DETENTION FACILITIES IN SANTA BARBARA COUNTY 1996-1997
| FACILITY | MANAGED BY | LOCATION | TYPE | SIZE |
| CARPINTERIA POLICE DEPT. | SHERIFF'S DEPT. | 5775 CARPINTERIA AVE. CARPINTERIA 93013 |
HOLDING | 3 CELLS |
| NEW CUYAMA SUBSTATION | SHERIFF'S DEPT. | 215 NEWSOME ST. NEW CUYAMA 93254 |
HOLDING | 1 CELL |
| SANTA BARBARA COUNTY MAIN JAIL | SHERIFF'S DEPT. | 4336 CALLE REAL SANTA BARBARA 93110 |
TYPE II JAIL | 657-1049 INMATES |
| SANTA BARBARA MUNICIPAL COURT | SHERIFF'S DEPT. | 118 E FIGUEROA ST. SANTA BARBARA 93101 | COURT HOLDING | 8 CELLS |
| SANTA BARBARA SUPERIOR COURT | SHERIFF'S DEPT. | 1105 SANTA BARBARA ST. SANTA BARBARA 93101 |
COURT HOLDING | 8 CELLS |
| SANTA MARIA BRANCH JAIL | SHERIFF'S DEPT. | 812 W FOSTER RD. SANTA MARIA 93455 |
TYPE I JAIL | 9 CELLS |
| SANTA MARIA MUNICIPAL COURT | SHERIFF'S DEPT. | 312 E COOK ST. SANTA MARIA 93454 |
COURT HOLDING | 12 CELLS |
| SANTA YNEZ VALLEY SUBSTATION | SHERIFF'S DEPT. | 1745 MISSION DR. SOLVANG 93463 | HOLDING | 1 CELL |
| MEN'S HONOR FARM | SHERIFF'S DEPT. | 4434 CALLE REAL SANTA BARBARA 93110 | TYPE IV JAIL | 257 INMATES |
| WOMEN'S HONOR FARM | SHERIFF'S DEPT. | 66 SAN ANTONIO RD. SANTA BARBARA 93110 |
TYPE IV JAIL | 36 INMATES |
| SANTA BARBARA SOBERING CENTER | SANTA BARBARA POLICE DEPT. & `THRESHOLD TO RECOVERY' | 17 E HALEY ST. SANTA BARBARA 93101 |
HOLDING | 1 CELL |
| GUADALUPE POLICE DEPT. | CITY OF GUADALUPE | 4490 10TH ST. GUADALUPE 93434 |
HOLDING | 1 CELL |
| LOMPOC POLICE DEPT. | CITY OF LOMPOC | 107 CIVIC CTR. PLAZA LOMPOC 93436 | TYPE I JAIL | 10 CELLS |
| SANTA BARBARA POLICE DEPT. | CITY OF SANTA BARBARA | 215 E FIGUEROA ST. SANTA BARBARA 93101 |
HOLDING | 2 CELLS |
| SANTA MARIA POLICE DEPT. | CITY OF SANTA MARIA | 222 COOK ST. SANTA MARIA 93454 |
HOLDING | 1 CELL |
| LOS PRIETOS BOYS' CAMP | PROBATION DEPT. | STAR ROUTE, PARADISE RD. SANTA BARBARA 93105 |
JUVENILE FACILITY | 56 IN DORMS |
| SANTA BARBARA JUVENILE HALL | PROBATION DEPT. | 4500 HOLLISTER AVE. GOLETA 93110 | JUVENILE FACILITY | 56 BEDS |
| SANTA MARIA JUVENILE HALL | PROBATION DEPT. |
812 B W. FOSTER RD. SANTA MARIA 93454 |
JUVENILE FACILITY | 20 BEDS |
OVERVIEW
INTRODUCTION
There are eighteen separate detention facilities, both juvenile and adult,
operating in Santa Barbara County. While the Santa Barbara County Sheriff's
Department is responsible for most of these facilities, others are under
the auspices of the county Probation Department or municipal offices. The
table on the preceding page lists each facility, its location, management,
type, and size or capacity. For order and clarity, this report is divided
into four sections according to type: A. Holding Facilities, B. Honor Farms,
C. Juvenile Facilities and D. Jails.
In preparing this report, the Grand Jury was continually confronted with
issues relative to the overcrowded conditions in our jail and juvenile halls.
The problem of overcrowding is a well-known one, but is often addressed
only in terms of building new facilities. While the Grand Jury agrees that
this is a needed solution, it also writes this report to point out implications
of overcrowding that are of grave concern.
