In its required response to the findings of the 2018 Tuolumne County Grand Jury, Sierra Conservation Center officials say recording temperatures in parts of the prison during summer months is not warranted and will not be implemented.
Warden Hunter Anglea said in the written report that where and when temperatures are recorded has been adjudicated in the courts, and the prison complies with the settlement of that lawsuit.
The grand jury said in its report released at the end of June that inmates estimated the temperature in the non-air-conditioned facility was 110 to 120 degrees during the summer of 2017. The jury said in the areas where temperatures were recorded, the temperature never went over 100 but recommended more monitoring.
Anglea also pushed back on the grand jury's finding that its investigation was compromised because the management did not abide by confidentiality requirements and administrators sat in on every interview members conducted.
“This resulted in the inmates’ interviews taking substantially longer than necessary to complete, as SCC management offered their own explanations and opinions in response to inmates’ statements,” the grand jury report stated.
The grand jury also said employees did not sign a form telling them to refrain from talking about the investigation.
Anglea said he needed to analyze the recommendation further but noted grand jury members visited the prison three times and never brought up signing the form.
“At no time was it the intent of any SCC staff member to hinder or impede the Grand Jury's investigation,” he wrote.
He said he has asked attorneys for the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for more information on proper procedures.
Anglea also said the mold problem in a shower has been reported to prison headquarters and he is awaiting approval and funding to repair all of the showers in that building, but the soap dispenser in the hazardous materials/motor pool area has been installed, as recommended.
Anglea could not be reached for comment on Thursday.
The Tuolumne County Sheriff's Office, meanwhile, agreed with both recommendations from the grand jury.
Sheriff Bill Pooley said in his response that the policy on transgender inmates has been updated according to the California Values Act.
The sheriff also said his office has updated its policy on releasing information on inmates to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He said such information is given in serious felony charges or convictions and noted that all release information is available to the public.
“If ICE requests this information, we will release it to them as we would to anyone who inquires, as this is public information,” he said.
Agencies that still must respond to the grand jury are Tuolumne County on deteriorating roads; Tuolumne County, City of Sonora and Tuolumne County Economic Development Governing Board on transparency and oversight of the Tuolumne County Economic Development Authority; Mother Lode Regional Juvenile Detention Center; and Groveland Community Services District.
August 11, 2018
The Union Democrat
By Lyn Riddle
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