The San Bernardino County Civil Grand Jury has recommended the Sheriff’s Department markedly improve oversight of its Inmate Welfare Fund, which is used to pay for personnel and assets in programs benefiting inmates in county jails.
The Grand Jury, in its annual report last week, concluded there was no strategic plan in place to guide spending decisions, no inventory of assets financed by the fund and no mechanism by which to assess the effectiveness of educational, training and counseling programs.
The Inmate Welfare Fund, which carried a $13 million balance as of Aug. 31, is bankrolled primarily by two sources: Profits from jail commissary operations and from inmate telephone services within each jail institution. It receives no taxpayer support.
The money is expected to pay counselors, teachers and trainers, as well as fixed assets, involved in programs to assist those in custody.
In seven total recommendations, the jurors urged the department to rectify the aforementioned omissions. They also called upon the department to conduct an assessment of inmate needs for guiding fund spending, review at least every two years and update as needed the Inmate Welfare Trust Fund Committee guidelines and publicize the fund and committee on the Sheriff’s website.
The committee consists of six civilian volunteers appointed by the Sheriff who serve indefinite terms — until they resign or are replaced — and meet six times per year to review and make decisions on funding requests.
Jurors also found an annual financial report of the Inmate Welfare Fund was not presented to the county Board of Supervisors in two of the past three years as required by law, and they recommended the department establish a practice of ensuring the report is submitted yearly.
In a report to Supervisors on Oct. 31, the department noted the fund had expenses of $4.4 million in fiscal year 2014-15 and $5.1 million the year prior.
In a statement, Sheriff John McMahon said the department received the Grand Jury report on June 29.
“We understand their findings and concerns regarding the Inmate Welfare Fund,” McMahon said. “The members of the Sheriff’s Department and I appreciate the time put in by the Grand Jury in their review. We will make the necessary changes and implement any policy revisions promptly.”
July 7, 2018
Daily Press
By Shea Johnson
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