Due to overcrowded conditions, potential liability and security risks exist
in the extensive transporting of prisoners from their housing in one part
of the county to their court appearances in another part of the county.
Additionally, courts which do not have adequate holding facilities present
security risks in the moving of prisoners to courtrooms.
Another concern is in the use of exterior diversion programs as referenced
in the Juvenile Hall section of this report. Such programs should be options
for prisoners who have a chance of profiting from such programs, not solutions
to overcrowding. And, as exterior diversion programs grow, probation officers
are adversely impacted with heavy caseloads.
Also, the types of inmates who are incarcerated in our jails and juvenile
halls have changed as a result of overcrowding. Honor Farms now primarily
house drug users, something that was disallowed in the past. If another
jurisdiction has an outstanding warrant for someone in Santa Barbara County
jurisdiction, the lack of detention space is so impacted that it may affect
the number of such warrants which are acted upon. Detention facilities are
filled with only the most violent and difficult cases. Not only does this
affect community safety, it also affects staffing at detention facilities.
Difficult cases stretch the resourcefulness of staff. Additionally, the
time and energy which could be put towards staff and program development
is not available when staff are consistently faced with the immediacy of
challenges inherent in working in a facility which is consistently overcrowded
with problem cases.
Finally, the Grand Jury notes that formulating policies which attempt to
address the question of prevention becomes very difficult when the immediacy
of overcrowding is such a dominant issue. Contributing factors, such as
drugs and gang activity, are only
projected to grow worse. It is clear that those in positions of responsibility
are aware of the problems and, indeed share the Grand Jury's concern; however,
their concern has failed to yield solutions. The Grand Jury repeats its
expression of grave concern if this pattern continues.
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this Grand Jury's report is to fulfill the mandate of the
California Penal Code, Section 919 (b): "The grand jury shall inquire
into the condition and management of the public prisons within the county."
APPROACH
Grand Jury members made one announced visit to each facility. Subsequent
unannounced visits were made as deemed necessary. Additionally, Grand Jury
members reviewed the most recent state inspection reports of the facilities
in addition to the report commissioned by the Office of the County Administrator
in 1993, "Justice Facilities Short Term Master Plan" by Jay Farbstein
and Associates, Inc. The Grand Jury interviewed the director of each facility,
various staff personnel, the Head of the Probation Department and the Santa
Barbara County Sheriff.
A. HOLDING FACILITIES
INTRODUCTION
Holding facilities, by definition, are temporary. The California Board of
Corrections defines a Holding Facility as a detention facility "used
for the confinement of persons for 24 hours or less pending release, transfer
to another facility, or appearance in court." There are no overnight
stays, and food service requirements are minimal. The Holding Facilities
inspected for this report are: Carpinteria Police Department, Guadalupe
Police Department, Santa Barbara Police Department, Santa Maria Police Department,
New Cuyama Substation, Santa Ynez Valley Substation, Santa Barbara Municipal
Court, Santa Barbara Superior Court, Santa Maria Municipal Court, and the
Santa Barbara Sobering Center. The lack of adequate facilities at Lompoc
is also addressed.
OBSERVATIONS
Except for specifics noted below, the Grand Jury found no problems or insufficiencies
either in the condition of the cells or the quality of the management at
these facilities. Site specific observations are as follows:
Guadalupe Police Department - 4490 10th St. - Guadalupe, CA 93434
The holding facility is a barred and locked area located within a multipurpose
room of the Police Department offices. In addition to being connected to
city offices, the Police Department is immediately adjacent to a residential
neighborhood and an elementary school. There is easy public access to the
partially fenced police parking area . There are no security restrictions
in place to prohibit unauthorized personnel from roaming freely through
the area.
New Cuyama Substation - 215 Newsome St. - New Cuyama, CA 93254
The substation is a former private home which has been remodeled for its
current use. The space for the holding cell is in the attached garage. At
the time of the initial
inspection, the cell was not operable due to the lack of required plumbing
fixtures, i.e. a toilet and a sink. The holding cell is now functional and
the Grand Jury commends staff for this project.
Additionally, the Grand Jury toured the adjacent abandoned structure which
housed the former sheriff's substation and other county offices. The building
was not locked and power was still hooked up. There was debris scattered
throughout and the general structural condition of the building showed evidence
of severe damage such as settling and cracks in walls and floors. As a result
of Grand Jury inquiry, a subsequent visit showed that the structure had
been boarded up and power had been disconnected. A previous Grand Jury report
noted concern regarding the condition of this property (1992-1993, p.48).
