Merced Sheriff's Office (2023-2024 inspection cycle)

Initial Inspection Report 2023-2024 Biennial Inspection Cycle Date of Exit Briefing: 4/17/2023 Inspection Type: Comprehensive County: Merced Facility Name(s): Merced County, Main Jail and John Latorocca Correctional Center BSCC #(s): 3160, 3190 BSCC Type: II Facility Representatives: Captain Coburn BSCC Field Representative: Tim McWilliams Corrective Action Plan Required? YES DATE CAP DUE TO BSCC: 5/17/2023 Current Items of Noncompliance Title 15. Section Description As noted above, this was a noncompliant issue during the 20-22 BSCC inspection. Funding was secured and has resulted in no increase to staffing levels. § 1027. Number of Personnel The agency regularly uses over 90 hours of overtime weekly. The main issues regarding filling empty positions are recruiting. Surrounding agencies provide a more robust compensation package and signing bonuses. This is agency wide. The John Latorraca Correctional Center suffers from a lack of maintenance. Many toilets and sinks need § 1280. Facility Sanitation, Safety, and to be replaced. Not all showers work. Holes remain Maintenance in the walls of the dormitories. All items were identified in the 20-22 inspection, no effort was made to remedy the issue. Title 24. Section Description None Merced County Initial Inspection Report Page 2 Technical Assistance Provided Discussed the risk posed with insufficient staff and the unsafe conditions posed by a lack of repair in housing areas. Additional Information Merced County Sheriff’s Office has trouble recruiting staff due to other agencies, close to Merced County, are providing hiring bonuses, greater pay and benefits. Though this is an internal issue with Merced County, it places security concerns with the safe operation of the jail and places both staff and those incarcerated at an elevated level of risk. Some of the holes have been covered by a piece of wood, in an effort to hide the holes instead of fix them. This facility is scheduled to undergo a renovation at a building-by-building pace. In the meantime, however, those who work and are incarcerated in the facility dormitories are in a direct safety and security risk. Safety issue rise with faulty sinks, toilets, and showers. Additionally, the unrepaired holes in the walls are ripe for hidden storage of jail-made weapons used to harm staff and/or inmates. The unrepaired holes are also places to hide drungs. Drugs found in a facility can cause risk to staff and inmates that may end in injury or death. Delay of repair, even during renovation, causes significant safety issues.