Ventura County Probation (2023-2024 inspection cycle)

August 28, 2024 Gina Johnson, Chief Probation Officer Ventura County Probation Department 800 South Victoria Avenue Ventura, CA 93003 2023-2024 TARGETED INSPECTION, WELFARE & INSTITUTIONS CODE SECTIONS 209 & 885, VENTURA COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT DETENTION FACILITIES Dear Chief Johnson: A Targeted Inspection of the Ventura County Probation Department has been completed. A pre-inspection briefing was held on Wednesday, February 28, 2024, and the following facilities were inspected between Tuesday, August 13, 2024, and Wednesday, August 14, 2024: FACILITY NAME BSCC # FACILITY TYPE VCPAJF Detention Services (DS) 7727 JH VCPAJF Commitment Services (CS) 7728 CAMP Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS 7740 SYTF Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS 7741 SYTF 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 Wednesday, August 14, 2024; BSCC staff presented an inspection overview and discussed technical assistance and best practice recommendations. * * * Gina Johnson Chief Probation Officer Page 2 Please email me at elizabeth.gong@bscc.ca.gov or call (916) 704-2503 if you have any questions. Sincerely, ELIZABETH GONG Field Representative Facilities Standards and Operations Division Enclosures Cc: Presiding Judge, Ventura County Juvenile Court* Chair, Juvenile Justice Commission, Ventura County* Chair, Board of Supervisors, Ventura County* County Administrator, Ventura County* Carrie Vredenburgh, Chief Deputy Probation Officer, Ventura County Probation Agency Juvenile Facilities *Copies of the inspection are available upon request or online at www.bscc.ca.gov. 7727+ Ventura County Probation JH CAMP SYTF Targeted LTR 23-24 JUVENILE HALLS, SPECIAL PURPOSE JUVENILE HALLS AND CAMPS Board of State and Community Corrections PROCEDURES CHECKLIST1 BSCC Code: 7727 FACILITY NAME: VCPAJF Detention Services FACILITY TYPE: JH PERSON(S) INTERVIEWED: Gina Johnson, Chief Probation Officer; Carrie Vredenburg, Deputy Chief Probation Officer; John Tormey, Division Manager - Housing; Teresa Jimenez, Division Manager - Housing; Hiediann Cobos, Division Manager - Operations; Chris Martinez, Supervising Deputy Probation Officer Operations (SDPO); Rebecca Jimenez, DPCO III (DPCO III) Operations; Karen Sewell, SDPO Housing; Nora Madrigal, SDPO Housing; Matthew Mattavich, SDPO Housing; Ref Rodriguez, SDPO Housing; Roberta Pineda, DPCO III; Roberto Juarez, DPCO III; Jill Pollonais, DPCO III; Justin Burdine, DPCO III; Lisa Pimntel, Sr DPO; Rebecca Convery, Sr DPO; Rogelio Cruz, Sr DPO; Lizeth Ornelas, Sr DPO; Stacey Thompson, Food Services Manager; Youth: Christopher, age 18; Adrian, age 19; Anthony, age 23; Raul, age 17. FIELD REPRESENTATIVE: Elizabeth Gong DATE: August 13-14, 2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1321 STAFFING 211 Staffing Plan Each juvenile facility shall: (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 and staff, and meet established standards and regulations; 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. 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 1 of 15 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 200.3 ⁋ 2 Supervision of Youth exigent circumstances; 211.3.1 (a) The facility roster of staff and schedules for all VCPAJF reflect compliance with the regulation. We reviewed staffing patterns and schedules, finding the agency has sufficient coverage. Administrators are making substantive changes in how staff take time off or call out, refining a process that goes through a single point of contact, a supervisor. This new process will provide fewer opportunities for overtime coverage manipulated by staff as well as more consistency in coverage. Supervision is also enhanced by the use of Special Function staff, who provide “Floater” coverage when necessary. It is important to note the re-classification of Corrections Services Officers to Deputy ☒ Probation Officers facility-wide occurred in ☐ ☐ July 2024 and adjustments to positions continue. Currently, the agency has 66 DPO (line staff) positions and four facility housing supervisors. There are 25 vacant DPO positions and seven on Leave of Absence. The vacancies are determined by the housing of eight operational units, and on the day of inspection, there were seven units occupied by youth. We again provided technical assistance to consider classification adjustments to condense populations. On the day of the inspection, there were 15 youths in two units for SYTF, 10 youths in two units for commitment youth, and 19 youths in two detention units. The agency has one additional operational unit with all three populations for behavior modification or protective custody. (c) have a sufficient number of supervisory level staff to ensure adequate supervision of all staff members; ☒ 211.3.1 (b) ☐ ☐ (d) have a clearly identified person on duty at all times who is responsible for operations and activities and has 211.3.1 (c) ☒ 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; ☒ 211.3.1 (e) ☐ ☐ 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 2 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (f) have sufficient food service personnel relative to the number and security of living units, including staff 900 Food Services qualified and available to: plan menus meeting nutritional 900.3 Bullet 2 requirements of youth; provide kitchen supervision; direct ☒ food preparation and servings; conduct related training ☐ ☐ programs for culinary staff; and maintain necessary records; or, a facility may serve food that meets nutritional standards prepared by an outside source; (g) have sufficient administrative, clerical, recreational, medical, dental, mental health, building maintenance, 200.5 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, (h) assign sufficient youth supervision staff to provide continuous wide awake supervision of youth, subject to 211.3.1 (f) 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 200.3 ⁋ 2 wide-awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 10 youth in detention; The agency continues to provide adequate staffing for the facility based on mandated overtime for the facility DPOs and field DPOs who cover four hours each per pay period. There were 21 youths in detention on the day of the inspection, 20 males and one ☒ ☐ ☐ female. VCPAJF continues to train field DPOs to cover shifts for maximum supervision. Administrators have most recently made changes to the schedule and staffing plan with oversite and management of call-offs and filling shifts with a consistent approver of any changes in the day-to-day operations. (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☒ 200.3 ⁋ 2 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 200.3 ⁋ 3 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 ☒ 200.3 ⁋ 3 ☐ ☐ the facility. (E) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of 200.3.1 personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☒ 200.5 ☐ ☐ kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 3 of 15 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- This facility is not a Special Purpose ☒ awake youth supervision staff member on duty for ☐ ☐ Juvenile Hall. 