Lompoc Court Holding - 107 Civic Center Plaza - Lompoc, CA 93436
The Lompoc court makes use of cell space in the adjacent Lompoc Jail. Inmates
who have court appearances in Lompoc are brought from the Main Jail in Santa
Barbara and held temporarily. Two cells (one for males and one for females)
are set aside in the jail. Transfer to the court is through police and public
parking area, around the rear of the court building and into the jury deliberation
room. The Grand Jury followed this route and observed personnel using the
area for socializing and coffee. If a jury is using the deliberation room,
inmates have to be escorted through the public lobby. There are no private
rooms for attorney consultations.
The use of Lompoc courts increased in January 1997. Criminal cases formerly
heard in the Solvang Municipal Court are now filed in Lompoc.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
COMMENDATION: The Grand Jury commends all officers at the holding facilities.
Facilities are staffed by professional, knowledgeable and helpful personnel.
Those in custody are treated in a firm, caring and respectful manner. The
citizens of Santa Barbara County and the municipalities involved are well
served by these hard working and dedicated men and women.
AFFECTED AGENCIES:
1. Guadalupe City Council
2. Guadalupe Police Department
3. Lompoc City Council
4. Lompoc Police Department
5. Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors
6. Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department
7. Santa Barbara Police Department
8. Santa Maria Police Department
FINDING 1: The lack of security at the Guadalupe Police Department
parking area presents a potential hazard to police officers, detainees and
vehicles. The area is open to the public and easily available to anyone
who might have a reason to interfere with the smooth transfer of detainees.
Personnel and vehicles are vulnerable to mischief or even violence.
RECOMMENDATION 1: The Guadalupe Police Department should request
and the Guadalupe City Council should fund the purchase and installation
of automatic security gates at the two entrances to the police parking area:
the walkway from City Hall and the driveway from 10th Street.
AFFECTED AGENCIES:
1. Guadalupe City Council
2. Guadalupe Police Department
FINDING 2: The abandoned building adjacent to the New Cuyama Sheriff's
Substation is an unnecessary structure. Any abandoned structure has potential
to be a danger or an invitation to mischief. Additionally, it is an eyesore
and an indication of neglect on a piece of public property.
RECOMMENDATION 2: The Grand Jury concurs with the Director of
Public Works in response to the Grand Jury report of 1992-1993 that this
building "should be demolished."(Grand Jury Response, Detention
Facilities, May 5, 1993). The Public Works Department should follow up on
its decision.
AFFECTED AGENCY:
1. Santa Barbara County Public Works Department Response General Services Response
FINDING 3: There
is a security risk involved in the procedures used to transfer inmates from
the Lompoc Jail to court appearances in the Lompoc court building. The Grand
Jury concurs with the Farbstein report finding that there is a need for
court holding facilities in Lompoc (p.16-7). This need will only become
greater and the security risk of more concern with the increased use of
the Lompoc court following the January 1997 consolidation. Additionally,
the lack of private space for attorney client consultation makes confidentiality
difficult.
RECOMMENDATION 3: The Sheriff and the North County Court Administrator
should establish a secure court holding facility and attorney conference
space in Lompoc.
AFFECTED AGENCIES:
1. North Santa Barbara County Court Administrator Response
2. Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department Response
B. HONOR FARMS
INTRODUCTION
The Men's Honor Farm and La Morada Women's Honor Farm are minimum security
facilities with limited supervision of inmates. In general, only those inmates
who are classified or re-classified as General Population (without serious
mental, health or behavior problems) are eligible for these facilities.
All inmates are classified at the Main Jail and interviewed by the Probation
Department before being admitted to the Honor Farms. Approximately 10% of
the interviewees do not meet the admission standards. There is a pretrial
unit located at the male Honor Farm that houses unsentenced inmates. All
inmates at La Morada have been sentenced. About 90% of the inmates finish
their sentences at the Honor Farms. Those who do not are sent back to the
Jail. Inmates can perform work for the county such as gardening and plumbing,
or they may be in the Work Furlough Program which allows them to work at
their regular jobs.
Men's Honor Farm - 4434 Calle Real - Santa Barbara, CA 93110
OBSERVATIONS
This facility has 257 beds. There are four large rooms with triple-tiered
bunks. The inmates have access to TV, a gymnasium, and outside facilities
(except for inmates who are pretrial). There are classes available in cooking,
parenting, sex education, and General Education Diploma (GED) preparation.
There are also drug and counseling programs and Twelve Step groups such
as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Narcotics Anonymous (NA).
