Overview of Mendocino County Jails

A review of the Mendocino County adult detention facilities revealed deficiencies including chronic understaffing.

REASON FOR INVESTIGATION

As mandated, the Grand Jury reviewed the Mendocino County Adult Detention Center (Jail) and the Superior Court Holding Facility, Willits Justice Center, and the Fort Bragg Justice Center.

PROCEDURES

Interviews were held with representatives of the Mendocino County Sheriffs Department, California State Board of Corrections, Mendocino County Public Health Department. California Forensic Medical Group, Human Rights Monitoring Group. and private citizens.

Pertinent documents from the State Board of Corrections. Sonoma County Sheriffs Department, and Mendocino County Sheriffs Department were requested and studied by the Grand Jury. Site visits were conducted at the Jail and Superior Court Holding Facility in the Mendocino County Courthouse.

FINDINGS

1. When a site visit was made to the Jail in the fall of 1997, line staff were working a mandatory four hours overtime per day (60 hours per week). This policy had been in effect for the past two years. Staff indicated difficulty in taking earned time off (vacations and personal holidays) due to the understaffing. Stress levels were high and burnout evident. In spite of this, the staff appeared professional and positive.

2. In November 1997, the California State Board of Corrections (Board of Corrections) found the Jail out of compliance with staffing requirements (Penal Code 1027). The funded positions did not meet the actual operational requirement based on a Board of Corrections staffing evaluation done in 1995. Only 35 of the funded 43 Correctional Officer positions were filled. Only six of the eight funded Corporal positions were filled. One LieuLenant and one Sergeant position were funded but not filled.

3. In 1994 the State allocated $15O,OOO for remodeling the Jail kitchen and adding a restroom for female personnel, but the funds were held by the State pending resolution of a previous staffing commitment. The County proceeded with the construction and in March 1996, requested payment of the $150,000 to cover the costs already incurred as well as a 14 month extension for the staffing commitment. The Board of Corrections denied the request for the extension and the $150,000 reverted to the State.

4. Staff turnover has been a consistent problem. Mendocino County tends to be the training ground" for newly recruited people entering law enforcement. Sonoma County, for example, pays trained correctional officers and deputies considerably more than Mendocino County. Sonoma County salary for a Deputy Sheriff I is $1437 more per month than Mendocino County pays its Deputy Sheriff I. Sonoma County salary for a Correctional Officer I is $881 more per month than Mendocino County pays its Correctional Officer I.

There has been a modest salary increase in entry level salaries for Deputy Sheriff! Coroner I and Correctional Officer I over the last five years. but this has not helped to encourage qualified applicants to apply.

Update on Staffing Levels:

a. As of April 1998, staffing levels at the Jail had improved. All 43 of the funded Correctional Officer positions had been filled. All eight funded Corporal positions had been filled, the Lieutenant position had been filled, and the Sergeant position was in the process of being filled by the end of Summer 1998. Mandatory overtime had been eliminated.

b. Twenty of the 43 Correctional Officers were hired under a three-year contract which allows the deputies to receive police academy training at county expense. If the employee leaves prior to the three years, he/she is required to repay all or a pro-rata amount of this training cost.

c. Even with filling all of the currently funded 43 Correctional Officer positions, the Jail has not met the Board of Corrections staffing requirement established in 1995 of 56.9 Correctional Officers, thus placing the County at-risk for lawsuits.

7. The Board of Corrections contracts with the Mendocino County Department of Public Health for the annual health inspections of all jail facilities. This includes a nutritional and medical/mental health inspection and an environmental health inspection. The last three annual inspections done by the Department of Public Health found the Jall in substantial compliance with Title 15 concerning the nutritional and medical/mental health services. (Refer to 'Medical Services at the Mendocino County Jail," this Grand Jury Final Report.)

8. An On-site inspection of the Superior Court Holding Facility reveals inadequate privacy for confidential attorney/client, interviews. There are no interview rooms, so interviews must be held in the corridor or the cell. Space near the Superior Court Holding Facility could be used for an attorney/client interview area.

On heavy court days. limited cell space has caused overcrowding and results in the need to bring inmates in shifts from the Jail to the Superior Court Holding Facility.

9. The Fort Bragg Justice Center functions as a court holding facility and as a temporary holding facility for the Sheriffs Department.

A biennial inspection was completed by the Board of Corrections in November 1997.

The inspection report notes compliance in all respects except the inappropriate location of a key.

10. The Willits Justice Center is a temporary holding facility used by the Sheriffs Department and the Willits Police Department.

A Board of Corrections inspection done in October 1997, found that the jail complies with physical standards. Two procedural exceptions were noted in the report (Penal Code 1024,1058) which have been addressed and the Board of Corrections has confirmed compliance.

11. The primary non compliance issue is the lack of appropriate staffing (Section 1027) The funded positions for the operation of the county jail do not meet the actual operational requirements. County Administration and the Board of Supervisors need to fund the required staffing so that grant funds are not denied to Mendocino CountV. to avoid potential lawsuits. to insure safety of inmates and staff, and to reduce stress on the Jail staff. (See Findings 3, S.c.)

12. Use available Courthouse space adjacent to the Superior Court Holding Facility for an attorney/client interview room. (See Finding 8.)

COMMENT

While working in a difficult and hazardous setting, the Jail staff exhibited a high level of professional performance.

RESPONSE REQUIRED

1. Mendocino County Board of Supervisors (Recommendations 1, 2).

2. Mendocino County Sheriff (Recommendations 1, 2).

Return to report list