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 This facility is not a Camp. ☐ ☒ wide-awake youth supervision staff member on ☐ duty for each 15 youth in the camp population; (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. 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 4 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1328 SAFETY CHECKS 0B 505.3 (a) The facility administrator shall develop and implement 505.3 (b) policy and procedures that provide for direct visual 505.3 (d) observation of youth at a minimum of every 15 minutes, at random or varied intervals during hours when youth We reviewed safety checks and audits for are asleep or when youth are in their rooms, confined in January, February, April, and June 2024 for holding cells or confined to their bed in a dormitory. each of the seven operational units in the Supervision is not replaced, but may be supplemented facility. The electronic checks are by, an audio/visual electronic surveillance system consistently between eight and 14 minutes, designed to detect overt, aggressive or assaultive ☒ recording the individual room and total youth behavior and to summon aid in emergencies. All safety ☐ ☐ in the unit. checks shall be documented with the actual time the check is completed. A DPCO III audits safety checks for late or missed checks, as well as patterned checks. For late checks, the staff responsible is noted in the Supervisor Log to allow the incident to be formally addressed, accompanied by an email to the immediate Supervisor of the staff. 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 5 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1354.5 ROOM CONFINEMENT 1B 601 Room Confinement (RC) (a) The facility administrator shall develop and implement written policies and procedures addressing The VCPAJF agency reported 193 incidents the confinement of youth in their room that are of Room Confinement from January 2024 to consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code Section the date of the inspection. 208.3. The placement of a youth in room confinement shall be accomplished in accordance with the following After a safety and security-related incident, guidelines: staff initiate an RC Log which prompts them to initiate specific documentation practices and alerts to senior staff. Agency policy and procedures include the staff recording behavior and attempts to remove the youth from RC status as soon as the threat is minimized. When this happens, youth must agree to respond with appropriate behaviors in a contract format to document the expectations when removed. We reviewed 15 RC incidents of the 133 incidents for Detention youth. The agency completes a form articulating the need to keep a youth on RC beyond four hours, with emphasis on noting the youth’s agreement to complete a Behavior Contract, which is the process for a youth’s reintegration back ☒ into normal programming. Each incident ☐ ☐ reviewed included a youth-on-youth assault, assault to youth, or assault to staff. We found the agency appropriately uses RC for incidents that pose a safety and security risk to other youth, staff, or facility operations. Staff and supervisors document youth responses and attempts to reintegrate youth into programming, including behavior health input and involvement. Behavior Health intervention documentation was included in the reviewed incidents when they responded. For youth on RC at bedtime, the agency had a few incidents in which RC did not begin until the following morning. We provided technical assistance indicating RC is initiated at the placement of the youth in their room. Log entries and Incident reports were detailed indicating the plan for RC at bedtime, but the clock did not start until 6:00 am the following morning. Because the IR was clear in the documentation, we found compliance based on this and practice. (1) Room confinement shall not be used before other, less restrictive, options have been attempted 601.4 (a) and exhausted, unless attempting those options ☒ ☐ ☐ poses a threat to the safety or security of any youth or staff. 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 6 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (2) Room confinement shall not be used for the purposes of punishment, coercion, convenience, or ☒ 601.4 (b) ☐ ☐ retaliation by staff. (3) Room confinement shall not be used to the extent that it compromises the mental and physical health ☒ 601.4 (c) ☐ ☐ of the youth. (b) A youth may be held up to four hours in room confinement. After the youth has been held in room 601.4.5 (a) ☒ confinement for a period of four hours, staff shall do one ☐ ☐ or more of the following: (1) Return the youth to general population. ☒ 601.4.5 (a) (1) ☐ ☐ (2) Consult with mental health or medical staff. ☒ 601.4.5 (a) (2) ☐ ☐ (3) Develop an individualized plan that includes the goals and objectives to be met in order to reintegrate ☒ 601.4.5 (a) (3) ☐ ☐ the youth to general population. (4) If room confinement must be extended beyond four hours, staff shall do each of the following: 601.4.5 (b) (A) Document the reasons for room confinement 601.4.5 (b)(1) 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 ☒ 601.4.5 (b)(2) ☐ ☐ integrate the youth to general population. (C) Obtain documented authorization by the facility superintendent or his or her designee ☒ 601.4.5 (b)(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 601.1.1 ☒ 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 ☒ 102.2.1 ☐ ☐ protections to youth. (8) This section does not apply during an extraordinary emergency circumstance that requires 400 Facility Emergencies a significant departure from normal institutional 400.3.1 Emergency Suspension of operations, including a natural disaster or facility- Standards ☒ 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. 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 7 of 15 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 501.7.2 protect against the spread of a communicable 519 Medical Separation 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. 