The facility is very clean, well-maintained and well-managed. Medical services
are provided under a contract with Prison Health Services. Mental health
services are provided by the county Mental Health Services Department.
Women's Honor Farm - 66 San Antonio Rd. - Santa Barbara, CA 93110
OBSERVATIONS
This facility has thirty-six beds. According to staff estimates, approximately
85% of the admissions are due to drugs, both selling and using. There is
one full time drug and alcohol counselor as well as AA and NA groups. There
are tutors available two hours per week for GED preparation. There is a
separate portable classroom on the grounds for GED and other classes which
include agriculture, gardening, self-esteem, health, and nutrition taught
by faculty from Oxnard College. Each inmate has a work assignment. On the
premises, these assignments include laundry, kitchen, yard work, and clean-up.
Outside of the facility there are assignments at the Food Bank, Catholic
Charities and with California Department of Transportation.
The Women's Honor Farm is a very clean, well-maintained and well-managed
facility. Medical services are provided under a contract with Prison Health
Services. Mental health services are provided by the county Mental Health
Services Department.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
COMMENDATION: The Honor Farms are well-managed by efficient and caring
staff. The Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department is doing an excellent
job maintaining the facilities and in providing excellent educational and
counseling programs.
AFFECTED AGENCIES:
1. Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department
2. Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors
C. JUVENILE FACILITIES
INTRODUCTION
This report applies to the juvenile detention facilities maintained by Santa
Barbara County. State law permits each county to establish a juvenile hall
for the detention of minors who are accused of law violations or who have
been found to have committed violations of the law. Santa Barbara County
operates juvenile halls in Santa Barbara and Santa Maria, in addition to
Los Prietos Boys Camp.
OBSERVATIONS
The Santa Barbara and Santa Maria Juvenile Halls are temporary detention
facilities for minors who are either awaiting disposition of their cases
in court, or who have been committed by a judge.
The Grand Jury was given the following information by Probation Department
staff in reference to Santa Barbara and Santa Maria Juvenile Halls for the
period January 1 to October 31, 1996:
_ The ages of the juveniles in Santa Barbara Juvenile Hall range from 10
to 19 with an average of 15.7 years. This 9-year age span is an 80% increase
over the previous year, indicating that younger children are now being incarcerated.
The ages of the juveniles in Santa Maria Juvenile Hall range from 13 to
18 with an average of 15.7 years. This age span is the same as last year.
_ In Santa Barbara Juvenile Hall, females make up approximately 12% of the
juveniles.
In Santa Maria Juvenile Hall, females make up approximately 10% of the juveniles.
_ Approximately 80% of the male juveniles in both facilities are gang members.
_ Approximately 66% of the juveniles are admitted to either of the Halls
only one time and 33% are admitted more than once. Approximately 15% are
admitted many times.
_ The average stay at the Santa Barbara facility is 19.49 days for males
and 13 for females.
The average stay at the Santa Maria facility is 10 days for males and 4
days for .
females.
Staff at the two juvenile halls is headed by a Probation Manager who is
in turn responsible to the Deputy Chief Probation Officer. In addition,
at Santa Barbara Juvenile Hall there are: five Juvenile Institution Officers
III, twenty-six Juvenile Institution Officers I and II, two Clerk Typists,
one Probation Institution Supervisor and a food service worker. At Santa
Maria Juvenile Hall the staff consists of: one Probation Institution Supervisor,
four Juvenile Institution Officers III, seventeen Juvenile Institution Officers
I and II and two clerk typists.
The juvenile detention facilities in Santa Barbara County are inadequate
in size for the number of juveniles requiring incarceration. In fact, the
number of secure rooms available for juvenile detainees has remained unchanged
for twenty years while the number needed has risen sharply. The overcrowding
of the juvenile detention facilities is complicated by the fact that there
are fifty-six beds available in Santa Barbara Juvenile Hall, but only twenty
beds available in Santa Maria Juvenile Hall even though the need is greater
in North County because 66% of all bookings for juvenile crime occur in
this area (see Appendices A & B). As a result, when North County Juvenile
Hall is full, detainees are transported to Santa Barbara Juvenile Hall necessitating
their return to Santa Maria when their presence is required for proceedings
in Juvenile Court. More than one Probation Department staff member expressed
concern about the risk involved in the repeated transportation of juveniles,
particularly because there are occasional incidents of disruption on the
vehicles. When this happens, the driver stops the vehicle and contacts the
California Highway Patrol for help.
