Yuba County has violated a
court-ordered consent decree and its own job descriptions in the operation of
the county jail, the grand jury says in its 2014-15 annual report released late
last week.
The report on the jail focuses
on a laundry list of issues ranging from overcrowding as a result of prisoner
realignment to medical and mental health services provided to inmates. It notes
the medical unit is "cramped" with only four work stations shared by
a visiting doctor, mental health psychiatrist, dentist, licensed vocational
nurses and medical assistants.
"Several members of the
medical staff expressed dedication to their duties," the report states.
"They did, however,
humorously deny liking the working conditions."
A portion of the report focuses
on compliance with a 1978 consent decree stemming from a 1976 class-action
lawsuit on behalf of jail inmates against the county. It notes the decree has
not been updated in 36 years and that some requirements are no longer relevant.
But the report states the
decree requires a registered nurse be at the jail at least 15 hours a week,
though there hasn't been an RN on staff for three years.
"This is a violation of
the consent decree," the report states. "The need for an RN is even
more vital with the extended stays caused by realignment (shifting of prisoners
from state prison to local jails)."
It also notes several medical
assistants at the jail and a crisis counselor don't have proper credentials, in
violation of county job classifications. And it states an executive assistant
in medical services doesn't have a college degree, also in violation of county
regulations.
"There is a disparity
between the consent decree, the Yuba County Human Resources and the Yuba County
Jail policies in regards to licensing/credentialing requirements," the
report states.
It also states the fact the
grand jury has not been provided with a copy of the decree is in itself a
violation of the decree.
Yuba County Sheriff Steve
Durfor said he would prefer to wait until he prepares a formal response to the
grand jury to address details but said he disagrees with the report. Public
agencies don't have to follow grand jury recommendations but are required to
file formal responses within 60 days.
"What I find disappointing
is the report is void of some very pertinent information that was provided to
the grand jury prior to the issuing of the report," Durfor said. "On
other findings, they are not accurate and without merit."
The jury notes medical and
mental health issues are especially important with inmates staying longer at
the jail through realignment.
"It became apparent during
our investigation that the officers and other staff that serve this particular
jail are challenged not only by the large numbers of inmates and their
complicated needs, but the inadequacy of the facility itself," the jury
states.
It recommends full-time
licensed mental health counselor and registered nurse positions be filled,
medical assistants be encouraged to obtain and maintain proper credentials, the
existing medical unit be remodeled and that the inmate handbook contain a copy
of the consent decree.
The jury also commended jail
staff, medical unit employees and the substance abuse counselor for
"dedication and enthusiasm."
In other matters, the grand
jury recommends:
• Marysville Joint Unified
School District address and eliminate what it calls a "hostile work
environment" within the district. Suggested areas to address include
"open communications without fear of reprisal" and "a simplified
complaint system."
• Improved communications
between the Marysville Joint Unified School District superintendent and the
Board of Trustees and to properly provide the public with board meeting
agendas.
• Development of a formal
accident response plan for Yuba County Airport emergencies. It also recommends
response drills and that the airport be included in multi-jurisdictional
response exercises.
• Immediately moving
ultra-light aircraft operations to a safer and more suitable location.
• Yuba County consider
relocating emergency operations from the County Government Center to a location
away from adjacent railroad lines, Highway 20 or a Marysville levee breach.
• Upgrading a surveillance
system at Bi-County Juvenile Hall in Marysville, hiring additional staff and
repairing insulation at the facilities recreation area.
• Sutter-Yuba Mosquito and
Vector Control District "explore next-generation abatement techniques such
as genetic modification of West Nile virus transmitting mosquitoes."
June
2, 2015
Appeal-Democrat
By Eric
Vodden
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