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 8 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1357 USE OF FORCE 511 Use of Force (UF) The facility administrator, in cooperation with the 511.3 ⁋ 6 responsible physician, shall develop and implement 511.3.3 Health Care assistance in written policies and procedures for the use of force, developing policy which may include chemical agents. Force shall never 301 Use of Force-Administration Manual be applied as punishment, discipline, retaliation or treatment. There were 126 UF incidents from January (a) At a minimum, each facility shall develop policies and 2024 to the date of the inspection, of which procedures which: 79 included the use of OC Spray at the VCPAJF. The agency reported that 80 of the UF incidents involved Detention youth. We reviewed 15 UF incident reports for youth in detention and found the agency documents the efforts to use the least restrictive option when available. Staff are required to include the circumstances leading to the use of force and justify why force was used. The Supervisor on duty is also required to write a Use of Force Report to include a summary of the incident, Supervisor actions (including review of video and interviews with involved staff), and lastly, the Supervisors Evaluation, which details the assessment of staff response and critique of the staff actions. ☒ ☐ ☐ Each month the agency conducts a UF Review with a committee consisting of the Facility Managers, Supervisors, and staff involved. All documentation and video footage are presented so the committee can determine if the incident was within policy. The outcome for the Review Committee is A – Within Policy; B – Within Policy but training identified; C – Staff actions referred to Professional Standards Unit; and D – Other. Of the 80 incidents involving detention youth, all were designated within policy but one included a follow-up for staff for further assessment, which was cleared 30 days later as within policy. We provided technical assistance to the agency regarding their monthly review of UF incidents. Due to changes in administrators, the facilities were delayed in reviewing incidents within a month of their occurrence. The policy articulates monthly reviews but is not specific to a review occurring within one month. It is the plan to ‘catch up’ on these high-risk reviews to ensure staff receive validation of their involvement and/or accountability for their response. 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 9 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (1) restricts the use of force to that which is deemed reasonable and necessary, as defined in Section 1302 511.3 ⁋ 1 to ensure the safety and security of youth, staff, others ☒ 511.3.1 Factors to determine ☐ ☐ and the facility. Reasonableness of Force (2) outline the force options available to staff including both physical and non-physical options and define 511.5 when those force options are appropriate. ☒ 511.5.1 ☐ ☐ FPO.08.F, 1 (3) describe force options or techniques that are expressly prohibited by the facility. 511.10 (l) 511.5.1 ⁋ 1 and 3 The policy defines that the only prohibited use of force is the Carotid Hold. If time allows, the agency's operational procedure ☒ promotes a use-of-force team approach to ☐ ☐ an incident, including a supervisor, to determine how and what type of force is appropriate given the circumstances. This process allows for ‘natural’ de-escalation and the use of the least amount of force necessary. (4) describe the requirements of staff to report any inappropriate use of force, and to take affirmative 511.3.2 Duty to Intervene action to immediately stop it. ☒ 511.6 ☐ ☐ 511.6.1 (5) define a standardized reporting format that includes time period and procedure for documenting 511.6 Reporting UF and reporting the use of force, including reporting 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. 511.9 UF Review ☒ ☐ ☐ 511.91 UF Review Committee (7) define the role, notification, and follow-up procedures required after use of force incidents for 511.6.1 Notifications to Medical, Mental medical, mental health staff and parents or legal ☒ Health, and Parent ☐ ☐ guardians. 517.5 (8) describe the limitations of use of force on pregnant youth in accordance with Penal Code Section 6030(f) ☒ 512.9 ☐ ☐ and Welfare and Institutions Code Section 222. (b) Facilities that authorize chemical agents as a force option shall include policies and procedures that: 511.4 ⁋ 1 and 2 (1) identify who is approved to carry and/or utilize ☒ chemical agents in the facility and the type, size and ☐ ☐ the approved method of deployment for those chemical agents. 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 10 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (2) mandate that chemical agents only be used when there is an imminent threat to the youth’s safety or the 511.4.1 safety of others and only when de-escalation efforts ☒ ☐ ☐ have been unsuccessful or are not reasonably possible. (3) outline the facility’s approved methods and timelines for decontamination from chemical agents. 511.4 ⁋ 3 and 5 This shall include that youth who have been exposed ☒ FPO.08.L, 2 to chemical agents shall not be left unattended until ☐ ☐ FPO.08.L, 4 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 511.6.1 Notifications to Medical, Mental ☒ involving chemical agents for medical, mental health ☐ ☐ Health, and Parent staff and parents or legal guardians. (5) provide for the documentation of each incident of use of chemical agents, including the reasons for 511.6 (g) which it was used, efforts to de-escalate prior to use, FPO.08.I, 2 youth and staff involved, the date, time and location ☒ FPO.08. 4 ☐ ☐ 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 300.3.1 in use of force and chemical agents when appropriate 511.4 ☒ that address: ☐ ☐ 511.10 (i) (1) known medical and behavioral health conditions that would contraindicate certain types of force; (2) acceptable chemical agents and the methods of application. ☒ 511.4 ⁋ 2 ☐ ☐ (3) signs or symptoms that should result in immediate referral to medical or behavioral health. ☒ 511.10 (j) ☐ ☐ (4) instruction on the Constitutional Limitations of Use of Force. ☒ 511.10 (i) ☐ ☐ (5) physical training force options that may require the use of perishable skills. ☒ 511.3 ⁋ 2 ☐ ☐ 511.10 (6) timelines the facility uses to define regular training. 300 Training ☒ ☐ ☐ 511.10 Initial and Annual Training 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 11 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1361 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE 606 Youth Grievances The facility administrator shall develop and implement 606.3 ⁋ 1 written policies and procedures whereby any youth may appeal and have resolved grievances relating to any The VCPAJF agency reported 72 condition of confinement, including but not limited to grievances filed from January 2024 through health care services, classification decisions, program July 2024, an average of just over 10 per participation, telephone, mail or visiting procedures, month. The process and form are compliant food, clothing, bedding, mistreatment, harassment or with regulation and policy, allowing youth to violations of the nondiscrimination policy. There shall be communicate and staff to be responsive to no time limit on filing grievances. Policies and ☒ ☐ ☐ the operational procedures used. procedures shall include provisions whereby the facility manager ensures: We reviewed all the grievances filed in January, April, and July 2024 and found them to be timely with appropriate sanctions. Staff continue to document the conversations with the youth, allowing them to understand the behavior and sanction, or to find a resolution for a condition of confinement the youth did not agree with. (a) a grievance form and instructions for registering a grievance, which includes provisions for the youth to ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.3 Bullet 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 ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.3 Bullet 8 supervision staff working in the facility; (c) resolution of the grievance at the lowest appropriate staff level; ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.3 Bullet 2 (d) provision for a prompt review and initial response to grievances within three (3) business days, grievances ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.2 ⁋ 3 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 606.4.5 (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. ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.5 (b) (e) provision for a written response to the grievance which includes the reasons for the decisions; ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.3 (f) a system which provides that any appeal of a grievance shall be heard by a person not directly 606.4.5 (a) ☒ ☐ ☐ 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 ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.2 ⁋ 4 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. 606.5 ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.5.1 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 12 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS Whether or not associated with a grievance, concerns of parents, guardians, staff or other parties shall be 606.4.5 (c) ☒ ☐ ☐ addressed and documented in accordance with written policies and procedures within a specified timeframe. 1371 PROGRAMS, RECREATION, AND 2B EXERCISE. 1002 Programs, Recreation, and Exercise 1002.2 The facility administrator shall develop and implement written policies and procedures for programs, ☒ ☐ ☐ recreation, and exercise for all youth. The intent is to minimize the amount of time youth are in their rooms or their bed area. Juvenile facilities shall provide the opportunity for programs, recreation, and exercise a minimum of three 1002.3 ⁋ 1 hours a day during the week and five hours a day each Saturday, Sunday or other non-school days, of which ☒ ☐ ☐ We found proof of practice for this regulation one hour shall be an outdoor activity, weather in our review of the Unit Schedules, permitting. Programming Audits (completed daily), and interviews with youth and staff. A youth’s participation in programs, recreation, and exercise may be suspended only upon a written finding 1002.3 ⁋ 2 by the administrator/manager or designee that a youth ☒ ☐ ☐ 1002.7 ⁋ 4 represents a threat to the safety and security of the facility. Such program, recreation, and exercise schedule shall be posted in the living units. ☒ ☐ ☐ 1002.3 ⁋ 3 There will be a written annual review of the programs, recreation, and exercise by the responsible agency to 1000.3 (l) ensure content offered is current, consistent, and relevant to the population. A review of Programming at the Juvenile ☒ ☐ ☐ Facility was completed on May 1, 2024, by Chief Deputy Carrie Vredenburg and Division Managers Teresa Jimenez and John Tormey. 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 13 of 15 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 1000.2 include, but not be limited to, trauma focused, cognitive, 1000.3 evidence-based, best practice interventions that are 1002.6 culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate, or pro- social interventions and activities designed to reduce Programming continues to include and/or recidivism. These programs should be based on the address Victim Awareness, Substance youth’s individual needs as required by Sections 1355 Abuse, Conflict Resolution, Anger and 1356. Such programs may be provided under the Management, Parenting Skills, Gender direction of the Chief Probation Officer or the County Programming, Mental Health Services, Office of Education and can be administered by county Positive Youth Development, Building partners such as mental health agencies, community Effective Decision-Making Skills, and other based organizations, faith-based organizations or topics that suit the needs of the youth Probation staff. population. The Juvenile Facility conducts Programs may include but are not limited to: daily program audits to ensure all youth are (1) Cognitive Behavior Interventions; afforded a minimum of one hour daily of the (2) Management of Stress and Trauma; programs provided below. We found the (3) Anger Management; Boys and Girls Club has hired a second (4) Conflict Resolution; Program Coordinator and the agency has (5) Juvenile Justice System; contracted with Interface Children and (6) Trauma-related interventions; Family Services to provide programming (7) Victim Awareness; services with a Coordinator. (8) Self-Improvement; (9) Parenting Skills and support; Available programs include Healthy (10) Tolerance and Diversity; Lifestyles - Women of Substance Men of (11) Healing Informed Approaches; Honor (WOSMOH); Interactive Journaling; (12) Interventions by Credible Messengers; Ventura County Arts Council (art, guitar, (13) Gender Specific Programming; poetry, drumming, and mural painting); (14) Art, creative writing, or self-expression; Healthy Lifestyles; Brent’s Club and Smart (15) CPR and First Aid training; Girls (Boys and Girls Club facilitate); Dating (16) Restorative Justice or Civic Engagement; ☒ ☐ ☐ Matters; First 5 Parenting Program; (17) Career and leadership opportunities; and, Podcasting; ADPS Tablets; STEPS-Y; Word (18) Other topics suitable to the youth population. on the Street; City Impact; Forever Found (CSEC youth); Passport to Manhood; ARISE; Operation Peace Works; Podcasting; Book Club; Word on the Street; Mando Mentors; Gender Specific Services and, Music N Society. Ventura County Behavior Health provides the following: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); Drug and Alcohol Programs (individual and group); Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT); Seeking Safety; Anger Management and Conflict Resolution; Reins of HOPE (equine therapy); Family Counseling; Individual and Group Therapy; Co-Parent Counseling; Therapy Dog Program; Sex Offender Treatment. Educational Programs include Paxton Patterson (Construction Trades Program); Providence Scholars Program (online college); College Success; Literacy Tutors; READ Adult Literacy Program; and, a Driving Simulator. Re-entry services include First Aide/CPR; Alpha Leadership; Forever Found Case Management; Money Matters; Auto Tech; Second Chance Re-entry Services; 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 14 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS Reducing Risks for Girls; Harm to Healing Restorative Justice; Alpha Leadership; and, Court Appointed Special Advocates. We spoke with Fernando from the Mando Mentors Program and were able to observe his interactions with the graduated youth. He has recently met with Scott Budnick regarding Ventura’s youth programming and has worked with Luis Venegas, another local youth advocate, who has Podcasts to engage youth locally. He hopes to bring in more speakers of this caliber to the youth population. (b) Recreation. All youth shall be provided the opportunity for at least one hour of daily access to unscheduled 1002.5 activities such as leisure reading, letter writing, and entertainment. Activities shall be supervised and include ☒ ☐ ☐ Recreation Programs include Library Carts; orientation and may include coaching of youth. Organized Games; Chess; Special Events; and the Boys and Girls Club Rec Center. (c) Exercise. All youth shall be provided with the opportunity for at least one hour of large muscle activity 1002.4 each day. Large Muscle Exercise is facilitated by staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Other exercise activities include Futsal, Basketball, Boys and Girls Club Gym, and Special Events. The administrator/manager may suspend, for a period not to exceed 24 hours, access to recreation and 1002.7 ⁋ 3 programs. The administrator/manager shall document ☒ ☐ ☐ the reasons why suspension of recreation and programs occurs. 