The juvenile halls in Santa Barbara County serve three purposes: to protect
the public (i.e. keep dangerous juveniles off the streets);to punish juvenile
offenders; and to secure a juvenile who is at risk of flight. However, the
staff of the juvenile halls are aware that overcrowding of the facilities
poses a danger not only to the juvenile inmates but also to the probation
employees overseeing them. In order to keep overcrowding to a minimum, only
the most violent offenders are incarcerated in the juvenile halls and three
exterior programs have been established to accommodate those who have committed
non-violent offenses such as burglary, joyriding, drug possession and weapons
possession. The exterior programs, in ascending order of security, are :
1. Home Supervision
2. House Arrest
3. Electronic Monitoring
It should be emphasized that in the opinion of the probation staff, the
exterior programs are a limited solution to handling the overflow from the
Juvenile Halls. In interviews with the Grand Jury, staff members stressed
that if a larger facility were available, the vast majority of offenders
who are currently controlled on exterior programs would be held in detention.
Staff also expressed concern that juveniles on exterior programs are potentially
a serious threat to the community. The numbers of juveniles on exterior
programs have increased significantly in the past six years, from 380 in
1990 to 802 through September of 1996. During the first nine months of 1996,
40% of all juveniles admitted to Juvenile Hall were sent home on extended
programs. (See appendix C). In addition, for every juvenile admitted to
Juvenile Hall either for detention or release on an extended program, another
juvenile was released back into the community under parental care after
counseling by probation staff.
Santa Barbara Juvenile Hall - 4500 Hollister Avenue, Santa Barbara, CA
93110
The capacity of Santa Barbara Juvenile Hall is 56. The majority of the detainees
are from the North County because of that facility's inadequate capacity.
A scholastic program, in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Education
Office, is operated by three teachers. It is necessary to use the dining
hall and recreation hall in addition to the classroom in order to accommodate
all the classes.
Medical services are provided by an RN forty hours per week; a psychiatrist
for two hours twice a week and an MD for two hours once a week for general
intake and physical examinations.
Food services are provided by the Main Jail. Breakfast is served in the
dining room, lunch (a sandwich and fruit) is eaten in the cell and dinner
is provided in the dining room in shifts.
Six probation officers are on duty for each of the morning and afternoon
shifts with a staff-to-inmate ratio of 1:10. An additional officer is on
call if necessary in order to maintain the low ratio. There are three probation
officers on the graveyard shift.
Santa Maria Juvenile Hall - 812 B West Foster Road, Santa Maria, CA 93454
The capacity of Santa Maria Juvenile Hall is 20. There is a courtroom within
the facility where a Juvenile Court Commissioner conducts hearings. Juveniles
who are housed in Santa Barbara Juvenile Hall because of the limited capacity
of the Santa Maria facility must then be transported back to Santa Maria
for court appearances.
A scholastic program, in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Education
Office, is staffed by one teacher.
Medical services are provided by an RN thirty-five hours a week and an MD
for three hours twice a week. A mental health counselor is provided by the
county twenty hours per week.
Food services are provided by arrangement with the Vocational Training and
Rehabilitation Center in Santa Maria.
Five probation officers are on duty for the morning shift, four in the afternoon
shift and two on the graveyard shift.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
COMMENDATION: Without exception, the Grand Jury found the staff working
in the juvenile halls to be enthusiastic, compassionate and conscientious
in their duty despite working conditions which are less than ideal as a
result of the age of the Halls.
AFFECTED AGENCIES:
1. Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors
2. Santa Barbara County Probation Department
FINDING 1: There is high potential for risk to life and property
due to the extensive transporting of North County juveniles to their detention
in Santa Barbara Juvenile Hall and then back to court appearances in Santa
Maria Juvenile Hall.
RECOMMENDATION 1: In spite of the failure of Proposition 205 in
the November 1996 election which would have provided funds for new jails
and juvenile halls, the Probation Department and Board of Supervisors should
work together to immediately formulate a plan to operate a new juvenile
hall in the North County.
AFFECTED AGENCIES:
1. Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Response
2. Santa Barbara County Probation Department Response
FINDING 2a: The
exterior programs operated by the Probation Department are a limited solution
to the inadequate size of the juvenile facilities. As a result, potentially
dangerous juveniles are being released back into the communities of Santa
Barbara County.
RECOMMENDATION 2a: Same as Recommendation 1.
AFFECTED AGENCIES:
1. Santa Barbara County Board of SupervisorsResponse
2. Santa Barbara County Probation Department Response
FINDING 2b: The
increasing number of juveniles on exterior programs is straining the limited
staff resources of the Probation Department. In 1989 the ratio of probation
officers to the number of juveniles on exterior programs was 1:10. It is
now 1:25 (see Appendix C).
