(Solano) Grand jury: Delta Camp isn't secure

BY CATHERINE BOWEN, The Reporter.com -

An inquiry into the management of Delta Conservation Camp by the Solano County grand jury raised red flags concerning safety and security at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation-run fire camp, according to a recent report.

The grand jury's Dec. 12, 2012, inspection of the Delta Camp, located at 6246 Lambie Road, off Highway 12 between Rio Vista and Suisun City, prompted four recommendations and coincided with those made by the 2011-12 grand jury.

During its inquiry, the grand jury inspected Delta Camp facilities, which house up to 132 inmates, and interviewed staff from Delta Camp, the CDCR and Calfire.

So far, however, CDCR management has chosen not to act upon the findings, stating that current staffing levels are appropriate to the inmate population and their classification level, and that the cost of other suggestions, such as installing perimeter security cameras, "was prohibitive and would not be installed," the report stated.

Opened in June 1988, Delta Camp is one of 39 fire camps throughout the state that houses state prison inmates whose main mission is to supply quick-response strike teams to assist Calfire or other fire agencies that request assistance through mutual-aid agreements. Delta Camp inmates may also be hired by public agencies or nonprofit organizations to work on community projects.

The CDCR is responsible for the security, supervision, care and discipline of inmates assigned to the camp, while Calfire supervises "in-camp" inmate assignments and fire-line assignments in the field.

The grand jury said its concerns centered around safety and security measures for CDCR, California Department of Forestry and Calfire personnel, as well as the public.

At the time of the 2012-13 grand jury tour, 104 inmates were assigned to the camp, leaving 28 open beds, according to the report.

The grand jury also took issue with the state's modification of the inmate classification point system, which allows higher-risk inmates to be housed at Delta Camp, the report stated.

The grand jury said it found Delta Camp to be "clean, orderly, and well-equipped" at the time of its visit, but was concerned with the fact that, during the first shift -- from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. -- the ratio of inmates to correctional officers could be 132:1, the report said.

The current grand jury agreed with the findings and recommendations of the 2011-12 grand jury, which suggested adding a second officer to the first shift, installing perimeter security cameras and exit alarms on the inmate dormitory and equipping CDCR personnel with portable radios for immediate communication with Solano County Sheriff's Office, which has jurisdiction of the area.

In the response to both grand jury reports, CDCR management stated that current staffing levels were appropriate, given the inmate population and their classification level. They also said the cost of installing and maintaining cameras was prohibitive.

After discovering that none of the recommendations had been instituted, the grand jury urged Delta Camp management to "revisit and reconsider these security concerns" -- especially given the increased classification score of inmates housed at the camp.

"This change could affect the operations of Delta Camp and possibly put Delta Camp staff and the surrounding communities at greater risk," the grand jury wrote.