Santa Barbara Santa Maria JJC (2023-2024 inspection cycle)

Initial Inspection Report 2023-2024 Biennial Inspection Cycle Date of Exit Briefing: 9/18/2023 Inspection Type: Comprehensive County: Santa Barbara Facility Name(s): Susan J. Gionfriddo Juvenile Justice Center BSCC #(s): 7574 BSCC Type: Juvenile Hall Facility Representatives: Tiffany Phillips BSCC Field Representative: Forrest Coleman Corrective Action Plan Required? YES DATE CAP DUE TO BSCC: 11/17/2023 Current Items of Noncompliance Title 15. Section Description § 1354.5. Room Confinement. BSCC found that due to assaultive behavior on a The placement of a youth in room confinement housing unit, all youth were separated into two groups, shall be accomplished in accordance with the and an alternating program schedule was enacted. Due following guidelines: to limited space and staffing to facilitate an alternating 1) Room confinement shall not be used program, the two goups of youth alternated eating before other, less restrictive, options meals in their respective rooms even when the risk level have been attempted and exhausted, of safety and security for each youth was no longer unless attempting those options poses present or individually assessed. a threat to the safety or security of any youth or staff. BSCC also found that a youth was separated from the 2) Room confinement shall not be used for group for an extended period of time on a reintegration the purposes of punishment, coercion, plan. Although the reintegration plan indicated that the convenience, or retaliation by staff. youth shall participate in limited group programming, it 3) Room confinement shall not be used to also indicated that the youth shall eat all meals in his the extent that it compromises the room. Through documentation and an interview with the mental and physical health of the youth. youth, the youth regularly eats meals in his room as part of his reintegration plan. This particular reintegration plan has been in place for over three weeks. Additional information: Prior to the end of the onsite inspection, the agency produced and sent out a work performance directive to supervisors and staff to discontinue the practice of creating a split group program unless authorized by the facility manager. Further, the directive states that youth shall not be placed on room confinement as a group, but shall rather be individually assessed within a reasonable time period to determine if the youth is emotionally regulated and no longer a safety and security threat. The agency will immediately discontinue the non-compliant reintegration practice. Further, the agency is actively developing policy and procedure specific to guidelines and expections as they relate to Reintegration Plans. In addition, the agency indicated that it will provide training to staff and supervisors to ensure compliance is maintained.