RECOMMENDATION 2b: The Probation Department should request and
the Board of Supervisors should fund an increase in staff in order to lighten
the caseload of probation officers supervising juveniles on exterior programs.
AFFECTED AGENCIES:
1. Santa Barbara County Board of SupervisorsResponse
2. Santa Barbara County Probation Department Response
FINDING 3: The
number of juveniles referred to the Probation Department by law enforcement
agencies is increasing annually (see Appendix D). The Grand Jury would expect
this trend to continue because juvenile offenders will have little respect
for the juvenile justice system when they know that their chances of incarceration
are minimal.
RECOMMENDATION 3: Same as Recommendation 1.
AFFECTED AGENCIES:
1. Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Response
2. Santa Barbara County Probation Department Response
Los Prietos Boys Camp - Paradise Road/Star Route,
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
OBSERVATIONS
Los Prietos is a 24-hour residential treatment center for male court wards
between the ages of 13 - 18. Los Prietos is under the direction of the Santa
Barbara County Probation Department, and is located in the Los Padres National
Forest twenty miles north of Santa Barbara on land owned by the National
Park Service and leased to Santa Barbara County.
According to statistics supplied by staff, the recidivism rate at Los Prietos
has remained steady at approximately 50% to 60% for at least ten years with
the dramatic exception of 1991. During that year a juvenile institutional
officer was assigned to after-care responsibility and, as a result, recidivism
at Los Prietos dropped to approximately 20%. At the end of the 12-month
period, funding for the position was cut and the recidivism rate jumped
back to 60%. In Departmental Overview, the Santa Barbara County Probation
Department states that at Los Prietos, "special emphasis is put on
law abiding behavior and adjusting to home and school once the program is
completed."1
A scholastic program is provided by the Santa Barbara County Department
of Education.
Juveniles are required to attend classes five half-days per week. During
the afternoon
hours, the juveniles are assigned to work crews within the camp.
A nurse is on duty five days a week. A physician visits once a week or as
needed. Juveniles who have a communicable disease are housed in a purpose-built
sickroom in the administrative office during working hours and returned
to the dormitory at night. Boys with more serious communicable disease are
sent home on furlough at the discretion of the Probation Staff and are returned
to Los Prietos upon recovery.
Food is prepared and eaten in a modern facility. A full-time cook is aided
by juvenile trusties.
Programs such as on-the-job training, vocational counseling, vocational
training, individual counseling, group counseling, and family counseling
are all offered at Los Prietos.
The staff at Los Prietos is headed by a Probation Manager who is assisted
by a Probation Institutional Supervisor. In addition there are five Juvenile
Institutional Officers III (JIO), twelve Juvenile Institutional Officers
I and II, two clerk typists, one chef and two cooks. Two Marriage and Family
Counselors from the County Mental Health Department work at Los Prietos
full time.
The usual length of stay is six months with time off for good behavior.
No one stays longer than nine months because the staff feels that if a boy
is not ready to graduate after nine months, he would be more appropriately
placed with the California Youth Authority.
According to Probation staff, 95% of the boys at Los Prietos are gang members,
85% are substance abusers and 75% to 85% have Hispanic last names but speak
English as their first language.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
COMMENDATION: Without exception, the Grand Jury found the staff working
at Los Prietos provides a consistent, structured environment in order to
encourage the boys in their care to make lifestyle changes that will allow
a successful return to the community.
AFFECTED AGENCIES:
1. Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors
2. Santa Barbara County Probation Department
FINDING 4: The Probation Department is not currently living up to
its claim of emphasizing the importance of adjustment to home and school
following time spent at Los
Prietos. The recidivism rate could be lower, as reflected in the successful
attention to after-care in 1991.
RECOMMENDATION 4: The Probation Department should immediately
create and the Board of Supervisors should fund another Juvenile Institutional
Officer staff position at Los Prietos Boys Camp. This JIO would have responsibility
for the after-care of all graduates of Los Prietos beginning while each
boy was still resident at Los Prietos. The officer would have intimate knowledge
of each boy's case history, strengths and weaknesses and would be better
able to counsel the juvenile as he makes the difficult transition back into
his home environment.
