Stanislaus grand jury says jail needs more guards

By Kevin Valine
kvaline@modbee.com

Because of budget cuts and layoffs, Sheriff's Department custodial officers are overseeing too many inmates, according to a Stanislaus County civil grand jury report released Tuesday.

The department operates the Public Safety Center, Honor Farm and Stanislaus County Jail.

The grand jury report concludes that "staffing levels are dangerously low because of budget cuts" and says there is one custodial officer for every 9½ inmates. That ratio is more than twice the national average and about 50 percent higher than the state average, the report states.

But it's not clear from the report whether the grand jurors were referring to the Public Safety Center or all three facilities.

Sheriff Adam Christianson said the report uses a method different from what his department uses, but he wholeheartedly agreed with the report's conclusion that his jails need more guards.

"The grand jury got it right," he said.

But he said increasing staffing is difficult because of the recession, in which he has had to cut $21 million from his budget and reduce staffing.

The report also recommended the Sheriff's Department close the Honor Farm and move its inmates to two empty units at the Public Safety Center.

The grand jury also cited concerns of inmates being released early because of staffing cutbacks and a federal consent decree that limits the three jail facilities to 1,492 inmates.

Christianson said his department is working to ensure inmates who are released early pose the least risk to the public and have programs that benefit them.

He disagreed with the recommendation that he close the Honor Farm. He said he is talking with federal officials about housing immigration detainees in the two empty units. That would allow him to rehire guards who have been laid off.

Christianson said he plans to use the insurance settlement from the June 2010 fire that destroyed two of the Honor Farm's four barracks to build an inmate housing unit at the Public Safety Center.

The report lauds Honor Farm staff and first responders for doing an outstanding job of evacuating inmates during the fire.

Grand jurors also inspected the Stanislaus County Jail in downtown Modesto, and Juvenile Hall.

Bee staff writer Kevin Valine can be reached at kvaline@modbee.com or (209) 578-2316.

Read more: http://www.modbee.com/2011/06/07/1722854/grand-jury-says-jail-needs-more.html#ixzz1Oibc9rY4