Detention Services Bureau
The Detention Services Bureau (DSB) comprises three operational areas.
With eight detention facilities and an annual budget of approximately
$200 million, the bureau accepted nearly 100,000 new bookings in 2008.
Detention facilities staff housed, fed, and supervised an average daily
population of 5,205 inmates at an average cost of approximately $109
per inmate, per day. Male prisoners represented 85% of the inmate
population and on average, inmates sentenced to the Sheriff’s custody
spent 78 days in jail. Over 8.6 million meals were prepared and served
by the Food Services Division at an average cost of $0.93 per
meal.
When State Proposition 69 became law in 2004, the bureau began
collecting DNA samples from adults and juveniles convicted of certain
felony offenses. In 2008, DSB staff collected DNA samples from 4,191
inmates, bringing the total since inception of Prop 69 to 24,614. In
preparation for a provision to Penal Code 296, which mandates all felony
arrestees must provide DNA samples beginning on January 1, 2009, the
bureau developed plans to handle the expected increase in DNA
collections. The Jail Population Management Unit, Las Colinas, San Diego
Central, and Vista Detention facilities worked cooperatively to develop
operational procedures, since the collections will occur during the
intake and classification processes. The bureau also began planning for
the delivery and installation of dedicated Live Scan machines provided
by the Department of Justice for the rapid transmittal of fingerprints
to the DNA Collection database. It is expected this advancement will
enhance the department’s ability to collect critical evidence to aid in
the solution of numerous unanswered cases.
In 2008, the DSB maintained a commitment toward being a leader in
prisoner reentry efforts. In its second year, the Youthful Offender
Reentry Program, based at the Descanso Detention Facility, offered 18 to
25-year-old high-risk offenders substance abuse education, cognitive
behavior treatment and vocational and employment counseling. Each
participant received a personalized re-entry plan to assist them in
their return into the community which included goals and a “road map” to
success. In 2008, 120 offenders were screened for the program and to
date, 74 participants have successfully completed the program.
The East Mesa Detention Facility Re-entry Program steadily progressed in
2008 with Correctional Counselors conducting assessments, interviews,
and identifying community programs and resources to aid inmates in their
transition back into society. Over 806 inmates participated in this
program during calendar year, 2008. When California Senate Bill 618
became law in 2007, San Diego County became the first in California
authorized to create a multi-agency plan to develop policies and
programs to educate and rehabilitate non-violent felony offenders.
Taking the lead in this important response to reduce recidivism, the
Sheriff’s Department and a contingent of partnering agencies including
the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, San Diego
County Probation Department, and the District Attorney’s Office provided
tangible reentry support services to increase parolees’ success while
out in the community. In 2008, 386 San Diego County Sheriff’s inmates
were screened for participation in SB618, of which 311 (81%) were
enrolled.
Also during 2008, the Medical Services Division (MSD) achieved
significant accomplishments. The division played an instrumental role in
the re-entry efforts associated with Senate Bill 618 by medically
screening over 240 inmates for this program. MSD also focused efforts on
expanding digital X-ray services to the Vista and Las Colinas detention
facilities. By August, MSD successfully implemented digital X-ray
services at the three booking facilities. Because of their efforts, the
identification of inmates with tuberculosis (TB) is expected to increase
significantly. The digital X-ray program offers not only shared benefits
to both the health and safety of detentions staff and inmates, but also
with the community public health efforts to limit TB exposure to the
general public. To date, approximately 43,400 digital chest X-rays were
conducted at the three booking facilities. Improved detection of inmates
with active TB at screening has greatly reduced the number of contact
investigations required and the number of inmates and staff exposed to
TB.
Advancements made to the Sheriff’s network and the Jail Information
Management System (JIMS) in 2008 allowed detentions personnel to work
more efficiently and effectively. In its second year, the Inmate Email
System allowed inmates to receive 351,538 messages, an increase of over
115,000 messages. Several JIMS modifications were rolled out, which
included an expanded ability for staff to upload additional inmate
photographs, new classification review modules, and changes allowing
staff to add questions to the booking and medical processes. The JIMS
team also completed an upgrade to the sentence calculation module. Once
it was learned that JIMS, as originally designed, was programmed to
deduct excess credit days from inmate sentences, the Inmate Processing
Division staff was forced to calculate inmate sentences by hand. With
the sentence calculation upgrade completed, JIMS now calculates accurate
release dates for all sentenced inmates which requires inmates to serve
the full sentences intended by the court system.
The Detentions Investigation Unit (DIU) continued to provide quality
investigative services to the bureau. The six assigned detectives
maintained an average caseload of 23 active cases. A total of 1,420
cases were handled and 172 cases were submitted to the District
Attorney’s Office for prosecution. An ancillary duty performed by DIU
was the processing of requests for access to the inmate telephone
system. This year the DIU staff received and processed 6,023 various
requests for inmate telephone system services.
The Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the Las Colinas replacement
facility was completed and released for public review in 2008. The Board
of Supervisors is expected to consider certification of the EIR in March
of 2009.
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