Tulare Probation (2023-2024 inspection cycle)

July 19, 2024 Kelly Vernon, Chief Probation Officer Tulare County Probation Department 3241 West Noble Avenue Visalia, CA 93277 2023-2024 TARGETED INSPECTION, WELFARE & INSTITUTIONS CODE SECTIONS 209 & 885, TULARE COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT DETENTION FACILITIES Dear Chief Vernon: A Targeted Inspection of the Tulare County Probation Department has been completed. A pre-inspection briefing was held on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, and the following facilities were inspected on Wednesday, July 15, 2024: FACILITY NAME BSCC # FACILITY TYPE Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility 7703 JH Tulare County Youth Detention Facility 7704 CAMP Tulare County Secure Youth Treatment Facility 7707 SYTF Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility Camp 7708 CAMP These inspections were conducted pursuant to Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 209 and 885 to determine compliance with the Minimum Standards for Juvenile Detention Facilities as outlined in Title 15, California Code of Regulations. INSPECTION RESULTS We identified no items of noncompliance with Title 15 Minimum Standards. Refer to the attached Procedures Checklist for detailed information. An Exit Briefing with your staff was held on Monday, July 15, 2024; BSCC staff presented an inspection overview and discussed technical assistance and best practice recommendations. * * * Please email me at elizabeth.gong@bscc.ca.gov or call (916) 704-2503 if you have any questions. Kelly Vernon Chief Probation Officer Page 2 Sincerely, ELIZABETH GONG Field Representative Facilities Standards and Operations Division Enclosures Cc: Presiding Judge, Tulare County Juvenile Court* Chair, Juvenile Justice Commission, Tulare County* Chair, Board of Supervisors, Tulare County* County Administrator, Tulare County* Greg Powers, Division Manager, Tulare County Probation Department *Copies of the inspection are available upon request or online at www.bscc.ca.gov. 7703+ Tulare Probation JH Camp SYTF LTR 23-24 JUVENILE HALLS, SPECIAL PURPOSE JUVENILE HALLS AND CAMPS Board of State and Community Corrections PROCEDURES CHECKLIST1 BSCC Code: 7703 FACILITY NAME: Tulare County Juvenile Detention Facility (JDF) FACILITY TYPE: JH PERSON(S) INTERVIEWED: Kelly Vernon, Chief Probation Officer; Mike Santos, Chief Deputy Probation Officer; Greg Powers, Division Manager; Chris Cooke, Supervision Probation Officer – Programs; Megan Ellison, SPO – Kitchen, Laundry, Medical/Behavior Health; Jarrod Kerrigan – SPO Youth and Staff; Youth: Brandon, age 18 – Camp Short Term; Ivan, age 18 – Long Term Camp; Jonathan, age 20 – SYTF; Zerena, age 17 – Detention pending Mid Term FIELD REPRESENTATIVE: Elizabeth Gong DATE: July 15, 2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1321 STAFFING Each juvenile facility shall: Section 2.1(F)(1) (a) have an adequate number of personnel sufficient to carry out the overall facility operation and its programming, to provide for safety and security of youth The Juvenile Facilities (JF) have one Division and staff, and meet established standards and Manager, three Supervising Probation regulations; Officers, 11 Institution Supervisors (three vacant), four Probation Corrections Officer (PCO) III’s, 45 Probation Corrections Officer I/II’s, four transportation staff, six Intake officers, 13 Detention Services Officers, and ten kitchen and laundry staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Agency-wide, there are 43 vacant PCO I/II/III positions and 13 on a long-term Leave of Absence (LOA). There are eight PCO staff beginning Core Training which will increase line staff to make up for four PCOs recently promoted to Probation Officers. All current PCOs are core trained. Due to the shortages, the agency has a process in place for mandatory overtime. The Deputy Probation Officers (DPO) have been mandated to work three shifts per pay period. The DPO schedule is based on seniority. Of the 85 DPO staff, half are core trained and the remainder are beginning cross-over Core Training. 1 This document is intended for use as a tool during the targeted inspection process; this worksheet may not contain each Title 15 regulation that is required. Additionally, many regulations on this worksheet are SUMMARIES of the regulation; the text on this worksheet may not contain the entire text of the actual regulation. Please refer to the complete California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Minimum Standards for Juvenile Facilities, Division 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter 5 for the complete list and text of regulations. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 1 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (b) ensure that no required services shall be denied because of insufficient numbers of staff on duty absent ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(F)(2) exigent circumstances; (c) have a sufficient number of supervisory level staff to ensure adequate supervision of all staff members; Section 2.1(F)(3) ☒ ☐ ☐ There is a minimum of one Institutional Supervisor (IS) on duty at all times, however, since the IS works 12-hour shifts, there are typically two on duty each shift. (d) have a clearly identified person on duty at all times who is responsible for operations and activities and has ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(F)(4) completed the Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course and PC 832 training; (e) have at least one staff member present on each living unit whenever there are youth in the living unit; ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(F)(5) (f) have sufficient food service personnel relative to the number and security of living units, including staff Section 2.1(F)(6) qualified and available to: plan menus meeting nutritional requirements of youth; provide kitchen supervision; direct ☒ ☐ ☐ food preparation and servings; conduct related training programs for culinary staff; and maintain necessary There is a Food Services Manager, six cooks, records; or, a facility may serve food that meets nutritional a stock clerk/Warehouse staff, and three standards prepared by an outside source; laundry technicians assigned to the facility. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 2 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (g) have sufficient administrative, clerical, recreational, medical, dental, mental health, building maintenance, Section 2.1(F)(7) transportation, control room, facility security and other support staff for the efficient management of the facility, and to ensure that youth supervision staff shall not be diverted from supervising youth; and, The facility is sufficiently staffed for its population. There is a new Medical Provider, Integrated Wellness Solutions, which is affiliated with Precision Psychiatric Services via Kaweah Hospital, which provides Mental Health Services. Medical staff are on site 24 ☒ ☐ ☐ hours a day, seven days a week. Mental Health is on-site seven days a week as well, with on-call crisis care available 24 hours a day. GEO Program Services is new to the facility and, once transitioned, will have a Program Supervisor and three Program Facilitators. There is sufficient staff to ensure no services for the youth population are diverted from youth supervision staff responsibilities. (h) assign sufficient youth supervision staff to provide continuous wide awake supervision of youth, subject to Section 2.1(F)(8) temporary variations in staff assignments to meet special ☒ ☐ ☐ program needs. Staffing shall be in compliance with a minimum youth-staff ratio for the following facility types: (1) Juvenile Halls (A) during the hours that youth are awake, one Section 2.1 (B) wide-awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 10 youth in detention; POD 5: Units A and D are occupied by Maximum Security General Population Male ☒ ☐ ☐ Youth; Unit B by Gen Pop Female Youth (one female Program Youth); and Unit C by Gen Pop Male Youth. Each Unit in Pod 5 meets the 1:10 ratio for the Juvenile Detention Facility population. (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(C) youth supervision staff member on duty for each 30 youth in detention; 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 3 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (C) at least two wide-awake youth supervision staff members on duty at all times, regardless of the Section 2.1 number of youth in detention, unless an arrangement has been made for backup support services which allow for immediate response to emergencies; and, ☒ ☐ ☐ We reviewed the staff schedules and roster, noting there are at minimum eight staff on duty during sleeping hours, well beyond the minimum required ratio. (D) at least one youth supervision staff member on duty who is the same gender as youth housed in ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(D) the facility. (E) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of Section 2.1(G) personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☒ ☐ ☐ kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. (2) Special Purpose Juvenile Halls (A) during hours that youth are awake, one wide- ☐ ☐ ☒ The JDF is not a SPJH. awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 10 youth in detention; (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☐ ☐ ☒ youth supervision staff member on duty for each 30 youth in detention; (C) at least two wide-awake youth supervision staff members on duty at all times, regardless of the number of youth in detention, unless an ☐ ☐ ☒ arrangement has been made for backup support services which allow for immediate response to emergencies; and, (D) at least one youth supervision staff member on duty who is the same gender as youth housed in ☐ ☐ ☒ the facility. (E) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☐ ☐ ☒ kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. (3) Camps (A) during the hours that youth are awake, one ☐ ☐ ☒ The JDF is not a Camp. wide-awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 15 youth in the camp population; 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 4 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☐ ☐ ☒ youth supervision staff member on duty for each 30 youth present in the facility; (C) at least two wide-awake youth supervision staff members on duty at all times, regardless of the number of youth in residence, unless ☐ ☐ ☒ arrangements have been made for backup support services which allow for immediate response to emergencies; (D) at least one youth supervision staff member on duty who is the same gender as youth housed in ☐ ☐ ☒ the facility; (E) in addition to the minimum staff to youth ratio required in (h)(3)(A)-(B), consideration shall be given to the size, design, and location of the camp; types of youth committed to the camp; and the ☐ ☐ ☒ function of the camp in determining the level of supervision necessary to maintain the safety and welfare of youth and staff; (F) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☐ ☐ ☒ farm, forestry, kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 5 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1328 SAFETY CHECKS The facility administrator shall develop and implement Section 3.4.1 (B) Unit Shift Logs policy and procedures that provide for direct visual observation of youth at a minimum of every 15 minutes, Section 3.4.3 (A) Guard 1 Visual Cell Safety at random or varied intervals during hours when youth Checks are asleep or when youth are in their rooms, confined in holding cells or confined to their bed in a dormitory. Supervision is not replaced, but may be supplemented We reviewed safety checks for the months of by, an audio/visual electronic surveillance system January, March, and May 2024. Our review designed to detect overt, aggressive or assaultive revealed the agency switched to Guard 1 in behavior and to summon aid in emergencies. All safety March, upon completion of a series of Pod checks shall be documented with the actual time the upgrades and maintenance. During the first check is completed. quarter of 2024, youth were moved amongst the pods during the process. ☒ ☐ ☐ We found the checks to be random and varied, mostly between 9-13 minutes. Checks on the graveyard for some days in January were found to be at 14- and 15-minute intervals, with a variance of 9-13-minute checks during the shift. This was on very few instances in 1-2 units. With the new system, the checks were found to be more consistently varied and random. The agency has a process in place for auditing these checks and a part-time IS working on this quality assurance exercise. The agency hopes to dedicate a full-time IS for auditing more than just safety checks. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 6 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1329 SUICIDE PREVENTION PLAN The facility administrator, in collaboration with the Section 8.14 Suicide Recognition and healthcare and behavioral/mental health administrators, Prevention shall plan and implement written policies and procedures which delineate a Suicide Prevention Plan. The plan JMH-G-04 Precision Psychiatric Services shall consider the needs of youth experiencing past or Manual current trauma. Suicide prevention responses shall be respectful and in the least invasive manner consistent with the level of suicide risk. The plan shall include the Since January 2024, the agency has had 17 following elements: incidents of suicidal statements and gestures and one suicide attempt. All but three incidents involved JDF youth. We reviewed the Precision response to these incidents, accompanied by medical responses, and found there were 46 immediate and follow-up contacts with the youth for determining classification and supervision status. All agency partners responded per policy and met the requirements in regulation, objectives in policy, and a consolidated approach in ☒ ☐ ☐ practice. The facility plan continues to articulate the operational procedures to follow for suicide events. Directives provide informative triggers for staff to be aware of, which is supported by 24/7 medical staff on-site, on-site mental health services seven days a week with Precision Psychiatric Services, and on-call services shared with the jail across the street after hours. Our review of the Precision Manual and Policy as it relates to Suicide Prevention articulates communication with on-site Medical staff for determination of watch levels pending review from Precision staff. If on-site, they respond immediately, evidenced by the incident reports reviewed, or as soon as possible if on-call. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 7 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (a) Suicide prevention training as required in Section 1322, Youth Supervision Staff Orientation, and Training Section 8.14.1 and the Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course. All staff receive Suicide Prevention Training in ☒ ☐ ☐ Core and annually. Staff assigned to the Intake unit receive additional training for screening and recognizing if a youth is at risk for suicide or self-harm. (b) Screening, Identification Assessment and Precautionary Protocols Section 8.14 (A)(1) (1) All youth shall be screened for risk of suicide at intake and as needed during detention. The facility completes numerous assessments and screening of youth by probation, medical, ☒ ☐ ☐ and mental health staff at admission. The MAYSI, medical screening, and referral to mental health for assessment articulate risks at admission. We reviewed timelines for the intake implementation of the MAYSI upon admission. (2) All youth supervision staff who perform intake processes shall be trained in screening youth for risk ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.1 of suicide. (3) All youth who have been identified during the intake screening process to be at risk of suicide shall ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14 (A)(1) and (2) be referred to behavioral/mental health staff for a suicide risk assessment. Section 4.3.4 (A)(6) (4) Precautionary protocols shall be developed to ensure the youth’s safety pending the Section 8.14 (A)(4) behavioral/mental health assessment. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 4.3.1 (10) (c) Referral process to behavioral/mental health staff for assessment and/or services. Section 8.14 ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.2.3 (C) Section 4.3.4 (A)(6) 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 8 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (d) Procedures for monitoring of youth identified at risk for suicide. Section 8.14. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 4.3.1 (10) (e) Safety Interventions (1) Procedures to address intervention protocols for Section 8.14.5 (A) and (D) youth identified at risk for suicide which may ☒ ☐ ☐ include, but are not limited to: (A) Housing consideration (B) Treatment strategies including trauma- informed approaches ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.5 (A)(11) (2) Procedures to instruct youth supervision staff how to respond to youth who exhibit suicidal behaviors. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4 (A) and (B) (f) Communication (1) The intake process shall include communication Section 4.3.2 (C) with the arresting officer and family guardians regarding the youth’s past or present suicidal ideations, behaviors or attempts. ☒ ☐ ☐ The intake unit is adjacent to the Medical and Mental Health offices, allowing for constant and timely communication. (2) Procedures for clear and current information sharing about youth at risk for suicide with youth Section 8.14 (A) supervision, healthcare, and behavioral/mental health staff. All agency partners communicate daily regarding any youth presenting suicidal behaviors. Medical staff, now under the same umbrella company as Precision, take the lead ☒ ☐ ☐ as they are on site all hours each day. Precision Psychiatric Services and GEO Program staff are designated to communicate in the contracts we reviewed. Incidents revealed this to occur in a coordinated approach to youth behavior, response, and follow-up. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 9 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (g) Debriefing of Critical Incidents Related to Suicides or Attempts Section 8.14.4 (D)(1) (1) Process for administrative review of the ☒ ☐ ☐ circumstances and responses proceeding, during and after the critical incident. (2) Process for a debriefing event with affected staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4 (D)(2) (3) Process for a debriefing event with affected youth. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4(D)(3) (h) Documentation (1) Documentation processes shall be developed to Section 8.14.0 (A)(1) ensure compliance with this regulation ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4 (D)(4) Youth identified at risk for suicide shall not be denied the opportunity to participate in facility programs, services Section 8.14.5 (J) and activities which are available to other non-suicidal youth, unless deemed necessary for the safety of the ☒ ☐ ☐ youth or security of the facility. Any deprivation of programs, services or activities for youth at risk of suicide shall be documented and approved by the facility manager. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 10 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1354.5 ROOM CONFINEMENT (a) The facility administrator shall develop and Section 6.6 (A) Room Confinement (RC) implement written policies and procedures addressing the confinement of youth in their room that are consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code Section We reviewed all 15 incident reports involving 208.3. The placement of a youth in room confinement 13 youth in the JDF placed on RC thus far in shall be accomplished in accordance with the following 2024. Two youth were involved in five guidelines: incidents. Our evaluation revealed compliance with regulation, noting the agency requires a 2-hour review of all youth on RC to plan for reintegration. The placement included assaultive behavior, one with staff, and verbal threats or aggressive defiance. ☒ ☐ ☐ The process for documenting behavior checks, reviewing the need to continue, and the length of time on RC were detailed and informative. The RC log outlines the youth’s behavior at the time of the check as well as contact with staff and partners. The IS and SPO make every effort to reintegrate the youth into normal programming the day of or, if the incident occurred late on shift, the day following the incident. (1) Room confinement shall not be used before other, less restrictive, options have been attempted Section 6.6 (B)(1) and exhausted, unless attempting those options ☒ ☐ ☐ poses a threat to the safety or security of any youth or staff. (2) Room confinement shall not be used for the purposes of punishment, coercion, convenience, or ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (B)(2) retaliation by staff. (3) Room confinement shall not be used to the extent that it compromises the mental and physical health ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (B)(3) of the youth. (b) A youth may be held up to four hours in room confinement. After the youth has been held in room ☒ ☐ ☐ confinement for a period of four hours, staff shall do one or more of the following: (1) Return the youth to general population. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (F) 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 11 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (2) Consult with mental health or medical staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (H) (3) Develop an individualized plan that includes the goals and objectives to be met in order to reintegrate ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (G)(2) the youth to general population. (4) If room confinement must be extended beyond four hours, staff shall do each of the following: Section 6.6 (G)(1) (A) Document the reasons for room confinement and the basis for the extension, the date and time ☒ ☐ ☐ the youth was first placed in room confinement, and when he or she is eventually released from room confinement. (B) Develop an individualized plan that includes the goals and objectives to be met in order to ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (G)(2) integrate the youth to general population. (C) Obtain documented authorization by the facility superintendent or his or her designee ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (G)(3) every four hours thereafter. (5) This section is not intended to limit the use of single-person rooms or cells for the housing of youth ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (I) in juvenile facilities and does not apply to normal sleeping hours. (6) This section does not apply to youth or wards in ☒ ☐ ☐ court holding facilities or adult facilities. (7) Nothing in this section shall be construed to conflict with any law providing greater or additional ☒ ☐ ☐ protections to youth. (8) This section does not apply during an extraordinary emergency circumstance that requires Section 6.6 (I) Paragraph #1 a significant departure from normal institutional operations, including a natural disaster or facility- ☒ ☐ ☐ wide threat that poses an imminent and substantial risk of harm to multiple staff or youth. This exception shall apply for the shortest amount of time needed to address this imminent and substantial risk of harm. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 12 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (9) This section does not apply when a youth is placed in a locked cell or sleeping room to treat and Section 6.6 (I) Paragraph #2 protect against the spread of a communicable disease for the shortest amount of time required to reduce the risk of infection, with the written approval of a licensed physician or nurse practitioner, when the youth is not required to be in an infirmary for an ☒ ☐ ☐ illness. Additionally, this section does not apply when a youth is placed in a locked cell or sleeping room for required extended care after medical treatment with the written approval of a licensed physician or nurse practitioner, when the youth is not required to be in an infirmary for illness. 1357 USE OF FORCE The facility administrator, in cooperation with the Section 7.13.1 (E) Use of Force responsible physician, shall develop and implement written policies and procedures for the use of force, which may include chemical agents. Force shall never We reviewed 15 incidents involving the UF be applied as punishment, discipline, retaliation or within JDF, 13 involving the use of OC Spray treatment. and Room Confinement. All incidents involved (a) At a minimum, each facility shall develop policies and youth-on-youth assaults (mutual fights), procedures which: assaults to staff, or youth assaults. We found the staff response was compliant with regulation and each involved administrative review. ☒ ☐ ☐ The agency partners on site are able to medically clear youth after an incident, including decontamination, and initiation of mental health contact and/or referrals, if necessary, occurs spontaneously with any UF event. The agency has reduced the UF incidents from 273 in 2018, 177 in 2019, 114 in 2021, and 80 from January 2022 to July 2023. (1) restricts the use of force to that which is deemed reasonable and necessary, as defined in Section ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.3 (A) 1302 to ensure the safety and security of youth, staff, others and the facility. (2) outline the force options available to staff including both physical and non-physical options and define ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.2 Use of Force Options when those force options are appropriate. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 13 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (3) describe force options or techniques that are expressly prohibited by the facility. Section 7.13.9 Choke Holds ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.1(B) Section 7.14.5 (K) Positional Asphyxia (4) describe the requirements of staff to report any inappropriate use of force, and to take affirmative Section 7.13.3 (C) action to immediately stop it. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.14.2 (G) (5) define a standardized reporting format that includes time period and procedure for documenting Section 7.13.4 Reporting, Debriefing and and reporting the use of force, including reporting Notification requirements of management and line staff and procedures for reviewing and tracking use of force incidents by supervisory and or management staff, ☒ ☐ ☐ which include procedures for debriefing a particular incident with staff and/or youth for the purposes of training as well as mitigating the effects of trauma that may have been experienced by staff and /or the youth involved. (6) Include an administrative review and a system for investigating unreasonable use of force. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.4 (B) (7) define the role, notification, and follow-up procedures required after use of force incidents for ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.3 (C) medical, mental health staff and parents or legal guardians. Section 7.13.4 (D) (8) describe the limitations of use of force on pregnant youth in accordance with Penal Code Section 6030(f) Section 7.13.5 Limitations of Force on and Welfare and Institutions Code Section 222. ☒ ☐ ☐ Pregnant Youth (b) Facilities that authorize chemical agents as a force option shall include policies and procedures that: Section 7.13.6 Use of OC Spray (1) identify who is approved to carry and/or utilize ☒ ☐ ☐ chemical agents in the facility and the type, size and Section 7.13.6 (B) and (C) the approved method of deployment for those chemical agents. Section 7.13.6.4 (2) mandate that chemical agents only be used when there is an imminent threat to the youth’s safety or the ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 safety of others and only when de-escalation efforts have been unsuccessful or are not reasonably possible. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 14 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (3) outline the facility’s approved methods and timelines for decontamination from chemical agents. Section 7.13.6.5 Decontamination This shall include that youth who have been exposed ☒ ☐ ☐ to chemical agents shall not be left unattended until that youth is fully decontaminated or is no longer suffering the effects of the chemical agent. (4) define the role, notification, and follow-up procedures required after use of force incidents ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6.3 (J) involving chemical agents for medical, mental health staff and parents or legal guardians. Section 7.13.6.5 (A)(7) (5) provide for the documentation of each incident of use of chemical agents, including the reasons for Section 7.13.6.6 (A) Documentation which it was used, efforts to de-escalate prior to use, youth and staff involved, the date, time and location ☒ ☐ ☐ of use, decontamination procedures applied and identification of any injuries sustained as a result of such use. (c) Facilities shall develop policies and procedure which require that agencies provide initial and regular training Section 7.13.6 (D) in use of force and chemical agents when appropriate ☒ ☐ ☐ that address: Section 7.13.6 (D)(1) and (2) (1) known medical and behavioral health conditions that would contraindicate certain types of force; (2) acceptable chemical agents and the methods of application. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(3) (3) signs or symptoms that should result in immediate referral to medical or behavioral health. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(4) (4) instruction on the Constitutional Limitations of Use of Force. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(5) (5) physical training force options that may require the use of perishable skills. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(6) (6) timelines the facility uses to define regular training. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(6) 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 15 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1361 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE The facility administrator shall develop and implement Section 6.3.4 Institution Grievance written policies and procedures whereby any youth may Procedures appeal and have resolved grievances relating to any condition of confinement, including but not limited to health care services, classification decisions, program There have been 168 grievances filed facility- participation, telephone, mail or visiting procedures, wide thus far in 2024. We reviewed 65 of food, clothing, bedding, mistreatment, harassment or those, noting all but 19 were handled at the violations of the nondiscrimination policy. There shall be Lead Staff or IS level. Our review included 21 no time limit on filing grievances. Policies and JDF grievances from January, March, and procedures shall include provisions whereby the facility May 2024. manager ensures: ☒ ☐ ☐ We found the process overall was fair and consistent, with timely response and resolution. The responding staff continue to review any applicable resources to confirm the youth’s statements such as video review, incident review, and corresponding logs. The form and process are compliant and exceed regulation. (a) a grievance form and instructions for registering a grievance, which includes provisions for the youth to ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(1) have free access to the form; (b) the youth shall have the option to confidentially file the grievance or to deliver the form to any youth ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (F)(6) supervision staff working in the facility; (c) resolution of the grievance at the lowest appropriate staff level; ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)2) (d) provision for a prompt review and initial response to grievances within three (3) business days, grievances ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(3) and (A)(4) that relate to health and safety issues must be addressed immediately; (1) The youth may elect to be present to explain his/her version of the grievance to a person not ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(3)(a) directly involved in the circumstances which led to the grievance. (2) Provision for a staff representative approved by the facility administrator to assist the youth. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(3)(b) 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 16 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (e) provision for a written response to the grievance which includes the reasons for the decisions; ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(4) (f) a system which provides that any appeal of a grievance shall be heard by a person not directly ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(5) involved in the circumstances which led to the grievance; (g) resolution of the grievance must occur within ten (10) business days unless circumstances dictate a longer ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(6) time frame. The youth shall be notified of any delay; and, (h) the policy shall provide multiple internal and external methods to report sexual abuse and sexual harassment. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(7) Whether or not associated with a grievance, concerns of parents, guardians, staff or other parties shall be ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A) Last Paragraph addressed and documented in accordance with written policies and procedures within a specified timeframe. 1371 PROGRAMS, RECREATION, AND EXERCISE. Section 5.4 Recreation, Exercise and The facility administrator shall develop and implement Programs written policies and procedures for programs, recreation, and exercise for all youth. The intent is to Section 5.8 Facility Programs minimize the amount of time youth are in their rooms or their bed area. The agency has fully implemented GEO Services for Program facilitation, to include education-based curriculums on a wide array ☒ ☐ ☐ of youth-appropriate topics. Phoenix House and a Program Specialist provided structured and relevant programming through May 2024. Agency staff facilitate Directed Activities, which offer structured curriculum-based topics and is only used when a provider is unavailable. Precision Psychiatric Services is contracted as the Mental Health provider and provides individual and crisis counseling as well as assessment services. Juvenile facilities shall provide the opportunity for programs, recreation, and exercise a minimum of three Section 5.4 Recreation and Exercise hours a day during the week and five hours a day each Saturday, Sunday or other non-school days, of which ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 5.8 Facility Programs one hour shall be an outdoor activity, weather permitting. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 17 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS A youth’s participation in programs, recreation, and exercise may be suspended only upon a written finding Section 5.4 by the administrator/manager or designee that a youth ☒ ☐ ☐ represents a threat to the safety and security of the facility. Such program, recreation, and exercise schedule shall be posted in the living units. Section 5.4 ☒ ☐ ☐ The unit schedule is posted in each living unit. There will be a written annual review of the programs, recreation, and exercise by the responsible agency to Section 5.4 ensure content offered is current, consistent, and relevant to the population. ☒ ☐ ☐ The annual evaluation was completed by Supervising Probation Officer Chris Cooke on July 11, 2024. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 18 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (a) Programs. All youth shall be provided with the opportunity for at least one hour of daily programming to Section 5.4.8 Facility Programs include, but not be limited to, trauma focused, cognitive, evidence-based, best practice interventions that are culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate, or pro- social interventions and activities designed to reduce The facility provides programming and recidivism. These programs should be based on the services to meet the various needs of its youth youth’s individual needs as required by Sections 1355 population. Programs are facilitated by and 1356. Such programs may be provided under the probation staff, Precision Psychiatric Service direction of the Chief Probation Officer or the County Clinicians (Alcohol and Drug Counseling), the Office of Education and can be administered by county TCOE, and GEO Program facilitators. partners such as mental health agencies, community Precision’s role is to provide individual and based organizations, faith-based organizations or crisis counseling as well as initial mental Probation staff. health assessments. The GEO Program’s responsibilities include monitoring and Programs may include but are not limited to: implementing education/curriculum-based programs in the facility as well as evaluating (1) Cognitive Behavior Interventions; them for fidelity. (2) Management of Stress and Trauma; (3) Anger Management; Programs include: Coping and Support (4) Conflict Resolution; Training (CAST) through the TCOE Mental ☒ ☐ ☐ Wellness Service Team; Aggression (5) Juvenile Justice System; Replacement Training (Precision); Alcohol and Drug Education and Counseling – (6) Trauma-related interventions; including Living in Balance, Stages of (7) Victim Awareness; Change, and Seeking Safety; Adolescent Sexual Responsibility Program (ASRP) (8) Self-Improvement; through TC Youth Services Bureau; (9) Parenting Skills and support; Readiness for Employment through Sustainable Education and Training (RESET); (10) Tolerance and Diversity; Individual, Crisis and Psychiatric Services through Precision Mental Health; Physical (11) Healing Informed Approaches; Training Program; Youth Leaders Club; and (12) Interventions by Credible Messengers; Vocational Ed through the TCOE. (13) Gender Specific Programming; (14) Art, creative writing, or self-expression; All youth will have the use of tablets in the unit in the coming month through NCIC. (15) CPR and First Aid training; (16) Restorative Justice or Civic Engagement; (17) Career and leadership opportunities; and, (18) Other topics suitable to the youth population. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 19 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (b) Recreation. All youth shall be provided the opportunity for at least one hour of daily access to unscheduled Section 5.4 activities such as leisure reading, letter writing, and entertainment. Activities shall be supervised and include orientation and may include coaching of youth. ☒ ☐ ☐ Recreation Programs include reading, writing, entertainment, television, radio, music, video, and games. (c) Exercise. All youth shall be provided with the opportunity for at least one hour of large muscle activity Section 5.4 each day. ☒ ☐ ☐ The facility has a structured Physical Training program to ensure youth are exercising and participating in large muscle exercise daily. The administrator/manager may suspend, for a period not to exceed 24 hours, access to recreation and programs. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 5.4 The administrator/manager shall document the reasons why suspension of recreation and programs occurs. 7703 Tulare Juvenile Detention Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 20 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 JUVENILE HALLS, SPECIAL PURPOSE JUVENILE HALLS AND CAMPS Board of State and Community Corrections PROCEDURES CHECKLIST1 BSCC Code: 7704 FACILITY NAME: Tulare County Youth Detention Facility Camp (YDFC) FACILITY TYPE: CAMP PERSON(S) INTERVIEWED: Kelly Vernon, Chief Probation Officer; Mike Santos, Chief Deputy Probation Officer; Greg Powers, Division Manager; Chris Cooke, Supervision Probation Officer – Programs; Megan Ellison, SPO – Kitchen, Laundry, Medical/Behavior Health; Jarrod Kerrigan – SPO Youth and Staff; Youth: Brandon, age 18 – Camp Short Term; Ivan, age 18 – Long Term Camp; Jonathan, age 20 – SYTF; Zerena, age 17 – Detention pending Mid Term FIELD REPRESENTATIVE: Elizabeth Gong DATE: July 15, 2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1321 STAFFING Each juvenile facility shall: Section 2.1(F)(1) (a) have an adequate number of personnel sufficient to carry out the overall facility operation and its programming, to provide for safety and security of youth The Juvenile Facilities (JF) have one Division and staff, and meet established standards and Manager, three Supervising Probation regulations; Officers, 11 Institution Supervisors (three vacant), four Probation Corrections Officer (PCO) III’s, 45 Probation Corrections Officer I/II’s, four transportation staff, six Intake officers, 13 Detention Services Officers, and ten kitchen and laundry staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Agency-wide, there are 43 vacant PCO I/II/III positions and 13 on a long-term Leave of Absence (LOA). There are eight PCO staff beginning Core Training which will increase line staff to make up for four PCO’s recently promoted to Probation Officer. All current PCO’s are core trained. Due to the shortages, the agency has a process in place for mandatory overtime. The Deputy Probation Officers (DPO) have been mandated to work three shifts per pay period. The DPO schedule is based on seniority. Of the 85 DPO staff, half 1 This document is intended for use as a tool during the targeted inspection process; this worksheet may not contain each Title 15 regulation that is required. Additionally, many regulations on this worksheet are SUMMARIES of the regulation; the text on this worksheet may not contain the entire text of the actual regulation. Please refer to the complete California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Minimum Standards for Juvenile Facilities, Division 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter 5 for the complete list and text of regulations. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 1 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS are core trained and the remainder are beginning cross-over Core Training. (b) ensure that no required services shall be denied because of insufficient numbers of staff on duty absent ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(F)(2) exigent circumstances; (c) have a sufficient number of supervisory level staff to ensure adequate supervision of all staff members; Section 2.1(F)(3) ☒ ☐ ☐ There is a minimum of one Institutional Supervisor (IS) on duty at all times, however, since the IS works 12-hour shifts, there are typically two on duty each shift. (d) have a clearly identified person on duty at all times who is responsible for operations and activities and has ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(F)(4) completed the Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course and PC 832 training; (e) have at least one staff member present on each living unit whenever there are youth in the living unit; ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(F)(5) (f) have sufficient food service personnel relative to the number and security of living units, including staff Section 2.1(F)(6) qualified and available to: plan menus meeting nutritional requirements of youth; provide kitchen supervision; direct ☒ ☐ ☐ food preparation and servings; conduct related training programs for culinary staff; and maintain necessary There is a Food Services Manager, six cooks, records; or, a facility may serve food that meets nutritional a stock clerk/Warehouse staff, and three standards prepared by an outside source; laundry technicians assigned to the facility. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 2 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (g) have sufficient administrative, clerical, recreational, medical, dental, mental health, building maintenance, Section 2.1(F)(7) transportation, control room, facility security and other support staff for the efficient management of the facility, and to ensure that youth supervision staff shall not be diverted from supervising youth; and, The facility is sufficiently staffed for their population. There is a new Medical Provider, Integrated Wellness Solutions, which is affiliated with Precision Psychiatric Services via Kaweah Hospital, which provides Mental Health Services. Medical staff are on site 24 ☒ ☐ ☐ hours a day, seven days a week. Mental Health is on site seven days a week as well, with on-call crisis care available 24 hours a day. GEO Program Services is new to the facility and, once transitioned, will have a Program Supervisor and three Program Facilitators. There is sufficient staff to ensure no services for the youth population are diverted from youth supervision staff responsibilities. (h) assign sufficient youth supervision staff to provide continuous wide awake supervision of youth, subject to Section 2.1(F)(8) temporary variations in staff assignments to meet special ☒ ☐ ☐ program needs. Staffing shall be in compliance with a minimum youth-staff ratio for the following facility types: (1) Juvenile Halls (A) during the hours that youth are awake, one ☐ ☐ ☒ This facility is not a Juvenile Hall. wide-awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 10 youth in detention; (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☐ ☐ ☒ youth supervision staff member on duty for each 30 youth in detention; (C) at least two wide-awake youth supervision staff members on duty at all times, regardless of the number of youth in detention, unless an ☐ ☐ ☒ arrangement has been made for backup support services which allow for immediate response to emergencies; and, (D) at least one youth supervision staff member on duty who is the same gender as youth housed in ☐ ☐ ☒ the facility. (E) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☐ ☐ ☒ kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 3 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (2) Special Purpose Juvenile Halls (A) during hours that youth are awake, one wide- ☐ ☐ ☒ The Youth Detention Facility Camp is not a awake youth supervision staff member on duty for SPJH. each 10 youth in detention; (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☐ ☐ ☒ youth supervision staff member on duty for each 30 youth in detention; (C) at least two wide-awake youth supervision staff members on duty at all times, regardless of the number of youth in detention, unless an ☐ ☐ ☒ arrangement has been made for backup support services which allow for immediate response to emergencies; and, (D) at least one youth supervision staff member on duty who is the same gender as youth housed in ☐ ☐ ☒ the facility. (E) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☐ ☐ ☒ kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. (3) Camps (A) during the hours that youth are awake, one Section 2.1(B) wide-awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 15 youth in the camp population; The Youth Detention Facility is a Camp program, housing Short and Mid-Term ☒ ☐ ☐ commitments. On the day of the inspection, there were 13 male youth in the program and one female youth. The male youth are housed in Pod 2, Unit B. The sole female youth is housed with the Gen Pop females in Pod 5. (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(C) youth supervision staff member on duty for each 30 youth present in the facility; 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 4 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (C) at least two wide-awake youth supervision staff members on duty at all times, regardless of the Section 2.1 number of youth in residence, unless arrangements have been made for backup support services which allow for immediate response to emergencies; ☒ ☐ ☐ We reviewed the staff schedules and roster, noting there are at minimum eight staff on duty during the sleeping hours, well beyond the minimum required ratio. (D) at least one youth supervision staff member on duty who is the same gender as youth housed in ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(D) the facility; (E) in addition to the minimum staff to youth ratio required in (h)(3)(A)-(B), consideration shall be Section 2.1(H) given to the size, design, and location of the camp; types of youth committed to the camp; and the ☒ ☐ ☐ function of the camp in determining the level of supervision necessary to maintain the safety and welfare of youth and staff; (F) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of Section 2.1(G) personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☒ ☐ ☐ farm, forestry, kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 5 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1328 SAFETY CHECKS The facility administrator shall develop and implement Section 3.4.1 (B) Unit Shift Logs policy and procedures that provide for direct visual observation of youth at a minimum of every 15 minutes, Section 3.4.3 (A) Guard 1 Visual Cell Safety at random or varied intervals during hours when youth Checks are asleep or when youth are in their rooms, confined in holding cells or confined to their bed in a dormitory. Supervision is not replaced, but may be supplemented We reviewed safety checks for the months of by, an audio/visual electronic surveillance system January, March, and May 2024. Our review designed to detect overt, aggressive or assaultive revealed the agency switched the tool to behavior and to summon aid in emergencies. All safety complete the checks in a series of moves for checks shall be documented with the actual time the improvements to Pods 1, 2, and 5. All check is completed. upgrades were completed in March. We found the checks to be random and ☒ ☐ ☐ varied, mostly between 9-13 minutes. Checks on the graveyard for some days in January were found to be at 14- and 15-minute intervals, with a variance of a 9-13-minute checks during the shift. This was on very few instances in 1-2 units. With the new system, the checks were found to be varied and random as expected in regulation. The agency has a process in place for auditing these checks and has a part-time IS working on this quality assurance exercise. The agency hopes to dedicate a full-time IS for auditing more than just safety checks. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 6 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1329 SUICIDE PREVENTION PLAN The facility administrator, in collaboration with the Section 8.14 Suicide Recognition and healthcare and behavioral/mental health administrators, Prevention shall plan and implement written policies and procedures which delineate a Suicide Prevention Plan. The plan JMH-G-04 Precision Psychiatric Services shall consider the needs of youth experiencing past or Manual current trauma. Suicide prevention responses shall be respectful and in the least invasive manner consistent with the level of suicide risk. The plan shall include the Since January 2024, the agency has had 17 following elements: incidents of suicidal statements and gestures and one suicide attempt. Two of the incidents involved YDFC youth. We reviewed the Precision response to these incidents, accompanied by medical responses, and found there were 46 immediate and follow-up contacts with the youth for determining classification and supervision status. All agency partners responded per policy and met the requirements in regulation, objectives in policy, and a consolidated approach in ☒ ☐ ☐ practice. The facility plan continues to articulate the operational procedures to follow for suicide events. Directives provide informative triggers for staff to be aware of, which is supported by 24/7 medical staff on site, on-site mental health services seven days a week with Precision Psychiatric Services, and on-call services shared with the jail across the street after hours. Our review of the Precision Manual and Policy as it relates to Suicide Prevention articulates communication with on-site Medical staff for determination of watch levels pending review from Precision staff. If on-site, they respond immediately, evidenced by the incident reports reviewed, or as soon as possible if on-call. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 7 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (a) Suicide prevention training as required in Section 1322, Youth Supervision Staff Orientation, and Training Section 8.14.1 and the Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course. All staff receive Suicide Prevention Training in ☒ ☐ ☐ Core and annually. Staff assigned to the Intake unit receive additional training for screening and recognizing if a youth is at risk for suicide or self-harm. (b) Screening, Identification Assessment and Precautionary Protocols Section 8.14 (A)(1) (1) All youth shall be screened for risk of suicide at intake and as needed during detention. The facility completes numerous assessments and screening of youth by probation, medical, ☒ ☐ ☐ and mental health staff at admission. The MAYSI, medical screening, and referral to mental health for assessment articulate risks at admission. We reviewed timelines for the intake implementation of the MAYSI upon admission. (2) All youth supervision staff who perform intake processes shall be trained in screening youth for risk ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.1 of suicide. (3) All youth who have been identified during the intake screening process to be at risk of suicide shall ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14 (A)(1) and (2) be referred to behavioral/mental health staff for a suicide risk assessment. Section 4.3.4 (A)(6) (4) Precautionary protocols shall be developed to ensure the youth’s safety pending the Section 8.14 (A)(4) behavioral/mental health assessment. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 4.3.1 (10) (c) Referral process to behavioral/mental health staff for assessment and/or services. Section 8.14 ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.2.3 (C) Section 4.3.4 (A)(6) 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 8 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (d) Procedures for monitoring of youth identified at risk for suicide. Section 8.14. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 4.3.1 (10) (e) Safety Interventions (1) Procedures to address intervention protocols for Section 8.14.5 (A) and (D) youth identified at risk for suicide which may ☒ ☐ ☐ include, but are not limited to: (A) Housing consideration (B) Treatment strategies including trauma- informed approaches ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.5 (A)(11) (2) Procedures to instruct youth supervision staff how to respond to youth who exhibit suicidal behaviors. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4 (A) and (B) (f) Communication (1) The intake process shall include communication Section 4.3.2 (C) with the arresting officer and family guardians regarding the youth’s past or present suicidal ideations, behaviors or attempts. ☒ ☐ ☐ The intake unit is adjacent to the Medical and Mental Health offices, allowing for constant and timely communication. (2) Procedures for clear and current information sharing about youth at risk for suicide with youth Section 8.14 (A) supervision, healthcare, and behavioral/mental health staff. All agency partners communicate daily regarding any youth presenting suicidal behaviors. Medical staff, under the same umbrella company as Precision, take the lead ☒ ☐ ☐ as they are on site all hours each day. Precision Psychiatric Services and GEO Program staff are designated to communicate in the contracts we reviewed. Incidents revealed this to occur in a coordinated approach to youth behavior, response, and follow-up. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 9 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (g) Debriefing of Critical Incidents Related to Suicides or Attempts Section 8.14.4 (D)(1) (1) Process for administrative review of the ☒ ☐ ☐ circumstances and responses proceeding, during and after the critical incident. (2) Process for a debriefing event with affected staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4 (D)(2) (3) Process for a debriefing event with affected youth. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4(D)(3) (h) Documentation (1) Documentation processes shall be developed to Section 8.14.0 (A)(1) ensure compliance with this regulation ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4 (D)(4) Youth identified at risk for suicide shall not be denied the opportunity to participate in facility programs, services Section 8.14.5 (J) and activities which are available to other non-suicidal youth, unless deemed necessary for the safety of the ☒ ☐ ☐ youth or security of the facility. Any deprivation of programs, services or activities for youth at risk of suicide shall be documented and approved by the facility manager. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 10 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1354.5 ROOM CONFINEMENT (a) The facility administrator shall develop and Section 6.6 (A) Room Confinement (RC) implement written policies and procedures addressing the confinement of youth in their room that are consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code Section We reviewed 37 incident reports regarding 208.3. The placement of a youth in room confinement youth placed on RC this year, ten involving shall be accomplished in accordance with the following youth in YDFC. Our evaluation revealed guidelines: compliance with regulation, noting the agency requires a 2-hour review of all youth on RC to plan for reintegration. The placement included assaultive behavior, one with staff, and verbal threats or aggressive defiance. ☒ ☐ ☐ The process for documenting behavior checks, reviewing the need to continue, and the length of time on RC were detailed and informative. The RC log outlines the youth’s behavior at the time of the check as well as contact with staff and partners. The IS and SPO make every effort to reintegrate the youth into normal programming the day of or, if the incident occurred late on shift, the day following the incident. (1) Room confinement shall not be used before other, less restrictive, options have been attempted Section 6.6 (B)(1) and exhausted, unless attempting those options ☒ ☐ ☐ poses a threat to the safety or security of any youth or staff. (2) Room confinement shall not be used for the purposes of punishment, coercion, convenience, or ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (B)(2) retaliation by staff. (3) Room confinement shall not be used to the extent that it compromises the mental and physical health ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (B)(3) of the youth. (b) A youth may be held up to four hours in room confinement. After the youth has been held in room ☒ ☐ ☐ confinement for a period of four hours, staff shall do one or more of the following: (1) Return the youth to general population. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (F) 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 11 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (2) Consult with mental health or medical staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (H) (3) Develop an individualized plan that includes the goals and objectives to be met in order to reintegrate ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (G)(2) the youth to general population. (4) If room confinement must be extended beyond four hours, staff shall do each of the following: Section 6.6 (G)(1) (A) Document the reasons for room confinement and the basis for the extension, the date and time ☒ ☐ ☐ the youth was first placed in room confinement, and when he or she is eventually released from room confinement. (B) Develop an individualized plan that includes the goals and objectives to be met in order to ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (G)(2) integrate the youth to general population. (C) Obtain documented authorization by the facility superintendent or his or her designee ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (G)(3) every four hours thereafter. (5) This section is not intended to limit the use of single-person rooms or cells for the housing of youth ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (I) in juvenile facilities and does not apply to normal sleeping hours. (6) This section does not apply to youth or wards in ☒ ☐ ☐ court holding facilities or adult facilities. (7) Nothing in this section shall be construed to conflict with any law providing greater or additional ☒ ☐ ☐ protections to youth. (8) This section does not apply during an extraordinary emergency circumstance that requires Section 6.6 (I) Paragraph #1 a significant departure from normal institutional operations, including a natural disaster or facility- ☒ ☐ ☐ wide threat that poses an imminent and substantial risk of harm to multiple staff or youth. This exception shall apply for the shortest amount of time needed to address this imminent and substantial risk of harm. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 12 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (9) This section does not apply when a youth is placed in a locked cell or sleeping room to treat and Section 6.6 (I) Paragraph #2 protect against the spread of a communicable disease for the shortest amount of time required to reduce the risk of infection, with the written approval of a licensed physician or nurse practitioner, when the youth is not required to be in an infirmary for an ☒ ☐ ☐ illness. Additionally, this section does not apply when a youth is placed in a locked cell or sleeping room for required extended care after medical treatment with the written approval of a licensed physician or nurse practitioner, when the youth is not required to be in an infirmary for illness. 1357 USE OF FORCE The facility administrator, in cooperation with the Section 7.13.1 (E) Use of Force (UF) responsible physician, shall develop and implement written policies and procedures for the use of force, which may include chemical agents. Force shall never We reviewed 33 incidents involving the UF be applied as punishment, discipline, retaliation or facility-wide, nine of which were at the YDFC. treatment. All incidents involved youth-on-youth assaults (a) At a minimum, each facility shall develop policies and (mutual fights) or youth assaults. We found procedures which: the staff response was compliant with regulation and each involved administrative review. ☒ ☐ ☐ The agency partners on site are able to medically clear youth after an incident, including decontamination, and initiation of mental health contact and/or referrals, if necessary, occur spontaneously with any UF event. The agency has reduced the UF incidents from 273 in 2018, 177 in 2019, 114 in 2021, and 80 from January 2022 to July 2023. (1) restricts the use of force to that which is deemed reasonable and necessary, as defined in Section ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.3 (A) 1302 to ensure the safety and security of youth, staff, others and the facility. (2) outline the force options available to staff including both physical and non-physical options and define ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.2 Use of Force Options when those force options are appropriate. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 13 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (3) describe force options or techniques that are expressly prohibited by the facility. Section 7.13.9 Choke Holds ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.1(B) Section 7.14.5 (K) Positional Asphyxia (4) describe the requirements of staff to report any inappropriate use of force, and to take affirmative Section 7.13.3 (C) action to immediately stop it. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.14.2 (G) (5) define a standardized reporting format that includes time period and procedure for documenting Section 7.13.4 Reporting, Debriefing and and reporting the use of force, including reporting Notification requirements of management and line staff and procedures for reviewing and tracking use of force incidents by supervisory and or management staff, ☒ ☐ ☐ which include procedures for debriefing a particular incident with staff and/or youth for the purposes of training as well as mitigating the effects of trauma that may have been experienced by staff and /or the youth involved. (6) Include an administrative review and a system for investigating unreasonable use of force. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.4 (B) (7) define the role, notification, and follow-up procedures required after use of force incidents for ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.3 (C) medical, mental health staff and parents or legal guardians. Section 7.13.4 (D) (8) describe the limitations of use of force on pregnant youth in accordance with Penal Code Section 6030(f) Section 7.13.5 Limitations of Force on and Welfare and Institutions Code Section 222. ☒ ☐ ☐ Pregnant Youth (b) Facilities that authorize chemical agents as a force option shall include policies and procedures that: Section 7.13.6 Use of OC Spray (1) identify who is approved to carry and/or utilize ☒ ☐ ☐ chemical agents in the facility and the type, size and Section 7.13.6 (B) and (C) the approved method of deployment for those chemical agents. Section 7.13.6.4 (2) mandate that chemical agents only be used when there is an imminent threat to the youth’s safety or the ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 safety of others and only when de-escalation efforts have been unsuccessful or are not reasonably possible. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 14 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (3) outline the facility’s approved methods and timelines for decontamination from chemical agents. Section 7.13.6.5 Decontamination This shall include that youth who have been exposed ☒ ☐ ☐ to chemical agents shall not be left unattended until that youth is fully decontaminated or is no longer suffering the effects of the chemical agent. (4) define the role, notification, and follow-up procedures required after use of force incidents ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6.3 (J) involving chemical agents for medical, mental health staff and parents or legal guardians. Section 7.13.6.5 (A)(7) (5) provide for the documentation of each incident of use of chemical agents, including the reasons for Section 7.13.6.6 (A) Documentation which it was used, efforts to de-escalate prior to use, youth and staff involved, the date, time and location ☒ ☐ ☐ of use, decontamination procedures applied and identification of any injuries sustained as a result of such use. (c) Facilities shall develop policies and procedure which require that agencies provide initial and regular training Section 7.13.6 (D) in use of force and chemical agents when appropriate ☒ ☐ ☐ that address: Section 7.13.6 (D)(1) and (2) (1) known medical and behavioral health conditions that would contraindicate certain types of force; (2) acceptable chemical agents and the methods of application. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(3) (3) signs or symptoms that should result in immediate referral to medical or behavioral health. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(4) (4) instruction on the Constitutional Limitations of Use of Force. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(5) (5) physical training force options that may require the use of perishable skills. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(6) (6) timelines the facility uses to define regular training. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(6) 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 15 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1361 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE The facility administrator shall develop and implement Section 6.3.4 Institution Grievance written policies and procedures whereby any youth may Procedures appeal and have resolved grievances relating to any condition of confinement, including but not limited to health care services, classification decisions, program There have been 168 grievances filed facility- participation, telephone, mail or visiting procedures, wide thus far in 2024. All but 19 were handled food, clothing, bedding, mistreatment, harassment or at the lead staff and IS level. Our review violations of the nondiscrimination policy. There shall be included 16 grievances from the YDFC for the no time limit on filing grievances. Policies and months of January, March, and May 2024. procedures shall include provisions whereby the facility ☒ ☐ ☐ manager ensures: We found the process fair and consistent with timely response and resolution. The responding staff continue to review any applicable resources to confirm the youth’s statements such as video review, incident review, and corresponding logs. The form and process are compliant and exceed regulation. (a) a grievance form and instructions for registering a grievance, which includes provisions for the youth to ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(1) have free access to the form; (b) the youth shall have the option to confidentially file the grievance or to deliver the form to any youth ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (F)(6) supervision staff working in the facility; (c) resolution of the grievance at the lowest appropriate staff level; ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)2) (d) provision for a prompt review and initial response to grievances within three (3) business days, grievances ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(3) and (A)(4) that relate to health and safety issues must be addressed immediately; (1) The youth may elect to be present to explain his/her version of the grievance to a person not ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(3)(a) directly involved in the circumstances which led to the grievance. (2) Provision for a staff representative approved by the facility administrator to assist the youth. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(3)(b) (e) provision for a written response to the grievance which includes the reasons for the decisions; ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(4) 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 16 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (f) a system which provides that any appeal of a grievance shall be heard by a person not directly ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(5) involved in the circumstances which led to the grievance; (g) resolution of the grievance must occur within ten (10) business days unless circumstances dictate a longer ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(6) time frame. The youth shall be notified of any delay; and, (h) the policy shall provide multiple internal and external methods to report sexual abuse and sexual harassment. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(7) Whether or not associated with a grievance, concerns of parents, guardians, staff or other parties shall be ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A) Last Paragraph addressed and documented in accordance with written policies and procedures within a specified timeframe. 1371 PROGRAMS, RECREATION, AND EXERCISE. Section 5.4 Recreation, Exercise and The facility administrator shall develop and implement Programs written policies and procedures for programs, recreation, and exercise for all youth. The intent is to Section 5.8 Facility Programs minimize the amount of time youth are in their rooms or their bed area. The agency is transitioning to GEO for Program facilitation, to include education- based curriculums on a wide array of youth- ☒ ☐ ☐ appropriate topics. Phoenix House and a Program Specialist provided structured and relevant programming through May 2024. Agency staff facilitate Directed Activities, which offers structured curriculum-based topics and is only used when a provider is unavailable. Precision Psychiatric Services is contracted as the Mental Health provider and provides individual and crisis counseling as well as assessment services. Juvenile facilities shall provide the opportunity for programs, recreation, and exercise a minimum of three Section 5.4 Recreation and Exercise hours a day during the week and five hours a day each Saturday, Sunday or other non-school days, of which ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 5.8 Facility Programs one hour shall be an outdoor activity, weather permitting. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 17 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS A youth’s participation in programs, recreation, and exercise may be suspended only upon a written finding Section 5.4 by the administrator/manager or designee that a youth ☒ ☐ ☐ represents a threat to the safety and security of the facility. Such program, recreation, and exercise schedule shall be posted in the living units. Section 5.4 ☒ ☐ ☐ The unit schedule is posted in each living unit. There will be a written annual review of the programs, recreation, and exercise by the responsible agency to Section 5.4 ensure content offered is current, consistent, and relevant to the population. ☒ ☐ ☐ The annual evaluation was completed by Supervising Probation Officer Chris Cooke on July 11, 2024. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 18 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 (a) Programs. All youth shall be provided with the opportunity for at least one hour of daily programming to Section 5.4.8 Facility Programs include, but not be limited to, trauma focused, cognitive, evidence-based, best practice interventions that are culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate, or pro- social interventions and activities designed to reduce The facility provides programming and recidivism. These programs should be based on the services to meet the various needs of their youth’s individual needs as required by Sections 1355 youth population. Programs are facilitated by and 1356. Such programs may be provided under the probation staff, Precision Psychiatric Service direction of the Chief Probation Officer or the County Clinicians (Alcohol and Drug Counseling), the Office of Education and can be administered by county TCOE, and GEO Program facilitators. partners such as mental health agencies, community Precision’s role is to provide individual and based organizations, faith-based organizations or crisis counseling as well as initial mental Probation staff. health assessments. The GEO Program’s responsibilities include monitoring and Programs may include but are not limited to: implementing education/curriculum-based programs in the facility as well as evaluating (1) Cognitive Behavior Interventions; them for fidelity. (2) Management of Stress and Trauma; (3) Anger Management; Programs include: Coping and Support (4) Conflict Resolution; Training (CAST) through the TCOE Mental Wellness Service Team; Aggression (5) Juvenile Justice System; Replacement Training (Precision); Alcohol and Drug Education and Counseling – (6) Trauma-related interventions; including Living in Balance, Stages of (7) Victim Awareness; Change, and Seeking Safety; Adolescent ☒ ☐ ☐ Sexual Responsibility Program (ASRP) (8) Self-Improvement; through TC Youth Services Bureau; (9) Parenting Skills and support; Readiness for Employment through Sustainable Education and Training (RESET); (10) Tolerance and Diversity; Individual, Crisis, and Psychiatric Services through Precision Mental Health; Physical (11) Healing Informed Approaches; Training Program; and the Youth Leaders (12) Interventions by Credible Messengers; Club. (13) Gender Specific Programming; (14) Art, creative writing, or self-expression; Additional upcoming activities for Camp and SYTF youth include a Dog Training Program, (15) CPR and First Aid training; which is long-term training for Veterans and Law Enforcement needing a Service Animal. (16) Restorative Justice or Civic Engagement; (17) Career and leadership opportunities; and, All youth will have the use of tablets in the unit (18) Other topics suitable to the youth population. in the coming month through NCIC. The Vocational Program from TCOE is provided to the youth in both Camp Programs and will be available for SYTF youth when the pending fence project is complete. Lastly, CTE opportunities in addition to the Voc Ed component are coming in September with the addition of Audio Engineering and Culinary. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 19 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS This is a joint project between Probation and TCOE. (b) Recreation. All youth shall be provided the opportunity for at least one hour of daily access to unscheduled Section 5.4 activities such as leisure reading, letter writing, and entertainment. Activities shall be supervised and include orientation and may include coaching of youth. ☒ ☐ ☐ Recreation Programs include reading, writing, entertainment, television, radio, music, video, and games. (c) Exercise. All youth shall be provided with the opportunity for at least one hour of large muscle activity Section 5.4 each day. ☒ ☐ ☐ The facility has a structured Physical Training program to ensure youth are exercising and participating in large muscle exercise daily. The administrator/manager may suspend, for a period not to exceed 24 hours, access to recreation and programs. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 5.4 The administrator/manager shall document the reasons why suspension of recreation and programs occurs. 7704 Tulare Youth Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 20 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 JUVENILE HALLS, SPECIAL PURPOSE JUVENILE HALLS AND CAMPS Board of State and Community Corrections PROCEDURES CHECKLIST1 BSCC Code: 7707 FACILITY NAME: Tulare County Secure Youth Treatment Facility FACILITY TYPE: SYTF PERSON(S) INTERVIEWED: Kelly Vernon, Chief Probation Officer; Mike Santos, Chief Deputy Probation Officer; Greg Powers, Division Manager; Chris Cooke, Supervision Probation Officer – Programs; Megan Ellison, SPO – Kitchen, Laundry, Medical/Behavior Health; Jarrod Kerrigan – SPO Youth and Staff; Youth: Brandon, age 18 – Camp Short Term; Ivan, age 18 – Long Term Camp; Jonathan, age 20 – SYTF; Zerena, age 17 – Detention pending Mid Term FIELD REPRESENTATIVE: Elizabeth Gong DATE: July 15, 2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1321 STAFFING Each juvenile facility shall: Section 2.1(F)(1) (a) have an adequate number of personnel sufficient to carry out the overall facility operation and its programming, to provide for safety and security of youth The Juvenile Facilities (JF) have one Division and staff, and meet established standards and Manager, three Supervising Probation regulations; Officers, 11 Institution Supervisors (three vacant), four Probation Corrections Officer (PCO) III’s, 45 Probation Corrections Officer I/II’s, four transportation staff, six Intake officers, 13 Detention Services Officers, and ten kitchen and laundry staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Agency-wide, there are 43 vacant PCO I/II/III positions and 13 on a long-term Leave of Absence (LOA). There are eight PCO staff beginning Core Training which will increase line staff to make up for four PCO’s recently promoted to Probation Officer. All current PCO’s are core trained. Due to the shortages, the agency has a process in place for mandatory overtime. The Deputy Probation Officers (DPO) have been mandated to work three shifts per pay period. The DPO schedule is based on seniority. Of the 85 DPO staff, half 1 This document is intended for use as a tool during the targeted inspection process; this worksheet may not contain each Title 15 regulation that is required. Additionally, many regulations on this worksheet are SUMMARIES of the regulation; the text on this worksheet may not contain the entire text of the actual regulation. Please refer to the complete California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Minimum Standards for Juvenile Facilities, Division 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter 5 for the complete list and text of regulations. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 1 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS are core trained and the remainder are beginning cross-over Core Training. (b) ensure that no required services shall be denied because of insufficient numbers of staff on duty absent ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(F)(2) exigent circumstances; (c) have a sufficient number of supervisory level staff to ensure adequate supervision of all staff members; Section 2.1(F)(3) ☒ ☐ ☐ There is a minimum of one Institutional Supervisor (IS) on duty at all times, however, since the IS works 12-hour shifts, there are typically two on duty each shift. (d) have a clearly identified person on duty at all times who is responsible for operations and activities and has ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(F)(4) completed the Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course and PC 832 training; (e) have at least one staff member present on each living unit whenever there are youth in the living unit; ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(F)(5) (f) have sufficient food service personnel relative to the number and security of living units, including staff Section 2.1(F)(6) qualified and available to: plan menus meeting nutritional requirements of youth; provide kitchen supervision; direct ☒ ☐ ☐ food preparation and servings; conduct related training programs for culinary staff; and maintain necessary There is a Food Services Manager, six cooks, records; or, a facility may serve food that meets nutritional a stock clerk/Warehouse staff, and three standards prepared by an outside source; laundry technicians assigned to the facility. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 2 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (g) have sufficient administrative, clerical, recreational, medical, dental, mental health, building maintenance, Section 2.1(F)(7) transportation, control room, facility security and other support staff for the efficient management of the facility, and to ensure that youth supervision staff shall not be diverted from supervising youth; and, The facility is sufficiently staffed for its population. There is a new Medical Provider, Integrated Wellness Solutions, which is affiliated with Precision Psychiatric Services via Kaweah Hospital, which provides Mental Health Services. Medical staff are on site 24 ☒ ☐ ☐ hours a day, seven days a week. Mental Health is on site seven days a week as well, with on-call crisis care available 24 hours a day. GEO Program Services is new to the facility and, once transitioned, will have a Program Supervisor and three Program Facilitators. There is sufficient staff to ensure no services for the youth population are diverted from youth supervision staff responsibilities. (h) assign sufficient youth supervision staff to provide continuous wide awake supervision of youth, subject to Section 2.1(F)(8) temporary variations in staff assignments to meet special ☒ ☐ ☐ program needs. Staffing shall be in compliance with a minimum youth-staff ratio for the following facility types: (1) Juvenile Halls (A) during the hours that youth are awake, one Section 2.1 (B) wide-awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 10 youth in detention; SYTF occupies POD 2, Unit B in the facility. ☒ ☐ ☐ There were nine youth committed to SYTF on the day of the inspection. The SYTF population is compliant with the 1:10 ratio for Juvenile Halls. (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(C) youth supervision staff member on duty for each 30 youth in detention; 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 3 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (C) at least two wide-awake youth supervision staff members on duty at all times, regardless of the Section 2.1 number of youth in detention, unless an arrangement has been made for backup support services which allow for immediate response to emergencies; and, ☒ ☐ ☐ We reviewed the staff schedules and roster, noting there are at minimum eight staff on duty during sleeping hours, well beyond the minimum required ratio. (D) at least one youth supervision staff member on duty who is the same gender as youth housed in ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(D) the facility. (E) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of Section 2.1(G) personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☒ ☐ ☐ kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. (2) Special Purpose Juvenile Halls (A) during hours that youth are awake, one wide- ☐ ☐ ☒ SYTF is not a SPJH. awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 10 youth in detention; (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☐ ☐ ☒ youth supervision staff member on duty for each 30 youth in detention; (C) at least two wide-awake youth supervision staff members on duty at all times, regardless of the number of youth in detention, unless an ☐ ☐ ☒ arrangement has been made for backup support services which allow for immediate response to emergencies; and, (D) at least one youth supervision staff member on duty who is the same gender as youth housed in ☐ ☐ ☒ the facility. (E) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☐ ☐ ☒ kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. (3) Camps (A) during the hours that youth are awake, one ☐ ☐ ☒ SYTF is not a Camp. wide-awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 15 youth in the camp population; 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 4 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☐ ☐ ☒ youth supervision staff member on duty for each 30 youth present in the facility; (C) at least two wide-awake youth supervision staff members on duty at all times, regardless of the number of youth in residence, unless ☐ ☐ ☒ arrangements have been made for backup support services which allow for immediate response to emergencies; (D) at least one youth supervision staff member on duty who is the same gender as youth housed in ☐ ☐ ☒ the facility; (E) in addition to the minimum staff to youth ratio required in (h)(3)(A)-(B), consideration shall be given to the size, design, and location of the camp; types of youth committed to the camp; and the ☐ ☐ ☒ function of the camp in determining the level of supervision necessary to maintain the safety and welfare of youth and staff; (F) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☐ ☐ ☒ farm, forestry, kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 5 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1328 SAFETY CHECKS The facility administrator shall develop and implement Section 3.4.1 (B) Unit Shift Logs policy and procedures that provide for direct visual observation of youth at a minimum of every 15 minutes, Section 3.4.3 (A) Guard 1 Visual Cell Safety at random or varied intervals during hours when youth Checks are asleep or when youth are in their rooms, confined in holding cells or confined to their bed in a dormitory. Supervision is not replaced, but may be supplemented We reviewed safety checks for the months of by, an audio/visual electronic surveillance system January, March, and May 2024. Our review designed to detect overt, aggressive or assaultive revealed the agency switched the tool to behavior and to summon aid in emergencies. All safety complete the checks in a series of moves for checks shall be documented with the actual time the improvements to Pods 1, 2, and 5. All check is completed. upgrades were completed in March. We found the checks to be random and ☒ ☐ ☐ varied, mostly between 9-13 minutes. Checks on the graveyard for some days in January were found to be at 14- and 15-minute intervals, with a variance of a 9-13-minute checks during the shift. This was on very few instances in 1-2 units. With the new system, the checks were found to be varied and random as expected in regulation. The agency has a process in place for auditing these checks and has a part-time IS working on this quality assurance exercise. The agency hopes to dedicate a full-time IS for auditing more than just safety checks. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 6 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1329 SUICIDE PREVENTION PLAN The facility administrator, in collaboration with the Section 8.14 Suicide Recognition and healthcare and behavioral/mental health administrators, Prevention shall plan and implement written policies and procedures which delineate a Suicide Prevention Plan. The plan JMH-G-04 Precision Psychiatric Services shall consider the needs of youth experiencing past or Manual current trauma. Suicide prevention responses shall be respectful and in the least invasive manner consistent with the level of suicide risk. The plan shall include the Since January 2024, the agency has had 17 following elements: incidents of suicidal statements and gestures and one suicide attempt. None of these incidents involved SYTF youth. We reviewed all 17 incidents and found the Precision response, accompanied by medical responses, and found there were 46 immediate and follow-up contacts with the youth for determining classification and supervision status. All agency partners responded per policy and met the requirements in regulation, objectives ☒ ☐ ☐ in policy, and a consolidated approach in practice. The facility plan continues to articulate the operational procedures to follow for suicide events. Directives provide informative triggers for staff to be aware of, which is supported by 24/7 medical staff on site, on-site mental health services 7 days a week with Precision Psychiatric Services, and on-call services shared with the jail across the street after hours. Our review of the Precision Manual and Policy as it relates to Suicide Prevention articulates communication with on-site Medical staff for determination of watch levels pending review from Precision staff. If on-site, they respond immediately, evidenced by the incident reports reviewed, or as soon as possible if on-call. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 7 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (a) Suicide prevention training as required in Section 1322, Youth Supervision Staff Orientation, and Training Section 8.14.1 and the Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course. All staff receive Suicide Prevention Training in ☒ ☐ ☐ Core and annually. Staff assigned to the Intake unit receive additional training for screening and recognizing if a youth is at risk for suicide or self-harm. (b) Screening, Identification Assessment and Precautionary Protocols Section 8.14 (A)(1) (1) All youth shall be screened for risk of suicide at intake and as needed during detention. The facility completes numerous assessments and screening of youth by probation, medical, ☒ ☐ ☐ and mental health staff at admission. The MAYSI, medical screening, and referral to mental health for assessment articulate risks at admission. We reviewed timelines for the intake implementation of the MAYSI upon admission. (2) All youth supervision staff who perform intake processes shall be trained in screening youth for risk ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.1 of suicide. (3) All youth who have been identified during the intake screening process to be at risk of suicide shall ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14 (A)(1) and (2) be referred to behavioral/mental health staff for a suicide risk assessment. Section 4.3.4 (A)(6) (4) Precautionary protocols shall be developed to ensure the youth’s safety pending the Section 8.14 (A)(4) behavioral/mental health assessment. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 4.3.1 (10) (c) Referral process to behavioral/mental health staff for assessment and/or services. Section 8.14 ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.2.3 (C) Section 4.3.4 (A)(6) 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 8 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (d) Procedures for monitoring of youth identified at risk for suicide. Section 8.14. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 4.3.1 (10) (e) Safety Interventions (1) Procedures to address intervention protocols for Section 8.14.5 (A) and (D) youth identified at risk for suicide which may ☒ ☐ ☐ include, but are not limited to: (A) Housing consideration (B) Treatment strategies including trauma- informed approaches ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.5 (A)(11) (2) Procedures to instruct youth supervision staff how to respond to youth who exhibit suicidal behaviors. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4 (A) and (B) (f) Communication (1) The intake process shall include communication Section 4.3.2 (C) with the arresting officer and family guardians regarding the youth’s past or present suicidal ideations, behaviors or attempts. ☒ ☐ ☐ The intake unit is adjacent to the Medical and Mental Health offices, allowing for constant and timely communication. (2) Procedures for clear and current information sharing about youth at risk for suicide with youth Section 8.14 (A) supervision, healthcare, and behavioral/mental health staff. All agency partners communicate daily regarding any youth presenting suicidal behaviors. Medical staff, under the same umbrella company as Precision, take the lead ☒ ☐ ☐ as they are on-site all hours each day. Precision Psychiatric Services and GEO Program staff are designated to communicate in the contracts we reviewed. Incidents revealed this to occur in a coordinated approach to youth behavior, response, and follow-up. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 9 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (g) Debriefing of Critical Incidents Related to Suicides or Attempts Section 8.14.4 (D)(1) (1) Process for administrative review of the ☒ ☐ ☐ circumstances and responses proceeding, during and after the critical incident. (2) Process for a debriefing event with affected staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4 (D)(2) (3) Process for a debriefing event with affected youth. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4(D)(3) (h) Documentation (1) Documentation processes shall be developed to Section 8.14.0 (A)(1) ensure compliance with this regulation ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4 (D)(4) Youth identified at risk for suicide shall not be denied the opportunity to participate in facility programs, services Section 8.14.5 (J) and activities which are available to other non-suicidal youth, unless deemed necessary for the safety of the ☒ ☐ ☐ youth or security of the facility. Any deprivation of programs, services or activities for youth at risk of suicide shall be documented and approved by the facility manager. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 10 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1354.5 ROOM CONFINEMENT (a) The facility administrator shall develop and Section 6.6 (A) Room Confinement (RC) implement written policies and procedures addressing the confinement of youth in their room that are consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code Section We reviewed the four incident reports 208.3. The placement of a youth in room confinement involving three youth in the SYTF Program shall be accomplished in accordance with the following placed on RC thus far in 2024. Our evaluation guidelines: revealed compliance with regulation, noting the agency requires a two-hour review of all youth on RC to plan for reintegration. The placement included assaultive behavior, one with staff, and verbal threats or aggressive defiance. ☒ ☐ ☐ The process for documenting behavior checks, reviewing the need to continue, and the length of time on RC were detailed and informative. The RC log outlines the youth’s behavior at the time of the check as well as contact with staff and partners. The IS and SPO make every effort to reintegrate the youth into normal programming the day of or, if the incident occurred late on shift, the day following the incident. (1) Room confinement shall not be used before other, less restrictive, options have been attempted Section 6.6 (B)(1) and exhausted, unless attempting those options ☒ ☐ ☐ poses a threat to the safety or security of any youth or staff. (2) Room confinement shall not be used for the purposes of punishment, coercion, convenience, or ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (B)(2) retaliation by staff. (3) Room confinement shall not be used to the extent that it compromises the mental and physical health ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (B)(3) of the youth. (b) A youth may be held up to four hours in room confinement. After the youth has been held in room ☒ ☐ ☐ confinement for a period of four hours, staff shall do one or more of the following: (1) Return the youth to general population. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (F) 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 11 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (2) Consult with mental health or medical staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (H) (3) Develop an individualized plan that includes the goals and objectives to be met in order to reintegrate ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (G)(2) the youth to general population. (4) If room confinement must be extended beyond four hours, staff shall do each of the following: Section 6.6 (G)(1) (A) Document the reasons for room confinement and the basis for the extension, the date and time ☒ ☐ ☐ the youth was first placed in room confinement, and when he or she is eventually released from room confinement. (B) Develop an individualized plan that includes the goals and objectives to be met in order to ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (G)(2) integrate the youth to general population. (C) Obtain documented authorization by the facility superintendent or his or her designee ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (G)(3) every four hours thereafter. (5) This section is not intended to limit the use of single-person rooms or cells for the housing of youth ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (I) in juvenile facilities and does not apply to normal sleeping hours. (6) This section does not apply to youth or wards in ☒ ☐ ☐ court holding facilities or adult facilities. (7) Nothing in this section shall be construed to conflict with any law providing greater or additional ☒ ☐ ☐ protections to youth. (8) This section does not apply during an extraordinary emergency circumstance that requires Section 6.6 (I) Paragraph #1 a significant departure from normal institutional operations, including a natural disaster or facility- ☒ ☐ ☐ wide threat that poses an imminent and substantial risk of harm to multiple staff or youth. This exception shall apply for the shortest amount of time needed to address this imminent and substantial risk of harm. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 12 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (9) This section does not apply when a youth is placed in a locked cell or sleeping room to treat and Section 6.6 (I) Paragraph #2 protect against the spread of a communicable disease for the shortest amount of time required to reduce the risk of infection, with the written approval of a licensed physician or nurse practitioner, when the youth is not required to be in an infirmary for an ☒ ☐ ☐ illness. Additionally, this section does not apply when a youth is placed in a locked cell or sleeping room for required extended care after medical treatment with the written approval of a licensed physician or nurse practitioner, when the youth is not required to be in an infirmary for illness. 1357 USE OF FORCE The facility administrator, in cooperation with the Section 7.13.1 (E) Use of Force responsible physician, shall develop and implement written policies and procedures for the use of force, which may include chemical agents. Force shall never We reviewed 33 incidents involving the UF be applied as punishment, discipline, retaliation or facility-wide this year, two for SYTF, both treatment. involving the use of OC Spray and Room (a) At a minimum, each facility shall develop policies and Confinement. Each incident involved a youth- procedures which: on-youth assault. We found the staff response was compliant with regulation and each involved administrative review. ☒ ☐ ☐ The agency partners on site are able to medically clear youth after an incident, including decontamination, and initiation of mental health contact and/or referrals if necessary. The agency has reduced the UF incidents from 273 in 2018, 177 in 2019, 114 in 2021, and 80 from January 2022 to July 2023. (1) restricts the use of force to that which is deemed reasonable and necessary, as defined in Section ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.3 (A) 1302 to ensure the safety and security of youth, staff, others and the facility. (2) outline the force options available to staff including both physical and non-physical options and define ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.2 Use of Force Options when those force options are appropriate. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 13 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (3) describe force options or techniques that are expressly prohibited by the facility. Section 7.13.9 Choke Holds ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.1(B) Section 7.14.5 (K) Positional Asphyxia (4) describe the requirements of staff to report any inappropriate use of force, and to take affirmative Section 7.13.3 (C) action to immediately stop it. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.14.2 (G) (5) define a standardized reporting format that includes time period and procedure for documenting Section 7.13.4 Reporting, Debriefing and and reporting the use of force, including reporting Notification requirements of management and line staff and procedures for reviewing and tracking use of force incidents by supervisory and or management staff, ☒ ☐ ☐ which include procedures for debriefing a particular incident with staff and/or youth for the purposes of training as well as mitigating the effects of trauma that may have been experienced by staff and /or the youth involved. (6) Include an administrative review and a system for investigating unreasonable use of force. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.4 (B) (7) define the role, notification, and follow-up procedures required after use of force incidents for ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.3 (C) medical, mental health staff and parents or legal guardians. Section 7.13.4 (D) (8) describe the limitations of use of force on pregnant youth in accordance with Penal Code Section 6030(f) Section 7.13.5 Limitations of Force on and Welfare and Institutions Code Section 222. ☒ ☐ ☐ Pregnant Youth (b) Facilities that authorize chemical agents as a force option shall include policies and procedures that: Section 7.13.6 Use of OC Spray (1) identify who is approved to carry and/or utilize ☒ ☐ ☐ chemical agents in the facility and the type, size and Section 7.13.6 (B) and (C) the approved method of deployment for those chemical agents. Section 7.13.6.4 (2) mandate that chemical agents only be used when there is an imminent threat to the youth’s safety or the ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 safety of others and only when de-escalation efforts have been unsuccessful or are not reasonably possible. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 14 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (3) outline the facility’s approved methods and timelines for decontamination from chemical agents. Section 7.13.6.5 Decontamination This shall include that youth who have been exposed ☒ ☐ ☐ to chemical agents shall not be left unattended until that youth is fully decontaminated or is no longer suffering the effects of the chemical agent. (4) define the role, notification, and follow-up procedures required after use of force incidents ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6.3 (J) involving chemical agents for medical, mental health staff and parents or legal guardians. Section 7.13.6.5 (A)(7) (5) provide for the documentation of each incident of use of chemical agents, including the reasons for Section 7.13.6.6 (A) Documentation which it was used, efforts to de-escalate prior to use, youth and staff involved, the date, time and location ☒ ☐ ☐ of use, decontamination procedures applied and identification of any injuries sustained as a result of such use. (c) Facilities shall develop policies and procedure which require that agencies provide initial and regular training Section 7.13.6 (D) in use of force and chemical agents when appropriate ☒ ☐ ☐ that address: Section 7.13.6 (D)(1) and (2) (1) known medical and behavioral health conditions that would contraindicate certain types of force; (2) acceptable chemical agents and the methods of application. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(3) (3) signs or symptoms that should result in immediate referral to medical or behavioral health. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(4) (4) instruction on the Constitutional Limitations of Use of Force. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(5) (5) physical training force options that may require the use of perishable skills. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(6) (6) timelines the facility uses to define regular training. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(6) 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 15 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1361 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE The facility administrator shall develop and implement Section 6.3.4 Institution Grievance written policies and procedures whereby any youth may Procedures appeal and have resolved grievances relating to any condition of confinement, including but not limited to health care services, classification decisions, program There have been 168 grievances filed facility- participation, telephone, mail or visiting procedures, wide thus far in 2024. All but 19 were handled food, clothing, bedding, mistreatment, harassment or at the lead staff and IS level. Our review violations of the nondiscrimination policy. There shall be included 14 SYTF grievances from January, no time limit on filing grievances. Policies and March, and May 2024. procedures shall include provisions whereby the facility ☒ ☐ ☐ manager ensures: We found the process fair and consistent, with timely response and resolution. The responding staff continue to review any applicable resources to confirm the youth’s statements such as video review, incident review, and corresponding logs. The form and process are compliant and exceed regulation. (a) a grievance form and instructions for registering a grievance, which includes provisions for the youth to ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(1) have free access to the form; (b) the youth shall have the option to confidentially file the grievance or to deliver the form to any youth ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (F)(6) supervision staff working in the facility; (c) resolution of the grievance at the lowest appropriate staff level; ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)2) (d) provision for a prompt review and initial response to grievances within three (3) business days, grievances ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(3) and (A)(4) that relate to health and safety issues must be addressed immediately; (1) The youth may elect to be present to explain his/her version of the grievance to a person not ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(3)(a) directly involved in the circumstances which led to the grievance. (2) Provision for a staff representative approved by the facility administrator to assist the youth. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(3)(b) (e) provision for a written response to the grievance which includes the reasons for the decisions; ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(4) 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 16 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (f) a system which provides that any appeal of a grievance shall be heard by a person not directly ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(5) involved in the circumstances which led to the grievance; (g) resolution of the grievance must occur within ten (10) business days unless circumstances dictate a longer ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(6) time frame. The youth shall be notified of any delay; and, (h) the policy shall provide multiple internal and external methods to report sexual abuse and sexual harassment. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(7) Whether or not associated with a grievance, concerns of parents, guardians, staff or other parties shall be ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A) Last Paragraph addressed and documented in accordance with written policies and procedures within a specified timeframe. 1371 PROGRAMS, RECREATION, AND EXERCISE. Section 5.4 Recreation, Exercise and The facility administrator shall develop and implement Programs written policies and procedures for programs, recreation, and exercise for all youth. The intent is to Section 5.8 Facility Programs minimize the amount of time youth are in their rooms or their bed area. The agency is transitioning to GEO for Program facilitation, to include education- based curriculums on a wide array of youth- ☒ ☐ ☐ appropriate topics. Phoenix House and a Program Specialist provided structured and relevant programming through May 2024. Agency staff facilitate Directed Activities, which offers structured curriculum-based topics and is only used when a provider is unavailable. Precision Psychiatric Services is contracted as the Mental Health provider and provides individual and crisis counseling as well as assessment services. Juvenile facilities shall provide the opportunity for programs, recreation, and exercise a minimum of three Section 5.4 Recreation and Exercise hours a day during the week and five hours a day each Saturday, Sunday or other non-school days, of which ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 5.8 Facility Programs one hour shall be an outdoor activity, weather permitting. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 17 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS A youth’s participation in programs, recreation, and exercise may be suspended only upon a written finding Section 5.4 by the administrator/manager or designee that a youth ☒ ☐ ☐ represents a threat to the safety and security of the facility. Such program, recreation, and exercise schedule shall be posted in the living units. Section 5.4 ☒ ☐ ☐ The unit schedule is posted in each living unit. There will be a written annual review of the programs, recreation, and exercise by the responsible agency to Section 5.4 ensure content offered is current, consistent, and relevant to the population. ☒ ☐ ☐ The annual evaluation was completed by Supervising Probation Officer Chris Cooke on July 11, 2024. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 18 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 (a) Programs. All youth shall be provided with the opportunity for at least one hour of daily programming to Section 5.4.8 Facility Programs include, but not be limited to, trauma focused, cognitive, evidence-based, best practice interventions that are culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate, or pro- social interventions and activities designed to reduce The facility provides programming and recidivism. These programs should be based on the services to meet the various needs of its youth youth’s individual needs as required by Sections 1355 population. Programs are facilitated by and 1356. Such programs may be provided under the probation staff, Precision Psychiatric Service direction of the Chief Probation Officer or the County Clinicians (Alcohol and Drug Counseling), the Office of Education and can be administered by county TCOE, and GEO Program facilitators. partners such as mental health agencies, community Precision’s role is to provide individual and based organizations, faith-based organizations or crisis counseling as well as initial mental Probation staff. health assessments. The GEO Program’s responsibilities include monitoring and Programs may include but are not limited to: implementing education/curriculum-based programs in the facility as well as evaluating (1) Cognitive Behavior Interventions; them for fidelity. (2) Management of Stress and Trauma; (3) Anger Management; Programs include: Coping and Support (4) Conflict Resolution; Training (CAST) through the TCOE Mental Wellness Service Team; Aggression (5) Juvenile Justice System; Replacement Training (Precision); Alcohol and Drug Education and Counseling – (6) Trauma-related interventions; including Living in Balance, Stages of (7) Victim Awareness; ☒ ☐ ☐ Change, and Seeking Safety; Adolescent Sexual Responsibility Program (ASRP) (8) Self-Improvement; through TC Youth Services Bureau; (9) Parenting Skills and support; Readiness for Employment through Sustainable Education and Training (RESET); (10) Tolerance and Diversity; Individual, Crisis and Psychiatric Services through Precision Mental Health; Physical (11) Healing Informed Approaches; Training Program; and the Youth Leaders (12) Interventions by Credible Messengers; Club. (13) Gender Specific Programming; (14) Art, creative writing, or self-expression; Additional upcoming activities for Camp and SYTF youth include a Dog Training Program, (15) CPR and First Aid training; which is long-term training for Veterans and Law Enforcement needing a Service Animal. (16) Restorative Justice or Civic Engagement; (17) Career and leadership opportunities; and, All youth will have the use of tablets in the unit (18) Other topics suitable to the youth population. in the coming month through NCIC. SYTF youth participate in the Prison Education Program (PEP) each Saturday when in-person education for Introduction to College and Yoga are provided. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 19 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS The Vocational Program from TCOE is provided to the youth in both Camp Programs and will be available for SYTF youth when the pending fence project is complete. Lastly, CTE opportunities in addition to the Voc Ed component are coming in September with the addition of Audio Engineering and Culinary. This is a joint project between Probation and TCOE. (b) Recreation. All youth shall be provided the opportunity for at least one hour of daily access to unscheduled Section 5.4 activities such as leisure reading, letter writing, and entertainment. Activities shall be supervised and include orientation and may include coaching of youth. ☒ ☐ ☐ Recreation Programs include reading, writing, entertainment, television, radio, music, video, and games. (c) Exercise. All youth shall be provided with the opportunity for at least one hour of large muscle activity Section 5.4 each day. ☒ ☐ ☐ The facility has a structured Physical Training program to ensure youth are exercising and participating in large muscle exercise daily. The administrator/manager may suspend, for a period not to exceed 24 hours, access to recreation and programs. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 5.4 The administrator/manager shall document the reasons why suspension of recreation and programs occurs. 7707 Tulare SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 20 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 JUVENILE HALLS, SPECIAL PURPOSE JUVENILE HALLS AND CAMPS Board of State and Community Corrections PROCEDURES CHECKLIST1 BSCC Code: 7708 FACILITY NAME: Tulare Juvenile Detention Facility Camp (JDFC) FACILITY TYPE: CAMP PERSON(S) INTERVIEWED: Kelly Vernon, Chief Probation Officer; Mike Santos, Chief Deputy Probation Officer; Greg Powers, Division Manager; Chris Cooke, Supervision Probation Officer – Programs; Megan Ellison, SPO – Kitchen, Laundry, Medical/Behavior Health; Jarrod Kerrigan – SPO Youth and Staff; Youth: Brandon, age 18 – Camp Short Term; Ivan, age 18 – Long Term Camp; Jonathan, age 20 – SYTF; Zerena, age 17 – Detention pending Mid Term FIELD REPRESENTATIVE: Elizabeth Gong DATE: July 15, 2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1321 STAFFING Each juvenile facility shall: Section 2.1(F)(1) (a) have an adequate number of personnel sufficient to carry out the overall facility operation and its programming, to provide for safety and security of youth The Juvenile Facilities (JF) have one Division and staff, and meet established standards and Manager, three Supervising Probation regulations; Officers, 11 Institution Supervisors (three vacant), four Probation Corrections Officer (PCO) III’s, 45 Probation Corrections Officer I/II’s, four transportation staff, six Intake officers, 13 Detention Services Officers, and ten kitchen and laundry staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Agency-wide there are 43 vacant PCO I/II/III positions and 13 on a long-term Leave of Absence (LOA). There are eight PCO staff beginning Core Training which will increase line staff to make up for four PCO’s recently promoted to Probation Officer. All current PCO’s are core trained. Due to the shortages, the agency has a process in place for mandatory overtime. The Deputy Probation Officers (DPO) have been mandated to work three shifts per pay period. The DPO schedule is based on seniority. Of the 85 DPO staff, half 1 This document is intended for use as a tool during the targeted inspection process; this worksheet may not contain each Title 15 regulation that is required. Additionally, many regulations on this worksheet are SUMMARIES of the regulation; the text on this worksheet may not contain the entire text of the actual regulation. Please refer to the complete California Code of Regulations, Title 15, Minimum Standards for Juvenile Facilities, Division 1, Chapter 1, Subchapter 5 for the complete list and text of regulations. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 1 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS are core trained and the remainder are beginning cross-over Core Training. (b) ensure that no required services shall be denied because of insufficient numbers of staff on duty absent ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(F)(2) exigent circumstances; (c) have a sufficient number of supervisory level staff to ensure adequate supervision of all staff members; Section 2.1(F)(3) ☒ ☐ ☐ There is a minimum of one Institutional Supervisor on duty at all times, however, since the IS works 12-hour shifts, there are typically two on duty each shift. (d) have a clearly identified person on duty at all times who is responsible for operations and activities and has ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(F)(4) completed the Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course and PC 832 training; (e) have at least one staff member present on each living unit whenever there are youth in the living unit; ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(F)(5) (f) have sufficient food service personnel relative to the number and security of living units, including staff Section 2.1(F)(6) qualified and available to: plan menus meeting nutritional requirements of youth; provide kitchen supervision; direct ☒ ☐ ☐ food preparation and servings; conduct related training programs for culinary staff; and maintain necessary There is a Food Services Manager, six cooks, records; or, a facility may serve food that meets nutritional a stock clerk/Warehouse staff, and three standards prepared by an outside source; laundry technicians assigned to the facility. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 2 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (g) have sufficient administrative, clerical, recreational, medical, dental, mental health, building maintenance, Section 2.1(F)(7) transportation, control room, facility security and other support staff for the efficient management of the facility, and to ensure that youth supervision staff shall not be diverted from supervising youth; and, The facility is sufficiently staffed for its population. There is a new Medical Provider, Integrated Wellness Solutions, which is affiliated with Precision Psychiatric Services via Kaweah Hospital, which provides Mental Health Services. Medical staff are on site 24 ☒ ☐ ☐ hours a day, seven days a week. Mental Health is on site seven days a week as well, with on-call crisis care available 24 hours a day. GEO Program Services is new to the facility and, once transitioned, will have a Program Supervisor and three Program Facilitators. There is sufficient staff to ensure no services for the youth population are diverted from youth supervision staff responsibilities. (h) assign sufficient youth supervision staff to provide continuous wide awake supervision of youth, subject to Section 2.1(F)(8) temporary variations in staff assignments to meet special ☒ ☐ ☐ program needs. Staffing shall be in compliance with a minimum youth-staff ratio for the following facility types: (1) Juvenile Halls (A) during the hours that youth are awake, one ☐ ☐ ☒ This facility is not a Juvenile Hall. wide-awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 10 youth in detention; (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☐ ☐ ☒ youth supervision staff member on duty for each 30 youth in detention; (C) at least two wide-awake youth supervision staff members on duty at all times, regardless of the number of youth in detention, unless an ☐ ☐ ☒ arrangement has been made for backup support services which allow for immediate response to emergencies; and, (D) at least one youth supervision staff member on duty who is the same gender as youth housed in ☐ ☐ ☒ the facility. (E) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☐ ☐ ☒ kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 3 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (2) Special Purpose Juvenile Halls (A) during hours that youth are awake, one wide- ☐ ☐ ☒ The JDFC is not a SPJH. awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 10 youth in detention; (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☐ ☐ ☒ youth supervision staff member on duty for each 30 youth in detention; (C) at least two wide-awake youth supervision staff members on duty at all times, regardless of the number of youth in detention, unless an ☐ ☐ ☒ arrangement has been made for backup support services which allow for immediate response to emergencies; and, (D) at least one youth supervision staff member on duty who is the same gender as youth housed in ☐ ☐ ☒ the facility. (E) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☐ ☐ ☒ kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. (3) Camps (A) during the hours that youth are awake, one Section 2.1(B) wide-awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 15 youth in the camp population; The Juvenile Detention Facility Camp ☒ ☐ ☐ Program houses Long-Term Commitment youth. On the day of the inspection, there were 12 male youth in the program, housed in in Pod 2, Unit A. (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(C) youth supervision staff member on duty for each 30 youth present in the facility; 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 4 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (C) at least two wide-awake youth supervision staff members on duty at all times, regardless of the Section 2.1 number of youth in residence, unless arrangements have been made for backup support services which allow for immediate response to emergencies; ☒ ☐ ☐ We reviewed the staff schedules and roster, noting there are at minimum eight staff on duty during the sleeping hours, well beyond the minimum required ratio. (D) at least one youth supervision staff member on duty who is the same gender as youth housed in ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 2.1(D) the facility; (E) in addition to the minimum staff to youth ratio required in (h)(3)(A)-(B), consideration shall be Section 2.1(H) given to the size, design, and location of the camp; types of youth committed to the camp; and the ☒ ☐ ☐ function of the camp in determining the level of supervision necessary to maintain the safety and welfare of youth and staff; (F) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of Section 2.1(G) personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☒ ☐ ☐ farm, forestry, kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 5 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1328 SAFETY CHECKS The facility administrator shall develop and implement Section 3.4.1 (B) Unit Shift Logs policy and procedures that provide for direct visual observation of youth at a minimum of every 15 minutes, Section 3.4.3 (A) Guard 1 Visual Cell Safety at random or varied intervals during hours when youth Checks are asleep or when youth are in their rooms, confined in holding cells or confined to their bed in a dormitory. Supervision is not replaced, but may be supplemented We reviewed safety checks for the months of by, an audio/visual electronic surveillance system January, March, and May 2024. Our review designed to detect overt, aggressive or assaultive revealed the agency switched the tool to behavior and to summon aid in emergencies. All safety complete the checks in a series of moves for checks shall be documented with the actual time the improvements to Pods 1, 2, and 5. All check is completed. upgrades were completed in March. We found the checks to be random and ☒ ☐ ☐ varied, mostly between 9-13 minutes. Checks on the graveyard for some days in January were found to be at 14- and 15-minute intervals, with a variance of a 9-13-minute checks during the shift. This was on very few instances in 1-2 units. With the new system, the checks were found to be varied and random as expected in regulation. The agency has a process in place for auditing these checks and has a part-time IS working on this quality assurance exercise. The agency hopes to dedicate a full-time IS for auditing more than just safety checks. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 6 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1329 SUICIDE PREVENTION PLAN The facility administrator, in collaboration with the Section 8.14 Suicide Recognition and healthcare and behavioral/mental health administrators, Prevention shall plan and implement written policies and procedures which delineate a Suicide Prevention Plan. The plan JMH-G-04 Precision Psychiatric Services shall consider the needs of youth experiencing past or Manual current trauma. Suicide prevention responses shall be respectful and in the least invasive manner consistent with the level of suicide risk. The plan shall include the Since January 2024, the agency has had 17 following elements: incidents of suicidal statements and gestures and one suicide attempt. One of the incidents involved a JDFC youth. We reviewed the Precision response to these incidents, accompanied by medical responses, and found there were 46 immediate and follow-up contacts with the youth for determining classification and supervision status. All agency partners responded per policy and met the requirements in regulation, objectives in policy, and a consolidated approach in ☒ ☐ ☐ practice. The facility plan continues to articulate the operational procedures to follow for suicide events. Directives provide informative triggers for staff to be aware of, which is supported by 24/7 medical staff on site, on-site mental health services 7 days a week with Precision Psychiatric Services, and on-call services shared with the jail across the street after hours. Our review of the Precision Manual and Policy as it relates to Suicide Prevention articulates communication with on-site Medical staff for determination of watch levels pending review from Precision staff. If on-site, they respond immediately, evidenced by the incident reports reviewed, or as soon as possible if on-call. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 7 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (a) Suicide prevention training as required in Section 1322, Youth Supervision Staff Orientation, and Training Section 8.14.1 and the Juvenile Corrections Officer Core Course. All staff receive Suicide Prevention Training in ☒ ☐ ☐ Core and annually. Staff assigned to the Intake unit receive additional training for screening and recognizing if a youth is at risk for suicide or self-harm. (b) Screening, Identification Assessment and Precautionary Protocols Section 8.14 (A)(1) (1) All youth shall be screened for risk of suicide at intake and as needed during detention. The facility completes numerous assessments and screening of youth by probation, medical, ☒ ☐ ☐ and mental health staff at admission. The MAYSI, medical screening, and referral to mental health for assessment articulate risks at admission. We reviewed timelines for the intake implementation of the MAYSI upon admission. (2) All youth supervision staff who perform intake processes shall be trained in screening youth for risk ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.1 of suicide. (3) All youth who have been identified during the intake screening process to be at risk of suicide shall ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14 (A)(1) and (2) be referred to behavioral/mental health staff for a suicide risk assessment. Section 4.3.4 (A)(6) (4) Precautionary protocols shall be developed to ensure the youth’s safety pending the Section 8.14 (A)(4) behavioral/mental health assessment. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 4.3.1 (10) (c) Referral process to behavioral/mental health staff for assessment and/or services. Section 8.14 ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.2.3 (C) Section 4.3.4 (A)(6) 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 8 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (d) Procedures for monitoring of youth identified at risk for suicide. Section 8.14. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 4.3.1 (10) (e) Safety Interventions (1) Procedures to address intervention protocols for Section 8.14.5 (A) and (D) youth identified at risk for suicide which may ☒ ☐ ☐ include, but are not limited to: (A) Housing consideration (B) Treatment strategies including trauma- informed approaches ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.5 (A)(11) (2) Procedures to instruct youth supervision staff how to respond to youth who exhibit suicidal behaviors. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4 (A) and (B) (f) Communication (1) The intake process shall include communication Section 4.3.2 (C) with the arresting officer and family guardians regarding the youth’s past or present suicidal ideations, behaviors or attempts. ☒ ☐ ☐ The intake unit is adjacent to the Medical and Mental Health offices, allowing for constant and timely communication. (2) Procedures for clear and current information sharing about youth at risk for suicide with youth Section 8.14 (A) supervision, healthcare, and behavioral/mental health staff. All agency partners communicate daily regarding any youth presenting suicidal behaviors. Medical staff, under the same umbrella company as Precision, take the lead ☒ ☐ ☐ as they are on-site all hours each day. Precision Psychiatric Services and GEO Program staff are designated to communicate in the contracts we reviewed. Incidents revealed this to occur in a coordinated approach to youth behavior, response, and follow-up. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 9 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (g) Debriefing of Critical Incidents Related to Suicides or Attempts Section 8.14.4 (D)(1) (1) Process for administrative review of the ☒ ☐ ☐ circumstances and responses proceeding, during and after the critical incident. (2) Process for a debriefing event with affected staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4 (D)(2) (3) Process for a debriefing event with affected youth. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4(D)(3) (h) Documentation (1) Documentation processes shall be developed to Section 8.14.0 (A)(1) ensure compliance with this regulation ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 8.14.4 (D)(4) Youth identified at risk for suicide shall not be denied the opportunity to participate in facility programs, services Section 8.14.5 (J) and activities which are available to other non-suicidal youth, unless deemed necessary for the safety of the ☒ ☐ ☐ youth or security of the facility. Any deprivation of programs, services or activities for youth at risk of suicide shall be documented and approved by the facility manager. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 10 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1354.5 ROOM CONFINEMENT (a) The facility administrator shall develop and Section 6.6 (A) Room Confinement (RC) implement written policies and procedures addressing the confinement of youth in their room that are consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code Section We reviewed 37 incident reports regarding 208.3. The placement of a youth in room confinement youth placed on RC this year, seven involving shall be accomplished in accordance with the following youth in JDFC. Our evaluation revealed guidelines: compliance with regulation, noting the agency requires a 2-hour review of all youth on RC to plan for reintegration. The placement included assaultive behavior, one with staff, and verbal threats or aggressive defiance. ☒ ☐ ☐ The process for documenting behavior checks, reviewing the need to continue, and the length of time on RC were detailed and informative. The RC log outlines the youth’s behavior at the time of the check as well as contact with staff and partners. The IS and SPO make every effort to reintegrate the youth into normal programming the day of or, if the incident occurred late on shift, the day following the incident. (1) Room confinement shall not be used before other, less restrictive, options have been attempted Section 6.6 (B)(1) and exhausted, unless attempting those options ☒ ☐ ☐ poses a threat to the safety or security of any youth or staff. (2) Room confinement shall not be used for the purposes of punishment, coercion, convenience, or ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (B)(2) retaliation by staff. (3) Room confinement shall not be used to the extent that it compromises the mental and physical health ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (B)(3) of the youth. (b) A youth may be held up to four hours in room confinement. After the youth has been held in room ☒ ☐ ☐ confinement for a period of four hours, staff shall do one or more of the following: (1) Return the youth to general population. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (F) 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 11 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (2) Consult with mental health or medical staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (H) (3) Develop an individualized plan that includes the goals and objectives to be met in order to reintegrate ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (G)(2) the youth to general population. (4) If room confinement must be extended beyond four hours, staff shall do each of the following: Section 6.6 (G)(1) (A) Document the reasons for room confinement and the basis for the extension, the date and time ☒ ☐ ☐ the youth was first placed in room confinement, and when he or she is eventually released from room confinement. (B) Develop an individualized plan that includes the goals and objectives to be met in order to ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (G)(2) integrate the youth to general population. (C) Obtain documented authorization by the facility superintendent or his or her designee ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (G)(3) every four hours thereafter. (5) This section is not intended to limit the use of single-person rooms or cells for the housing of youth ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.6 (I) in juvenile facilities and does not apply to normal sleeping hours. (6) This section does not apply to youth or wards in ☒ ☐ ☐ court holding facilities or adult facilities. (7) Nothing in this section shall be construed to conflict with any law providing greater or additional ☒ ☐ ☐ protections to youth. (8) This section does not apply during an extraordinary emergency circumstance that requires Section 6.6 (I) Paragraph #1 a significant departure from normal institutional operations, including a natural disaster or facility- ☒ ☐ ☐ wide threat that poses an imminent and substantial risk of harm to multiple staff or youth. This exception shall apply for the shortest amount of time needed to address this imminent and substantial risk of harm. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 12 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (9) This section does not apply when a youth is placed in a locked cell or sleeping room to treat and Section 6.6 (I) Paragraph #2 protect against the spread of a communicable disease for the shortest amount of time required to reduce the risk of infection, with the written approval of a licensed physician or nurse practitioner, when the youth is not required to be in an infirmary for an ☒ ☐ ☐ illness. Additionally, this section does not apply when a youth is placed in a locked cell or sleeping room for required extended care after medical treatment with the written approval of a licensed physician or nurse practitioner, when the youth is not required to be in an infirmary for illness. 1357 USE OF FORCE The facility administrator, in cooperation with the Section 7.13.1 (E) Use of Force responsible physician, shall develop and implement written policies and procedures for the use of force, which may include chemical agents. Force shall never We reviewed 33 incidents involving the UF be applied as punishment, discipline, retaliation or facility-wide, seven of which were at the treatment. JDFC. All incidents involved youth-on-youth (a) At a minimum, each facility shall develop policies and assaults (mutual fights) or youth assaults. We procedures which: found the staff response was compliant with regulation and each involved administrative review. ☒ ☐ ☐ The agency partners on site are able to medically clear youth after an incident, including decontamination, and initiation of mental health contact and/or referrals if necessary, occurs spontaneously with any UF event. The agency has reduced the UF incidents from 273 in 2018, 177 in 2019, 114 in 2021, and 80 from January 2022 to July 2023. (1) restricts the use of force to that which is deemed reasonable and necessary, as defined in Section ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.3 (A) 1302 to ensure the safety and security of youth, staff, others and the facility. (2) outline the force options available to staff including both physical and non-physical options and define ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.2 Use of Force Options when those force options are appropriate. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 13 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (3) describe force options or techniques that are expressly prohibited by the facility. Section 7.13.9 Choke Holds ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.1(B) Section 7.14.5 (K) Positional Asphyxia (4) describe the requirements of staff to report any inappropriate use of force, and to take affirmative Section 7.13.3 (C) action to immediately stop it. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.14.2 (G) (5) define a standardized reporting format that includes time period and procedure for documenting Section 7.13.4 Reporting, Debriefing and and reporting the use of force, including reporting Notification requirements of management and line staff and procedures for reviewing and tracking use of force incidents by supervisory and or management staff, ☒ ☐ ☐ which include procedures for debriefing a particular incident with staff and/or youth for the purposes of training as well as mitigating the effects of trauma that may have been experienced by staff and /or the youth involved. (6) Include an administrative review and a system for investigating unreasonable use of force. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.4 (B) (7) define the role, notification, and follow-up procedures required after use of force incidents for ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.3 (C) medical, mental health staff and parents or legal guardians. Section 7.13.4 (D) (8) describe the limitations of use of force on pregnant youth in accordance with Penal Code Section 6030(f) Section 7.13.5 Limitations of Force on and Welfare and Institutions Code Section 222. ☒ ☐ ☐ Pregnant Youth (b) Facilities that authorize chemical agents as a force option shall include policies and procedures that: Section 7.13.6 Use of OC Spray (1) identify who is approved to carry and/or utilize ☒ ☐ ☐ chemical agents in the facility and the type, size and Section 7.13.6 (B) and (C) the approved method of deployment for those chemical agents. Section 7.13.6.4 (2) mandate that chemical agents only be used when there is an imminent threat to the youth’s safety or the ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 safety of others and only when de-escalation efforts have been unsuccessful or are not reasonably possible. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 14 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (3) outline the facility’s approved methods and timelines for decontamination from chemical agents. Section 7.13.6.5 Decontamination This shall include that youth who have been exposed ☒ ☐ ☐ to chemical agents shall not be left unattended until that youth is fully decontaminated or is no longer suffering the effects of the chemical agent. (4) define the role, notification, and follow-up procedures required after use of force incidents ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6.3 (J) involving chemical agents for medical, mental health staff and parents or legal guardians. Section 7.13.6.5 (A)(7) (5) provide for the documentation of each incident of use of chemical agents, including the reasons for Section 7.13.6.6 (A) Documentation which it was used, efforts to de-escalate prior to use, youth and staff involved, the date, time and location ☒ ☐ ☐ of use, decontamination procedures applied and identification of any injuries sustained as a result of such use. (c) Facilities shall develop policies and procedure which require that agencies provide initial and regular training Section 7.13.6 (D) in use of force and chemical agents when appropriate ☒ ☐ ☐ that address: Section 7.13.6 (D)(1) and (2) (1) known medical and behavioral health conditions that would contraindicate certain types of force; (2) acceptable chemical agents and the methods of application. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(3) (3) signs or symptoms that should result in immediate referral to medical or behavioral health. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(4) (4) instruction on the Constitutional Limitations of Use of Force. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(5) (5) physical training force options that may require the use of perishable skills. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(6) (6) timelines the facility uses to define regular training. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 7.13.6 (D)(6) 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 15 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1361 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE The facility administrator shall develop and implement Section 6.3.4 Institution Grievance written policies and procedures whereby any youth may Procedures appeal and have resolved grievances relating to any condition of confinement, including but not limited to health care services, classification decisions, program There have been 168 grievances filed facility- participation, telephone, mail or visiting procedures, wide thus far in 2024. All but 19 were handled food, clothing, bedding, mistreatment, harassment or at the lead staff and IS level. Our review violations of the nondiscrimination policy. There shall be included 14 grievances from the JDFC for the no time limit on filing grievances. Policies and months of January, March, and May 2024. procedures shall include provisions whereby the facility ☒ ☐ ☐ manager ensures: We found the process fair and consistent ,with timely response and resolution. The responding staff continue to review any applicable resources to confirm the youth’s statements such as video review, incident review, and corresponding logs. The form and process are compliant and exceed regulation. (a) a grievance form and instructions for registering a grievance, which includes provisions for the youth to ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(1) have free access to the form; (b) the youth shall have the option to confidentially file the grievance or to deliver the form to any youth ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (F)(6) supervision staff working in the facility; (c) resolution of the grievance at the lowest appropriate staff level; ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)2) (d) provision for a prompt review and initial response to grievances within three (3) business days, grievances ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(3) and (A)(4) that relate to health and safety issues must be addressed immediately; (1) The youth may elect to be present to explain his/her version of the grievance to a person not ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(3)(a) directly involved in the circumstances which led to the grievance. (2) Provision for a staff representative approved by the facility administrator to assist the youth. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(3)(b) (e) provision for a written response to the grievance which includes the reasons for the decisions; ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(4) 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 16 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (f) a system which provides that any appeal of a grievance shall be heard by a person not directly ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(5) involved in the circumstances which led to the grievance; (g) resolution of the grievance must occur within ten (10) business days unless circumstances dictate a longer ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(6) time frame. The youth shall be notified of any delay; and, (h) the policy shall provide multiple internal and external methods to report sexual abuse and sexual harassment. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A)(7) Whether or not associated with a grievance, concerns of parents, guardians, staff or other parties shall be ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 6.3.4 (A) Last Paragraph addressed and documented in accordance with written policies and procedures within a specified timeframe. 1371 PROGRAMS, RECREATION, AND EXERCISE. Section 5.4 Recreation, Exercise and The facility administrator shall develop and implement Programs written policies and procedures for programs, recreation, and exercise for all youth. The intent is to Section 5.8 Facility Programs minimize the amount of time youth are in their rooms or their bed area. The agency is transitioning to GEO for Program facilitation, to include education- based curriculums on a wide array of youth- ☒ ☐ ☐ appropriate topics. Phoenix House and a Program Specialist provided structured and relevant programming through May 2024. Agency staff facilitate Directed Activities, which offers structured curriculum-based topics and is only used when a provider is unavailable. Precision Psychiatric Services is contracted as the Mental Health provider and provides individual and crisis counseling as well as assessment services. Juvenile facilities shall provide the opportunity for programs, recreation, and exercise a minimum of three Section 5.4 Recreation and Exercise hours a day during the week and five hours a day each Saturday, Sunday or other non-school days, of which ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 5.8 Facility Programs one hour shall be an outdoor activity, weather permitting. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 17 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS A youth’s participation in programs, recreation, and exercise may be suspended only upon a written finding Section 5.4 by the administrator/manager or designee that a youth ☒ ☐ ☐ represents a threat to the safety and security of the facility. Such program, recreation, and exercise schedule shall be posted in the living units. Section 5.4 ☒ ☐ ☐ The unit schedule is posted in each living unit. There will be a written annual review of the programs, recreation, and exercise by the responsible agency to Section 5.4 ensure content offered is current, consistent, and relevant to the population. ☒ ☐ ☐ The annual evaluation was completed by Supervising Probation Officer Chris Cooke on July 11, 2024. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 18 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 (a) Programs. All youth shall be provided with the opportunity for at least one hour of daily programming to Section 5.4.8 Facility Programs include, but not be limited to, trauma focused, cognitive, evidence-based, best practice interventions that are culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate, or pro- social interventions and activities designed to reduce The facility provides programming and recidivism. These programs should be based on the services to meet the various needs of its youth youth’s individual needs as required by Sections 1355 population. Programs are facilitated by and 1356. Such programs may be provided under the probation staff, Precision Psychiatric Service direction of the Chief Probation Officer or the County Clinicians (Alcohol and Drug Counseling), the Office of Education and can be administered by county TCOE, and GEO Program facilitators. partners such as mental health agencies, community Precision’s role is to provide individual and based organizations, faith-based organizations or crisis counseling as well as initial mental Probation staff. health assessments. The GEO Program’s responsibilities include monitoring and Programs may include but are not limited to: implementing education/curriculum-based programs in the facility as well as evaluating (1) Cognitive Behavior Interventions; them for fidelity. (2) Management of Stress and Trauma; (3) Anger Management; Programs include: Coping and Support (4) Conflict Resolution; Training (CAST) through the TCOE Mental Wellness Service Team; Aggression (5) Juvenile Justice System; Replacement Training (Precision); Alcohol and Drug Education and Counseling – (6) Trauma-related interventions; including Living in Balance, Stages of (7) Victim Awareness; Change, and Seeking Safety; Adolescent ☒ ☐ ☐ Sexual Responsibility Program (ASRP) (8) Self-Improvement; through TC Youth Services Bureau; (9) Parenting Skills and support; Readiness for Employment through Sustainable Education and Training (RESET); (10) Tolerance and Diversity; Individual, Crisis and Psychiatric Services through Precision Mental Health; Physical (11) Healing Informed Approaches; Training Program; and the Youth Leaders (12) Interventions by Credible Messengers; Club. (13) Gender Specific Programming; (14) Art, creative writing, or self-expression; Additional upcoming activities for Camp and SYTF youth include a Dog Training Program, (15) CPR and First Aid training; which is long-term training for Veterans and Law Enforcement needing a Service Animal. (16) Restorative Justice or Civic Engagement; (17) Career and leadership opportunities; and, All youth will have the use of tablets in the unit (18) Other topics suitable to the youth population. in the coming month through NCIC. The Vocational Program from TCOE is provided to the youth in both Camp Programs and will be available for SYTF youth when the pending fence project is complete. Lastly, CTE opportunities in addition to the Voc Ed component are coming in September with the addition of Audio Engineering and Culinary. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 19 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS This is a joint project between Probation and TCOE. (b) Recreation. All youth shall be provided the opportunity for at least one hour of daily access to unscheduled Section 5.4 activities such as leisure reading, letter writing, and entertainment. Activities shall be supervised and include orientation and may include coaching of youth. ☒ ☐ ☐ Recreation Programs include reading, writing, entertainment, television, radio, music, video, and games. (c) Exercise. All youth shall be provided with the opportunity for at least one hour of large muscle activity Section 5.4 each day. ☒ ☐ ☐ The facility has a structured Physical Training program to ensure youth are exercising and participating in large muscle exercise daily. The administrator/manager may suspend, for a period not to exceed 24 hours, access to recreation and programs. ☒ ☐ ☐ Section 5.4 The administrator/manager shall document the reasons why suspension of recreation and programs occurs. 7708 Tulare Detention Facility Camp Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 20 of 20 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024