AFFECTED AGENCIES:
1. Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors Response
2. Santa Barbara County Probation Department Response
APPENDIX A
Law Enforcement Referrals to Santa
Barbara Probation Department-Juvenile Halls years 1990-19951
expressed as Percentage from South and North Counties2
1990 |
1991 |
1992 |
1993 |
1994 |
1995 | |
| South County | 39 |
39 |
35 |
39 |
37 |
36 |
| North County | 61 |
61 |
65 |
61 |
63 |
64 |
| 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | |
| South County | 1425 | 1549 | 1685 | 2088 | 2001 | 2041 |
| North County | 2243 | 2458 | 3104 | 3247 | 3367 | 3572 |
Average daily attendance in Santa Maria and Santa Barbara Juvenile Halls
Data supplied by the Santa Barbara County Probation Department : Jan 1993
to July 1996
| 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 (Projected) | |
| # of North County Juveniles in both Juvenile Halls | 471 | 544 | 597 | 939 |
| # of South County Juveniles in both Juvenile Halls | 308 | 291 | 286 | 682 |
| % of North County to total | 60% | 71% | 68% | 58% |
APPENDIX C
The following are figures supplied to the Grand Jury from the Director of
Juvenile Halls.
| 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | |
| # Minors on Exterior Programs | 380 | 427 | 445 | 513 | 586 | 757 | 1248 |
| #Minors on Exterior Programs/ Total Annual Admissions |
16% | 16% | 17% | 21% | 23% | 33% | 48% |
| Total Annual Admissions | 2439 | 2763 | 2577 | 2391 | 2557 | 2304 | 2589 |
The above figures
show the total population admitted to the two juvenile halls over the past
6 years. 
APPENDIX D
Juvenile referrals from law enforcement to Santa Barbara Probation Department
for years 1990-19963
| 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | |
| Number of Referrals | 3668 | 4007 | 4789 | 5335 | 5368 | 5613 | 6807 |
D. JAILS
INTRODUCTION
The Grand Jury inspected three jail facilities in the county: Santa Barbara
County Main Jail, Santa Maria Branch Jail and the Lompoc City Jail. According
to the California Board of Corrections, the latter two are classified as
Type I jails, while the Main Jail is a Type II facility. A Type I jail is
defined as "a local detention facility used for the detention of persons
for not more than 96 hours excluding holidays after bookings." A Type
II jail is "a local detention facility used for the detention of persons
pending arraignment, during trial, and upon a sentence of commitment."
OBSERVATIONS
Santa Barbara County Main Jail - 4436 Calle Real - Santa Barbara,
CA 93110
At the time of the Grand Jury visit, the prison population was near the
limit allowed by guidelines, 950 male prisoners and 99 female prisoners.
According to the jail staff, this is a usual occurrence. The jail was originally
constructed to house 820 inmates. The housing of additional inmates is accomplished
by triple bunking and placing beds in day rooms. A court order was issued
on February 13, 1989 by Superior Court Judge William Gordon calling for
plans to address overcrowding, including the following statement: "The
Court is of the opinion that this long term planning must be done with a
view towards establishing suitable facilities in the North County."
Staff reports that there has been a large increase in the number of inmates
who are illegal immigrants, an office and cell block have been designated
specifically for the use of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS)
in dealing with possible deportations. It is felt that this program can
have a positive impact on our currently overcrowded jail situation. Jail
personnel provide INS agents with a list of all inmates who claim a birthplace
outside the USA. The INS officer investigates the legal status of these
inmates. If an inmate is to be deported, the INS Agent arranges transportation
to an INS facility.
The jail was extremely clean, well maintained and appropriately supervised.
Health care services at the jail are provided under a contract with Prison
Health Services. Section 4c of the contract reads: "Provide AIDS/HIV
testing as clinically indicated within current community standards of practice
or upon inmate request." (emphasis added) The implementation
of the Prison Health Services policy on AIDS/HIV testing, as done by County
Health Care Services, is as follows: Inmates are evaluated under certain
criteria which include intravenous drug use, same gender sexual activity,
or a history of a sexually transmitted disease. If evaluation determines
that an inmate is high risk or if the inmate
shows clinical evidence of the disease, the case is reviewed to determine
if testing is indicated. Testing is not done if an inmate requests a test
but does not meet the criteria.
There is a method for communication between prisoners and staff with respect
to prisoner needs and problems. A written message is folded onto cell bars,
picked up by a correctional officer and delivered to the appropriate staff
person for action.
Santa Maria Branch Jail - 812 W. Foster Rd. - Santa Maria, CA 93455
Inmate labor is utilized for jail maintenance. Deficiencies noted in previous
Grand Jury reports have been corrected. The air conditioning unit is in
good working condition. The floor in the main holding area is being refinished
by prison inmates. Plumbing problems are also consistently taken care of
by inmates.
