Grand Jury
Santa Barbara County
Grand Jury Room
County Courthouse
Santa Barbara, CA 93101

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

Thank you for your "Detention Facilities" report released on March 12, 1997. My staff and I appreciated your favorable comments about our jail operations.

I agree with the Grand Jury's findings that the fingerprinting and photo identification methods currently used by the Lompoc Jail are outdated and that the department should obtain and utilize more modern equipment. Both of these items were considered, along with a variety of other urgently needed resources, for inclusion in our 1997-1999 budget requests. After much debate and consideration of Lompoc's fiscal constraints, my command staff and I made the determination that state-of-the-art fingerprint technology was too costly for inclusion in our budget request. However, a digital photographic imaging system has been requested in our budget proposal. Final approval or denial of this item will rest with the City Council, subject to availability of funds.

Should you require any further information please feel free to contact me.

Again, thank you for your report and for your service to the citizens of Santa Barbara County.

Sincerely,



WILLIAM F. BROWN, JR.
Chief of Police

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