Fresno County (2023-2024 inspection cycle)

Initial Inspection Report 2023-2024 Biennial Inspection Cycle Date of Exit Briefing: 3/23/2023 Inspection Type: Comprehensive County: Fresno Facility Name(s): Fresno County Main Jail; Fresno County North Jail Annex; Fresno County Superior Court Holding Facility and B.F. Sisk Court Holding Facility BSCC #(s): 0705; 0702; 0810; 0725 BSCC Type: II/CH Facility Representatives: Captain Duran BSCC Field Representative: Tim McWilliams Corrective Action Plan Required? YES DATE CAP DUE TO BSCC: 4/22/23 Fresno County Main Jail: Title 15: 1055 Use of Safety Cell Reviews of data for direct visual observations for the months of January, February, and March show a significant number of late safety checks. Fresno County North Annex: Title 24: 1231.2.8 Dormitories Population of dormitories over BSCC rated capacity. Fresno County Superior Court Holding Facility and the B.F. Sisk Court Holding Facility have not been conducting monthly fire suppression preplanning conducted by a staff member. Current Items of Noncompliance Title 15. Section Description Direct visual observations of persons in safety cells are conducted twice every thirty minutes, however, the documents for January, February, and March § 1055. Use of Safety Cell 2023 show observation checks are conducted outside of the new regulation requiring observation check to be conducted twice every 30 minutes with no more than a 15-minute lapse between safety checks. Monthly fire suppression preplanning checks are not § 1032. Fire Suppression Preplanning being performed as identified in this regulation for the NAME County Initial Inspection Report Page 2 Title 15. Section Description Fresno County Superior Court Holding facility and the B.F.Sisk Court Holding Facility. Title 24. Section Description The Fresno North Annex Jail dormitories exceeds the rated capacity of all dormitories in this facility. Section 1231.2.8 (2) states that dormitories are 1231.2.8 Dormitories designed for no more than 64 inmates. The North Annex contains 66 inmates in four of the dormitories and 72 inmates in twenty of the dormitories. Technical Assistance Provided Sergeant Avila, from the Fresno County Superior Court Holding Facility, verified that the Post Orders for the court holding facility cited a requirement that fire prevention inspections were to be completed. The B.F. Sisk court holding facility also has the same requirements and does not conduct monthly fire inspections. Monthly fire prevention inspections at the Juvenile Justice Delinquency Court are conducted and Sergeant Avila was advised to use the same format for both the Superior and B.F. Sisk courts. NAME County Initial Inspection Report Page 2 Additional Information Direct visual observation for the safety cells at the Fresno County Main Jail are mostly made twice every thirty minutes, however, they are not within 15 minutes of each other. Fresno County Sheriff’s Office has advised that they will become compliant with Section 1055, Use of Safety Cell through additional training to the staff. Verification of monthly fire prevention inspections will be made during this inspection cycle. No corrective action plan is needed currently. Fresno County Sheriff’s Office is under court order from the U.S. District Court, Eastern District of California stating the population of the dormitories is 72 inmates. Within 30 days I will conduct another review of safety cell documentation and the monthly fire suppression prevention inspections of the Superior and B.F. Sisk courts to verify compliance. No correction action plan is needed currently.