There is a separate cell block of sixteen beds housing inmates on a work
furlough program. Wages earned may be used to pay penalties imposed by the
court, child support, alimony or restitution.
A small office for the use of the Immigration and Naturalization Service
was recently opened to facilitate INS work with illegal immigrants who are
in custody.
Lompoc City Jail - 107 Civic Center Plaza - Lompoc, CA 93436
The facility in Lompoc has a capacity of twenty-three prisoners. The facility
is a "U" shape, consisting of ten cells, two of which are for
court holding. Four of the cells are normally used for felony detainees
and the others are for misdemeanor inmates. There is also a booking room
and an interview room.
Food preparation at the jail meets statutory requirements and medical attention
is available at the nearby hospital.
Fingerprinting and photo identification necessary to the booking of prisoners
are not digitized. The current system is a Polaroid-based mug shot system
which does not interface with other county criminal justice agencies. Because
of this inadequate system, detectives and support staff must perform more
than 690 hours a year in manual searches and maintenance.
The jail is well managed, clean, and the staff is professional and forthright.
FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
COMMENDATION: The Grand Jury commends the professionalism, caring attitude
and forthrightness of each correctional officer with whom it came in contact.
AFFECTED AGENCIES:
1. Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors
2. Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department
. 3. Lompoc City Council
4. Lompoc Police Department
FINDING 1: The Main Jail is consistently overcrowded.
RECOMMENDATION 1: New jail construction or expansion of the existing
facilities must be addressed. This must be done in spite of the failure
of Proposition 205. The Board of Supervisors should develop a funding plan
and a realistic, meaningful time frame for each phase of the project.
AFFECTED AGENCY:
1. Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors (Also see sheriff's response)
Response
FINDING 2: The use of inmate labor at the Santa Maria Branch Jail
saves money for the taxpayers.
RECOMMENDATION 2: This program should be continued.
AFFECTED AGENCY:
1. Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department Response
FINDING 3: The
offices of the Immigration and Naturalization Service at the Santa Barbara
Main Jail and the Santa Maria Branch Jail are useful. They are helpful in
addressing overcrowding. When deportation is known to be determinate and
immediate, it can also serve as a helpful deterrent to crime.
RECOMMENDATION 3: This program should be continued.
AFFECTED AGENCY:
1. Santa Barbara County Sheriff's Department Response
FINDING 4: Fingerprinting
and photo identification methods at the Lompoc Jail are outdated.
RECOMMENDATION 4: State-of-the-art equipment should be installed.
The Lompoc City Council should provide funding for the Police Department
to purchase a
basic digital imaging photo and fingerprinting system which would
interface with other county criminal justice agencies.
AFFECTED AGENCIES:
1. Lompoc City Council Response
2. Lompoc Police Department Response
FINDING 5: AIDS/HIV
testing is done only if individuals are determined to be in a high risk
category or show clinical evidence of disease.
RECOMMENDATION 5: The Prison Health Services contract should be
implemented as written. In addition to the above reasons, AIDS/HIV testing
should also be performed upon inmate request.
AFFECTED AGENCY:
1. Santa Barbara County Health Care Services Response
AFFECTED AGENCIES California
Penal Code Section 933(c) requires that comments to the Grand Jury Findings
and Recommendations be made in writing to the presiding judge of the superior
court within 60 days by all affected agencies except governing bodies, which
are allowed 90 days. In accordance with Section 933.05, the responding person
or entity shall indicate the following:
1) The respondent agrees with the finding.
2) The respondent disagrees wholly or partially with the finding, in which
case
the respondent shall specify the portion that is disputed and include an
explanation.
3) The recommendation has been implemented, with a summary of the
implemented action.
4) The recommendation has not been implemented, but will be in the future
with a
time frame.
5) The recommendation requires further analysis, with an explanation and
a time frame. This time frame shall not exceed six months from the date
of the publication of the grand jury report.
6) The recommendation will not be implemented because it is not warranted
or is not reasonable, with an explanation.
The Grand Jury requests that all responses be submitted on a 3 inch computer
disk along with the printed response.
1 Santa Barbara
County Probation Department - Departmental Overview. (The Santa Barbara
County Probation Department: 1996) 10.
2 alifornia Department of Justice, Criminal Statistics Center
South County (Santa Barbara. Goleta, Carpinteria & Montecito -North
County - Santa Maria, Lompoc, & Santa Ynez Valley
3 California Bureau of Criminal
Statistics
1