Orange County Jail System. A View from the Inside

Transcription

1 Orange County Jail System A View from the Inside 1

2 Where We Stand Based on average daily populations, the Orange County Jail (OCJ) system is now the 2nd largest jail system in California and the 8th largest nationally. The Average Daily Population (ADP) exceeded 6,365 inmates in calendar year Average Daily Inmate Population (Includes First Floor New Bookings) 7,000 6,000 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1, ,842 6,388 6,365 4,909 5,

3 Inmate Demographics Average Daily Headcount for February ,721 Headcount for April 16, 2007 Booked with Felonies 73% Booked with Misdemeanors 27% Average Length of Stay Sentenced inmates 81.7 days Unsentenced inmates

4 Excellence in Safety The OCJ still maintains one of the lowest suicide rates compared to other mega-jails in the state of California. Our current inmate-to-staff ratio is 34 to 1, which is significantly higher than the national average of 14 to 1. There were 19 inmate assaults on staff and 92 inmate-on-inmate assaults during 2006, 57 assaults resulted in inmate injuries. Orange County is 60% below the national average of inmate-onstaff violence and 45% below the national average of inmate-oninmate violence. 4

5 Inmates Booked for Sex Crimes From January 1, 2007 through March 31, 2007, there were 16,787 inmates booked into the OCJ, 129 of those inmates were booked for sex charges. This quarter, there have been 106 reported inmate on inmate assaults. This quarter, there have been no reported assaults on inmates booked with sex charges. 5

6 Homicide investigations within custody environments Within Orange County, all law enforcement agencies investigate all homicides that occur inside their respective jail facility. Statewide, every agency with jurisdiction over their jails fulfills their legal mandate to investigate crimes within their jurisdiction. 6

7 Custodial Safety and Classification Jail management has re-evaluated the manner in which inmates are housed. Specifically, those inmates who are charged with certain crimes against children, crimes of a sexual nature and charges related to possession of child pornography, among others. These charges would not automatically indicate that an inmate would have to be housed in Protective Custody, these types of charges warrant segregation from the general inmate population, for their safety. From this, the Administrative Housing designation was originated. Currently 303 inmates are housed with this classification. Inmates are currently screened by gang affiliation, race, criminal charges, and classification code. 7

8 Operational Modifications for the Safety of our Inmates Classification Interviews-Inmates with New Safety Concerns Classification deputies routinely conduct inmate interviews through the Housing/Module Deputies. This was done in an attempt to avoid bringing additional scrutiny to the inmate and was consistent with the practices of other facilities. Pending further review of this practice, inmates will be interviewed by a Classification Deputy. Classification will document the interview in the inmate s file and videotape the interview. 8

9 Operational Modifications for the Safety of our Inmates Inmate Charges on the Internet Prior to , jail personnel and management began to detect an increase in assaults on persons charged with various sexual related criminal violations. In the course of investigating these violations of law, and through information received through other sources from within the jail, staff learned that access to inmate charges via the internet was creating potential risk to inmate security. Jail managers conducted inquiries as to the practices of other county law enforcement agencies, consulted with County Counsel and made recommendations that the Orange County Sheriff s Department removed the ability for persons to access inmate charges via the internet. This action was taken out of concern for inmate safety and welfare. As of , charges are no longer posted on the Sheriff s Department s website. The media protested this change 9

10 20/20 Vision Eliminating the Blind Spots In FY 04-05, the Department requested approval of a capital project to perform construction in Barracks F to eliminate the blind spots. Estimated cost was $425,000. The CEO did not recommend, and the Board did not approve the request. In FY 05-06, the Department re-submitted the project for consideration. To ensure this project got approved, the Sheriff proposed funding the project using Prop 172 funds. The project was approved. During the planning phase of this project, it was determined that the project would result in the loss of space in the housing areas and would eliminate about a dozen beds. Because the jail system is over-crowded and each jail bed is critical, the Department developed a plan to install CCTV systems throughout the jail system, including the blind spots in Barracks F. 10

11 Law Enforcement Oversight The policies, procedures, and practices of the Orange County Sheriff s Department are scrutinized in the local, state and federal court systems both criminally and civilly on an on-going basis. In addition, on a local level there are many entities including the California Commission on Peace Officers Standards & Training (P.O.S.T.), County Counsel, Board of Supervisors, County Risk Management, and the Grand Jury who review, provide recommendations, approvals and/or denials to departments operations. The Orange County Sheriff s Department operates one of the safest jail systems in the country and already has in place an excellent civilian oversight committee in the grand jury. Inmate-on-inmate violence in our jails is 45% below the national average and, in the last ten years the Orange County Jail System has the lowest percentage of jail deaths by average daily population in comparable sized jails, while having the fifth highest average daily head count. In Fiscal year 2005/2006 the Grand Jury completed their report on the issue of independent review. I have included a quote from the Grand Jury Report Oversight of Orange County Law Enforcement Agencies Resolving a Dichotomy. Effectiveness of citizen oversight investigative mechanisms (citizen review boards) is debatable and Grand Jury review of several oversight mechanisms outside of Orange County proved disappointing. In most cases the individuals selected for investigative oversight were appointed by a political entity or work within a political entity, thus limiting their ability to act independently. An investigative oversight mechanism, in the absence of pressure or a defined necessity, appears too cumbersome and costly for adoption in Orange County at this time. One study indicated that investigative oversight may reduce the effectiveness of law enforcement by inhibiting peace officers doing their job Law enforcement agencies and officers conduct are reviewed and scrutinized more than virtually any other profession. The citizens of Orange County are provided with outstanding, if not the best law enforcement services in the nation. 11