7727 Ventura VCPAJF Detention Services JH Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 15 of 15 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: 7728 FACILITY NAME: VCPAJF Commitment Services FACILITY TYPE: Camp PERSON(S) INTERVIEWED: Gina Johnson, Chief Probation Officer; Carrie Vredenburg, Deputy Chief Probation Officer; John Tormey, Division Manager - Housing; Teresa Jimenez, Division Manager - Housing; Hiediann Cobos, Division Manager - Operations; Chris Martinez, Supervising Deputy Probation Officer Operations (SDPO); Rebecca Jimenez, DPCO III (DPCO III) Operations; Karen Sewell, SDPO Housing; Nora Madrigal, SDPO Housing; Matthew Mattavich, SDPO Housing; Ref Rodriguez, SDPO Housing; Roberta Pineda, DPCO III; Roberto Juarez, DPCO III; Jill Pollonais, DPCO III; Justin Burdine, DPCO III; Lisa Pimntel, SrDPO; Rebecca Convery, Sr DPO; Rogelio Cruz, Sr DPO; Lizeth Ornelas, Sr DPO; Stacey Thompson, Food Services Manager; Youth: Christopher, age 18; Adrian, age 19; Anthony, age 23; Raul, age 17. FIELD REPRESENTATIVE: Elizabeth Gong DATE: August 13-15, 2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1321 STAFFING 211 Staffing Plan Each juvenile facility shall: (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 and staff, and meet established standards and regulations; 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. 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 1 of 15 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 200.3 ⁋ 2 Supervision of Youth exigent circumstances; 211.3.1 (a) The facility roster of staff and schedules for all VCPAJF reflect compliance with the regulation. We reviewed staffing patterns and schedules, finding the agency has sufficient coverage. Administrators are making substantive changes in how staff take time off or call out, refining a process that goes through a single point of contact, a supervisor. This new process will provide fewer opportunities for overtime coverage manipulated by staff as well as more consistency in coverage. Supervision is also enhanced by the use of Special Function staff, who provide “Floater” coverage when necessary. It is important to note the re-classification of Corrections Services Officers to Deputy Probation Officers facility-wide occurred in ☒ ☐ ☐ July 2024 and adjustments to positions continue. Currently, the agency has 66 DPO (line staff) positions and four facility housing supervisors. There are 25 vacant DPO positions and seven on Leave of Absence. The vacancies are determined by the housing of eight operational units, and on the day of inspection, there were seven units occupied by youth. We again provided technical assistance to consider classification adjustments to condense populations. On the day of the inspection, there were 15 youths in two units for SYTF, 10 youths in two units for commitment youth, and 19 youths in two detention units. The agency has one additional operational unit with eight youths including all three populations for behavior modification or protective custody. (c) have a sufficient number of supervisory level staff to ensure adequate supervision of all staff members; ☒ 211.3.1 (b) ☐ ☐ (d) have a clearly identified person on duty at all times who is responsible for operations and activities and has 211.3.1 (c) ☒ 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; ☒ 211.3.1 (e) ☐ ☐ 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 2 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (f) have sufficient food service personnel relative to the number and security of living units, including staff 900 Food Services qualified and available to: plan menus meeting nutritional 900.3 Bullet 2 requirements of youth; provide kitchen supervision; direct ☒ food preparation and servings; conduct related training ☐ ☐ programs for culinary staff; and maintain necessary records; or, a facility may serve food that meets nutritional standards prepared by an outside source; (g) have sufficient administrative, clerical, recreational, medical, dental, mental health, building maintenance, 200.5 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, (h) assign sufficient youth supervision staff to provide continuous wide awake supervision of youth, subject to 211.3.1 (f) 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. (2) Special Purpose Juvenile Halls (A) during hours that youth are awake, one wide- This facility is not a Special Purpose ☒ awake youth supervision staff member on duty for ☐ ☐ Juvenile Hall. 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. 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 3 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (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 200.3 ⁋ 2 wide-awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 15 youth in the camp population; The agency continues to provide adequate staffing for the facility based on mandated overtime for the facility DPOs and field DPOs who cover four hours each per pay period. VCPAJF continues to train field DPOs to cover shifts for maximum supervision. Administrators have most recently made ☒ changes to the schedule and staffing plan ☐ ☐ with oversite and management of call-offs and filling shifts with a consistent approver of any changes in the day-to-day operations. On the day of the inspection, there were 12 youths committed to the Commitment Program,11 male youths and one female youth. Ten of the youth are in two separate units, with two additional youth in a combined population unit. (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☒ 200.3 ⁋ 2 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 200.3 ⁋ 3 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 ☒ 200.3 ⁋ 3 ☐ ☐ the facility; (E) in addition to the minimum staff to youth ratio required in (h)(3)(A)-(B), consideration shall be 211.3.1 (g)(1) 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 200.5 personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☒ ☐ ☐ farm, forestry, kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 4 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1328 SAFETY CHECKS 0B 505.3 (a) The facility administrator shall develop and implement 505.3 (b) policy and procedures that provide for direct visual 505.3 (d) observation of youth at a minimum of every 15 minutes, at random or varied intervals during hours when youth We reviewed safety checks and audits for are asleep or when youth are in their rooms, confined in January, February, April, and June 2024 for holding cells or confined to their bed in a dormitory. each of the seven operational units in the Supervision is not replaced, but may be supplemented facility. The electronic checks are by, an audio/visual electronic surveillance system consistently between eight and 14 minutes, designed to detect overt, aggressive or assaultive ☒ recording the individual room and total youth behavior and to summon aid in emergencies. All safety ☐ ☐ in the unit. checks shall be documented with the actual time the check is completed. A DPCO III audits safety checks for late or missed checks, as well as patterned checks. For late checks, the staff responsible is noted in the Supervisor’s Log to allow the incident to be formally addressed, accompanied by an email to the immediate Supervisor of the staff. 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 5 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1354.5 ROOM CONFINEMENT 1B 601 Room Confinement (RC) (a) The facility administrator shall develop and implement written policies and procedures addressing The VCPAJF agency reported 193 incidents the confinement of youth in their room that are of Room Confinement from January 2024 to consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code Section the date of the inspection. 208.3. The placement of a youth in room confinement shall be accomplished in accordance with the following After a safety and security-related incident, guidelines: staff initiate an RC Log which prompts them to initiate specific documentation practices and alerts to senior staff. Agency policy and procedures include the staff recording behavior and attempts to remove the youth from RC status as soon as the threat is minimized. When this happens, youth must agree to respond with appropriate behaviors in a contract format to document the expectations when removed. We reviewed 15 RC incidents of the 39 incidents for Commitment youth. The agency completes a form articulating the need to keep a youth on RC beyond four hours, with emphasis on noting the youth’s agreement to complete a Behavior Contract, which is the process for a youth’s ☒ reintegration back into normal programming. ☐ ☐ Each incident reviewed included a youth-on- youth assault, assault to youth, or assault to staff. We found the agency appropriately uses RC for incidents that pose a safety and security risk to other youth, staff, or facility operations. Staff and supervisors document youth responses and attempts to reintegrate youth into programming, including behavior health input and involvement. Behavior Health intervention documentation was included in the reviewed incidents. For youth on RC at bedtime, the agency had a few incidents in which RC did not begin until the following morning. We provided technical assistance indicating RC is initiated at the placement of the youth in their room. Log entries and Incident reports were detailed indicating the plan for RC at bedtime, but the clock did not start until 6:00 am the following morning. Because the IR was clear in the documentation, we found compliance based on this and practice. (1) Room confinement shall not be used before other, less restrictive, options have been attempted 601.4 (a) and exhausted, unless attempting those options ☒ ☐ ☐ poses a threat to the safety or security of any youth or staff. 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 6 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (2) Room confinement shall not be used for the purposes of punishment, coercion, convenience, or ☒ 601.4 (b) ☐ ☐ retaliation by staff. (3) Room confinement shall not be used to the extent that it compromises the mental and physical health ☒ 601.4 (c) ☐ ☐ of the youth. (b) A youth may be held up to four hours in room confinement. After the youth has been held in room 601.4.5 (a) ☒ confinement for a period of four hours, staff shall do one ☐ ☐ or more of the following: (1) Return the youth to general population. ☒ 601.4.5 (a) (1) ☐ ☐ (2) Consult with mental health or medical staff. ☒ 601.4.5 (a) (2) ☐ ☐ (3) Develop an individualized plan that includes the goals and objectives to be met in order to reintegrate ☒ 601.4.5 (a) (3) ☐ ☐ the youth to general population. (4) If room confinement must be extended beyond four hours, staff shall do each of the following: 601.4.5 (b) (A) Document the reasons for room confinement 601.4.5 (b)(1) 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 ☒ 601.4.5 (b)(2) ☐ ☐ integrate the youth to general population. (C) Obtain documented authorization by the facility superintendent or his or her designee ☒ 601.4.5 (b)(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 601.1.1 ☒ 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 ☒ 102.2.1 ☐ ☐ protections to youth. (8) This section does not apply during an extraordinary emergency circumstance that requires 400 Facility Emergencies a significant departure from normal institutional 400.3.1 Emergency Suspension of operations, including a natural disaster or facility- Standards ☒ 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. 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 7 of 15 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 501.7.2 protect against the spread of a communicable 519 Medical Separation 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. 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 8 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1357 USE OF FORCE 511 Use of Force (UF) The facility administrator, in cooperation with the 511.3 ⁋ 6 responsible physician, shall develop and implement 511.3.3 Health Care assistance in written policies and procedures for the use of force, developing policy which may include chemical agents. Force shall never 301 Use of Force-Administration Manual be applied as punishment, discipline, retaliation or treatment. There were 126 UF incidents from January (a) At a minimum, each facility shall develop policies and 2024 to the date of the inspection, of which procedures which: 79 included the use of OC Spray at the VCPAJF. The agency reported 32 of the UF incidents involving Commitment youth. We reviewed 15 UF incident reports for youth in commitment and found the agency documents the efforts to use the least restrictive option when available. Staff are required to include the circumstances leading to the use of force and justify why force was used. The Supervisor on duty is also required to write a Use of Force Report to include a summary of the incident, Supervisor actions (including review of video and interviews with involved staff), and lastly, the Supervisors Evaluation, which details the assessment of staff response and critique of the staff actions. ☒ ☐ ☐ Each month the agency conducts a UF Review with a committee consisting of the Facility