Conservation camp found to be
‘well-managed’
The
Grand Jury, a citizen organization established by California law to review and
investigate the government of a county and its cities, has its roots in 12th
century England and was brought to America in 1635.
The
Grand Jury has been part of the California Constitution since statehood in 1850
and the Mendocino County Civil Grand Jury operates under a constitutional
mandate that calls for a GJ in every county.
It is
Mendocino County’s only independent watchdog of government agencies and
services, and is composed of 19 citizen volunteers who investigate and monitor
the performance of county, city and local governing entities, including special
districts.
Empowered
by the judicial system, the Civil Grand Jury makes recommendations to improve
local government and is independent of administrators, politicians and
legislators.
On
Feb. 19, the Mendocino County 2019-2020 Civil Grand Jury conducted a site visit
to Parlin Fork Conservation District #6 in Jackson State Demonstration Forest
on Highway 20.
Parlin
Fork is part of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation and
is overseen by correctional officers and operated in conjunction with Cal Fire.
Established in 1949, it is the oldest conservation camp in Northern California
and the second oldest of the state’s 47 camps.
The
primary goal of the camp is rehabilitation with a secondary goal of inmates
serving the community, contributing to events including the Fort Bragg Salmon
Barbeque and the Willits Thanksgiving dinner at the Senior Center.
Low
risk inmates, who must be physically fit, are trained for firefighting at the
CDCR in Susanville, California, for two months before being sent to the camp.
Their remaining sentence cannot exceed five years and working in the camp can
reduce their sentence.
Camp capacity is 100 and
at the time of the GJ’s visit there were 85 inmates who made up seven crews
with up to 15 per crew.
Inmates clear brush and maintain the Jackson State Demonstration Forest and respond to disasters, including fires (at $2 per hour), nearby accidents, floods and earthquakes.
On the
day of the GJ’s visit, while they toured the camp and interviewed staff from
CDCR and Cal Fire, crews were clearing brush, assisting in making fire trails
and trimming trees in the western hills in the city of Ukiah.
Reports
from the GJ’s interview state there has been a reduction of inmates with trade
skills such as plumbers, electricians, carpenters and mechanics and some do not
possess basic life skills upon arrival at the camp.
Inmates
have opportunities to improve their skills while performing valuable services
to Mendocino County and the community and service experience and educational
programs help to reduce recidivism; eighty per cent of inmates released from
camp do not re-offend.
Programs
available at the camp include Narcotics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous and
religious services. Inmates have the opportunity to obtain a GED diploma or an
AA diploma from Lassen Junior College. College instructors visit once a month
and the County Bookmobile visits weekly.
There
is a hobby craft program onsite that allows them to create redwood burl,
handmade clocks; picture frames; jewelry boxes; beaded jewelry; drawings and
paintings. All products are donated to non-profits where they are sold.
There
is an operational sawmill with up to 17 inmates working and producing
tables and other wood products for the State of California and the State Park
system.
The
water supply that comes from the South Fork of the Noyo River is purified at
their water plant providing them with opportunities to become California
Certified Water and Sewer Plant Operators through training provided at the
camp.
Depending
on their skill level, inmates can earn from $2.90 to $5.12 per day, money that
can be saved until an inmate is released.
Visitation
permitted only on weekends has increased partly due to prison reform laws and
the easing of parole conditions. The camp uses “Out of Bounds” signs instead of
boundary fencing.
Although
the CDCR staff assists inmates in acquiring California driver’s licenses, the
new Federal law requiring a REAL ID license or a passport to board an
airplane—documents that are difficult to obtain while incarcerated—makes it
difficult for them to fly home.
The GJ
states that the camp appears to be well-managed with a dedicated staff—the CDCR
and CAL FIRE are to be commended for maintenance of the facility and
for providing a positive model for inmates, creating an environment that allows
them to develop a sense of pride and accomplishment while performing their work
duties.
Ukiah Daily Journal
September 22, 2020
By Karen Rifkin
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