be completed by January, 2001.
Plans have been drawn of a covered
passageway that will secure the entrance and exit of the court compound. Although not on the scale recommended by the
Grand Jury, the structure will meet security needs.
With the planned enclosed walkway, the inmates will be
entirely contained after exiting a bus or a van. The sliding metal gates at both ends will still be utilized to
block off vehicular and foot traffic.
Anacapa
Division, Santa Barbara
Grand Jury Finding 10:
Not all the cells have working toilets in the Anacapa Division Court
Holding and no cells have water for drinking and handwashing.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Finding
10: The Sheriff’s Department agrees with this
finding.
Grand Jury Recommendation 10:
Bring the cells up to the city’s plumbing code so inmates have a
sanitary facility with working toilets and running water.
Sheriff’s Department Response to
Recommendation 10: The recommendation has not yet been
implemented, but it will be implemented by the first part of October, 2000.
Sheriff’s Department Custody Operations
personnel are working with General Services to identify all cells within the
old jail facility which will be utilized in the future to stage inmates. These cells will be in working order as soon
as General Services can schedule a plumber to make the necessary repairs.
Grand Jury Finding 11:
Portable electric floor heaters are utilized with their long cords
exposed, posing a potential safety hazard.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Finding
11: The Sheriff’s Department disagrees partially
with this finding. The portable
electric floor heaters have been installed per code.
Grand Jury Recommendation 11:
Install permanent infra-red ceiling heaters.
Sheriff’s Department Response to
Recommendation 11: The recommendation will not be implemented
because it is not warranted or is not reasonable.
General Services indicated no permanent
ceiling heaters will be installed as it is cost prohibitive. The Sheriff’s Department’s recommendation
would be to abandon the upstairs jail after a new court holding facility is
built. The overall condition is
poor. The old jail does not meet the Board
of Corrections’ standards and is not used enough to warrant the
expenditure. A new court holding
facility should be constructed in the basement of the Anacapa courthouse
facility to enhance security and bring a facility into compliance with Board of
Corrections’ requirements. The old jail
is considered a staging area only for court appearances. Inmates waiting to appear in court are held
a maximum of two hours. Current
practice to stage inmates is about 20 to 45 minutes total.
Additional Sheriff’s staffing would be
necessary to hold inmates in excess of two hours. Male and females inmates are currently staged in this
facility. In the event the amount of
time to stage inmates exceed the two-hour maximum time period, additional male
and female Sheriff’s personnel would be required to supervise, monitor, and
move inmates to and from courtrooms.
Board of Supervisor’s Response to
Recommendation 11: A modification of the Sheriff’s Department’s
response. As part of the response, the
department indicates that “The Sheriff’s Department’s recommendation would be
to abandon the upstairs jail after a new court holding facility is built A new court holding facility should be
constructed in the basement of the Anacapa courthouse.” The adopted Board response is as follows:
The Board of Supervisors believes that the Anacapa
Courthouse holding facility should be upgraded or moved. The construction of a new holding facility
in the basement of this courthouse is one option to be explored.
Grand Jury Finding 12: The
Superior Courts at the Anacapa Division and at Cook Street in Santa Maria
require the Bailiffs to perform clerical duties that the Figueroa Division and
Miller Street courtroom Bailiffs are not assigned. These additional obligations
distract them and take their complete attention away from their primary duties
of securing the courtroom.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Finding
12: The Sheriff’s Department agrees with this
finding.
Grand Jury Recommendation 12:
Reexamine the additional clerical duties assigned to the Anacapa and the
Cook Street courtroom bailiffs, so their extra assignments can be alleviated or
eliminated.
Sheriff’s Department Response to
Recommendation 12: The recommendation has not yet been
implemented, but will be implemented in the future with approval from Superior
Court Administration and Judges.
In June of 1999, the U.S. Marshals Service, Judicial
Security Division, surveyed the Santa Barbara County Courts. They came up with the same
recommendation. “Discontinue the practice
of bailiffs having to perform any type of administrative functions, i.e.,
filling out booking sheets, call cases or summoning attorneys.” The assignment and/or reassignment of the
clerical duties originate with the Superior Court Administration and judges of
the affected courtrooms. The Sheriff’s
Court Services Division will work with Superior Court Administration in
resolving this disparity between the Anacapa and Cook Street Courts and the
Figueroa and Miller Street Courts.
Grand Jury Finding 13:
The courtroom radio alarm system does not alert the correction officers
or the Sheriff’s Emergency Dispatch Center and is not included in all of the
courtrooms in the other divisions.
Sheriff’s Department Response to Finding
13: The Sheriff’s Department agrees with this
finding.
Grand Jury Recommendation 13:
Connect the new alarm system to include the correction officers along
with the bailiffs in the courtrooms new alarm system, and install this system
in all the courtrooms in all the divisions.
Sheriff’s Department Response to
Recommendation 13: The recommendation has not yet been
implemented. Implementation in the
future will require approval from Superior Court Administration and Judges. This is a court administration issue not a
Sheriff’s Department responsibility.
The alarm system being discussed is the
South County Courts Varda Alarms. The
alarm is a radio alarm and is not hard wired anywhere. The Superior Courts Administration has not
yet purchased alarms for each courtroom.
Monitoring of the alarms by the Correction Officers at the holding
facility can be accomplished by the addition of another radio or scanner tuned
to the proper frequency. Monitoring of
the alarm by Sheriff’s Dispatch is unnecessary and would distract from the
dispatchers primary responsibilities.
The Sheriff’s Department agrees with and is implementing the majority of the thirteen Grand Jury Recommendations. Recommendations 1,5,8, and 11 are not being implemented, but with valid explanations.