Friday, May 23, 2014

(San Joaquin County) Grand jury says no basis for inmate's many grievances

May 17, 2014
The Record


STOCKTON - A San Joaquin County civil grand jury found that the County Jail is in compliance with rules allowing inmates to air their grievances following an investigation spurred by a complaint from an inmate who had filed more than two dozen grievances about conditions at the jail, including one gripe about the quality of pencil sharpening.

The unidentified inmate had contacted the grand jury, saying he was denied the opportunity to file a grievance, according to a report released Thursday by the San Joaquin County 2013-14 civil grand jury.

The complaint to the grand jury stemmed from one instance in which the inmate filled out the wrong document when submitting a citizen's complaint form, which is intended to be used by people who are not held in the jail, according to the jury's report.

Since being incarcerated in December 2010, the inmate successfully filed 31 grievances about phone calls, pencils, food tampering, opened mail and the possibility of somebody taking bolts off the cell door. The jail followed the correct procedures in responding, according to the jury.

The jail's policy, according to the grand jury, is that inmates have a right to file grievances relating to medical care, their classification, procedures, food, clothing and bedding. Inmates are told to talk to the housing unit officer first before filing a formal grievance that starts at low levels in the jail hierarchy and then climbs up the chain of command.

The grand jury reported it reviewed how inmates receive and submit forms to report on grievances and visited the jail.

It reported that it did not find evidence that denied inmates the right to file grievances.

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