Jurors tackle 11 investigations in 07-08
The 2007-2008 San Benito County Grand Jury recently released a
report that includes findings and recommendations on 11 issues. In
addition to their investigations, this year’s members took the time
to meet with county and city officials about the top issues facing
the region.
Jurors tackle 11 investigations in 07-08
The 2007-2008 San Benito County Grand Jury recently released a report that includes findings and recommendations on 11 issues. In addition to their investigations, this year’s members took the time to meet with county and city officials about the top issues facing the region.
To make the multitude of investigations more manageable, the 19 members broke into subcommittees for different topics and tasks. While one group handled a gang review others took a closer look at the water issue in San Juan Bautista. Still others served as editors for the nearly 250-page spiral-bound jury report released July 31.
“The first goal was to bring closure to the status of the outstanding issues of the previous grand jury’s final report,” wrote Foreman Roxy Montana, in a letter to Judge Harry Tobias.
Each item includes a summary of the issues, findings and recommendations. The jury members even took color photos of some agencies to help make their points.
At the time the final report was released, many of the agencies had already submitted responses and were in the process of meeting recommendations, though they have up to 90 days from the time when the report is received. The complete report is available online at www.sanbenitocountygrandjury.org.
Here is a summary of their findings on each area.
Animal Control Department
The grand jury first investigated the Hollister Animal Shelter in 2001-2002, again the following year and once again in 2006-2007. One of the main concerns listed with each investigation was a lack of space for the animals and a shortage of staff. A new animal shelter is currently under construction up the road from the old site, and will address the space issue. Staff has responded to the recommendations.
Ongoing concerns:
· Hours – The shelter schedule makes it unavailable to visitors after hours and on weekends, a requirement of a state law, so jury members recommended closing one weekday to allow staff to open one weekend day.
· Drop box – Though the shelter has a drop box for use when the shelter is closed, clear instructions on how to use it should be posted and available on the city Web site.
· Support – The shelter could work with nonprofit organizations to help cover the expense of caring for the animals and put together a volunteer base to help on weekends.
Aromas-San Juan Unified School District bus refueling
The grand jury first investigated the inability of Aromas-San Juan to refuel four school buses locally with compressed natural gas in 2006-2007. The staff at ASJUSD had been driving to a Salinas PG&E refueling station because the San Benito High School CNG station did not have a fast-filling nozzle. The nozzle has since been sent for repair and the Aromas-San Juan buses are now refilled at SBHS. Resolved.
San Benito County Behavioral Health Department
In 2006-2007 the grand jury looked at how efficient behavioral health department staff were at providing services to client. At the time, the department had seven vacant positions and the jurors recommended supervisors quickly fill those positions. They were also concerned about the location of the offices, which are outside of Hollister’s city center. Since then, the Esperanza Center has been established as a drop-in center on Fifth Street and additional staff have been hired. Resolved.
San Benito Health Care District
The jury looked at the use of Measure L funds, a bond passed to expand medical facilities within the San Benito Health Care District, and also the services provided by Hazel Hawkins Memorial Hospital. In 2006-2007, Hazel Hawkins was below the standard for heart failure care, pneumonia care and surgical infection. Since then, the staff have meet the standards put forth by the Joint Commission, and give out updates on the cost and timeline for construction projects. Resolved.
San Benito County Jail
Each year, the grand jury conducts a review of the San Benito County Jail to see that it is being administered in a safe and secure manner. The jurors looked at issues from overcrowding, transportation for released inmates and medical services, among other issues. Staff has responded to the recommendations.
Ongoing concerns:
· Reading material – Reading material of all sorts should be available to all inmates to allow them to improve their writing and literacy skills.
· Heating/AC – Certain parts of the jail, including the intake room, the safety cells and sober cell need to have the heating and air conditioning improved so that the air quality matches that of the rest of the facility.
· Transportation – Jail staff should negotiate with San Benito County Express or Dial-a-Ride to pick up inmates upon their release.
San Benito County Juvenile Hall
As with the jail, jurors review the Juvenile Hall facilities each year. One of the major concerns they had when they issued their report in 2008 was that the facility has been without an on-site manager for a year. The jurors looked at food services, youth programs and staffing, among other issues. Staff responded to the recommendations.
Ongoing concerns:
· Staff – Hire a full-time, on-site superintendent as soon as possible, and a program manager.
· Showers – Apply mold-abatement procedures in the shower stalls and bathrooms used by wards, as well as apply non-slip surfaces in the areas, and a safety bar in the bathtub.
· Fence – A perimeter fence will provide additional security and safety to wards.
Hollister Police Department Property Room Inspection
Jurors found that the property room for the Hollister Police Department has evidence packaged, labeled, bar-coded and placed on shelves or in containers. Computer evidence was grouped together, and bicycles were kept in a secured locker cage outside the building.
Ongoing concerns:
· Staff – Hire an additional staff member to help in the property room.
· Storage – Purchase a rolling shelf system for additional space.
San Benito County Sheriff’s Department Property Room Inspection
The jurors discovered some surprising things in their visit to the sheriff’s property room, including firearms lying on the floor in a storage room for large items. In addition, the room did not appear secure to the visitors.
Ongoing concerns:
· Staff – Hire additional staff to help the multi-service officer in charge of the evidence room.
· Maintenance – Inmates should not be used to perform custodial maintenance in the evidence storage areas.
· Gun storage – All firearms should be stored in locked storage spaces.
Hollister Police Department Staffing
The grand jury looked at the level of staffing at the Hollister Police Department. Since 2003, the staffing levels have dropped from 34 officers to 29 in 2006. In addition, the grand jury reported that because of the staff loses, they have had to prioritize which crimes they responded to and cut funding to such programs as gang prevention. Through a U.S. Bureau of Justice formula, the jurors found that the number of officers in a city the size of Hollister should be 64.
Ongoing concerns:
· Staff – Hire eight sworn officers over the next two fiscal years using funds from Measure T, a city sales tax increase.
· Funding – Seek grants and other sources of funding to establish crime prevention programs that were suspended due to budget cuts.
City of San Juan Bautista Water Project Funding
A follow-up on a 2005-2006 grand jury investigation, present jurors looked to see if San Juan staff are providing sufficient water to residents, and can upgrade the system to meet regulations. City staff and council members lost access to a federal Economic Development Administration grant that would have offered $3.8 million towards the upgrade. While reviewing the water project, city staff withheld documents about alternative sources of funding from jurors.
Ongoing concerns:
· Disclosure –City council members disclose to the public details about the water project, such as what funds are available, financial statements and plans for construction, as well as other information about the project.
· SBC Water District – The San Benito County Water District staff disclose availability of funds for the project and if they would be able to offer funds without the EDA grant.
Alternative solutions to youth crime activity
One of the new reviews undertaken by the 2007-2008 grand jurors was a look at gang-related crime in San Benito County. In their investigation they looked at the extent of gang violence; what agencies and officials are doing to stop the rise of gang violence; and prevention programs and intervention programs. They found a lack of statistics about gang activity in the county as well as a shortage of programs for prevention and intervention, though there are youth programs such as YMCA, 4-H and others.
Ongoing concerns:
· Statistics – Collect, analyze and disclose statistics about gangs and gang-related activity to get a clear sense of the issue.
· Staffing – Hire a staff member to oversee data collection and management of crime prevention programs, as well as the hire more patrol officers, including school resource officers for elementary and middle school levels.
· Community involvement – Reinstate crime prevention programs such as the neighborhood watch and DARE and develop prevention programs.