Managers, Supervisors, and staff involved. All documentation and video footage are presented so the committee can determine if the incident was within policy. The outcome for the Review Committee is A – Within Policy; B – Within Policy but training identified; C – Staff actions referred to Professional Standards Unit; and D – Other. Of the 39 incidents involving commitment youth, all were designated within policy. We provided technical assistance to the agency regarding their monthly review of UF incidents. Due to changes in administrators, the facilities were delayed in reviewing incidents within a month of their occurrence. The policy articulates monthly reviews but is not specific to a review occurring within one month. It is the plan to ‘catch up’ on these high-risk reviews to ensure staff receive validation of their involvement and/or accountability for their response. (1) restricts the use of force to that which is deemed reasonable and necessary, as defined in Section 1302 511.3 ⁋ 1 to ensure the safety and security of youth, staff, others ☒ 511.3.1 Factors to Determine ☐ ☐ and the facility. Reasonableness of Force 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 9 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (2) outline the force options available to staff including both physical and non-physical options and define 511.5 when those force options are appropriate. ☒ 511.5.1 ☐ ☐ FPO.08.F, 1 (3) describe force options or techniques that are expressly prohibited by the facility. 511.10 (l) 511.5.1 ⁋ 1 and 3 The policy defines the only prohibited use of force as the Carotid Hold. If time allows, the agency's operational procedure promotes a ☒ ☐ ☐ use-of-force team approach to an incident, including a supervisor, to determine how and what type of force is appropriate given the circumstances. This process allows for a ‘natural’ de-escalation and the use of the least amount of force necessary. (4) describe the requirements of staff to report any inappropriate use of force, and to take affirmative 511.3.2 Duty to Intervene action to immediately stop it. ☒ 511.6 ☐ ☐ 511.6.1 (5) define a standardized reporting format that includes time period and procedure for documenting 511.6 Reporting UF and reporting the use of force, including reporting 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. 511.9 UF Review ☒ ☐ ☐ 511.91 UF Review Committee (7) define the role, notification, and follow-up procedures required after use of force incidents for 511.6.1 Notifications to Medical, Mental medical, mental health staff and parents or legal ☒ Health, and Parent ☐ ☐ guardians. 517.5 (8) describe the limitations of use of force on pregnant youth in accordance with Penal Code Section 6030(f) ☒ 512.9 ☐ ☐ and Welfare and Institutions Code Section 222. (b) Facilities that authorize chemical agents as a force option shall include policies and procedures that: 511.4 ⁋ 1 and 2 (1) identify who is approved to carry and/or utilize ☒ chemical agents in the facility and the type, size and ☐ ☐ the approved method of deployment for those chemical agents. (2) mandate that chemical agents only be used when there is an imminent threat to the youth’s safety or the 511.4.1 safety of others and only when de-escalation efforts ☒ ☐ ☐ have been unsuccessful or are not reasonably possible. 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 10 of 15 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. 511.4 ⁋ 3 and 5 This shall include that youth who have been exposed ☒ FPO.08.L, 2 to chemical agents shall not be left unattended until ☐ ☐ FPO.08.L, 4 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 511.6.1 Notifications to Medical, Mental ☒ involving chemical agents for medical, mental health ☐ ☐ Health, and Parent staff and parents or legal guardians. (5) provide for the documentation of each incident of use of chemical agents, including the reasons for 511.6 (g) which it was used, efforts to de-escalate prior to use, FPO.08.I, 2 youth and staff involved, the date, time and location ☒ FPO.08. 4 ☐ ☐ 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 300.3.1 in use of force and chemical agents when appropriate 511.4 ☒ that address: ☐ ☐ 511.10 (i) (1) known medical and behavioral health conditions that would contraindicate certain types of force; (2) acceptable chemical agents and the methods of application. ☒ 511.4 ⁋ 2 ☐ ☐ (3) signs or symptoms that should result in immediate referral to medical or behavioral health. ☒ 511.10 (j) ☐ ☐ (4) instruction on the Constitutional Limitations of Use of Force. ☒ 511.10 (i) ☐ ☐ (5) physical training force options that may require the use of perishable skills. ☒ 511.3 ⁋ 2 ☐ ☐ 511.10 (6) timelines the facility uses to define regular training. 300 Training ☒ ☐ ☐ 511.10 Initial and Annual Training 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 11 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1361 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE 606 Youth Grievances The facility administrator shall develop and implement 606.3 ⁋ 1 written policies and procedures whereby any youth may appeal and have resolved grievances relating to any The VCPAJF agency reported 72 condition of confinement, including but not limited to grievances filed from January 2024 through health care services, classification decisions, program July 2024, an average of just over 10 per participation, telephone, mail or visiting procedures, month. The process and form are compliant food, clothing, bedding, mistreatment, harassment or with regulation and policy, allowing youth to violations of the nondiscrimination policy. There shall be communicate and staff to be responsive to no time limit on filing grievances. Policies and ☒ ☐ ☐ the operational procedures used. procedures shall include provisions whereby the facility manager ensures: We reviewed all the grievances filed in January, April, and July 2024 and found them to be timely with appropriate sanctions. Staff continue to document the conversations with the youth, allowing them to understand the behavior and sanction, or to find a resolution for a condition of confinement the youth did not agree with. (a) a grievance form and instructions for registering a grievance, which includes provisions for the youth to ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.3 Bullet 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 ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.3 Bullet 8 supervision staff working in the facility; (c) resolution of the grievance at the lowest appropriate staff level; ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.3 Bullet 2 (d) provision for a prompt review and initial response to grievances within three (3) business days, grievances ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.2 ⁋ 3 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 606.4.5 (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. ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.5 (b) (e) provision for a written response to the grievance which includes the reasons for the decisions; ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.3 (f) a system which provides that any appeal of a grievance shall be heard by a person not directly 606.4.5 (a) ☒ ☐ ☐ 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 ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.2 ⁋ 4 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. 606.5 ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.5.1 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 12 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS Whether or not associated with a grievance, concerns of parents, guardians, staff or other parties shall be 606.4.5 (c) ☒ ☐ ☐ addressed and documented in accordance with written policies and procedures within a specified timeframe. 1371 PROGRAMS, RECREATION, AND 2B EXERCISE. 1002 Programs, Recreation and Exercise 1002.2 The facility administrator shall develop and implement written policies and procedures for programs, ☒ ☐ ☐ recreation, and exercise for all youth. The intent is to minimize the amount of time youth are in their rooms or their bed area. Juvenile facilities shall provide the opportunity for programs, recreation, and exercise a minimum of three 1002.3 ⁋ 1 hours a day during the week and five hours a day each Saturday, Sunday or other non-school days, of which We found proof of practice for this regulation ☒ ☐ ☐ one hour shall be an outdoor activity, weather in our review of the Unit Schedules, permitting. Programming Audits (completed daily), and interviews with youth and staff. A youth’s participation in programs, recreation, and exercise may be suspended only upon a written finding 1002.3 ⁋ 2 by the administrator/manager or designee that a youth ☒ ☐ ☐ 1002.7 ⁋ 4 represents a threat to the safety and security of the facility. Such program, recreation, and exercise schedule shall be posted in the living units. ☒ ☐ ☐ 1002.3 ⁋ 3 There will be a written annual review of the programs, recreation, and exercise by the responsible agency to 1000.3 (l) ensure content offered is current, consistent, and relevant to the population. A review of Programming at the Juvenile ☒ ☐ ☐ Facility was completed on May 1, 2024, by Chief Deputy Carrie Vredenburg and Division Managers Teresa Jimenez and John Tormey. 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 13 of 15 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 1000.2 include, but not be limited to, trauma focused, cognitive, 1000.3 evidence-based, best practice interventions that are 1002.6 culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate, or pro- social interventions and activities designed to reduce Programming continues to address Victim recidivism. These programs should be based on the Awareness, Substance Abuse, Conflict youth’s individual needs as required by Sections 1355 Resolution, Anger Management, Parenting and 1356. Such programs may be provided under the Skills, Gender Programming, Mental Health direction of the Chief Probation Officer or the County Services, Positive Youth Development, Office of Education and can be administered by county Building Effective Decision-Making Skills, partners such as mental health agencies, community and other topics that suit the needs of the based organizations, faith-based organizations or youth population. The Juvenile Facility Probation staff. conducts daily program audits to ensure all Programs may include but are not limited to: youth are afforded a minimum of one hour (1) Cognitive Behavior Interventions; daily of the programs provided below. We (2) Management of Stress and Trauma; found the Boys and Girls Club has hired a (3) Anger Management; second Program Coordinator and the (4) Conflict Resolution; agency has contracted with Interface (5) Juvenile Justice System; Children and Family Services to provide (6) Trauma-related interventions; programming services and a Coordinator. (7) Victim Awareness; (8) Self-Improvement; Available programs include Healthy (9) Parenting Skills and support; Lifestyles - Women of Substance Men of (10) Tolerance and Diversity; Honor (WOSMOH); Interactive Journaling; (11) Healing Informed Approaches; Ventura County Arts Council (art, guitar, (12) Interventions by Credible Messengers; poetry, drumming, and mural painting); (13) Gender Specific Programming; Healthy Lifestyles; Brent’s Club and Smart (14) Art, creative writing, or self-expression; Girls (Boys and Girls Club facilitate); Dating (15) CPR and First Aid training; Matters; First 5 Parenting Program; (16) Restorative Justice or Civic Engagement; ☒ ☐ ☐ Podcasting; ADPS Tablets; STEPS-Y; Word (17) Career and leadership opportunities; and, on the Street; City Impact; Forever Found (18) Other topics suitable to the youth population. (CSEC youth); Passport to Manhood; ARISE; Operation Peace Works; Podcasting; Book Club; Word on the Street; Mando Mentors; Gender Specific Services and, Music N Society. Ventura County Behavior Health provides the following: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); Drug and Alcohol Programs (individual and group); Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT); Seeking Safety; Anger Management and Conflict Resolution; Reins of HOPE (equine therapy); Family Counseling; Individual and Group Therapy; Co-Parent Counseling; Therapy Dog Program; Sex Offender Treatment. Educational Programs include Paxton Patterson (Construction Trades Program); Providence Scholars Program (online college); College Success; Literacy Tutors; READ Adult Literacy Program; and a Driving Simulator. Re-entry services include First Aide/CPR; Alpha Leadership; Forever Found Case Management; Money Matters; Auto Tech; Second Chance Re-entry Services; Reducing Risks for Girls; Harm to Healing 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 14 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS Restorative Justice; Alpha Leadership; and Court Appointed Special Advocates. We spoke with Fernando from the Mando Mentors Program and were able to observe his interactions with the graduated youth. He has recently met with Scott Budnick regarding Ventura’s youth programming and has worked with Luis Venegas, another local youth advocate who has Podcasts to engage youth locally. He hopes to bring in more speakers of this caliber to the youth population. (b) Recreation. All youth shall be provided the opportunity for at least one hour of daily access to unscheduled 1002.5 activities such as leisure reading, letter writing, and entertainment. Activities shall be supervised and include ☒ ☐ ☐ Recreation Programs include Library Carts; orientation and may include coaching of youth. Organized Games; Chess; Special Events; and the Boys and Girls Club Rec Center. (c) Exercise. All youth shall be provided with the opportunity for at least one hour of large muscle activity 1002.4 each day. Large Muscle Exercise is facilitated by staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Other exercise activities include Futsal, Basketball, Boys and Girls Club Gym, and Special Events. The administrator/manager may suspend, for a period not to exceed 24 hours, access to recreation and 1002.7 ⁋ 3 programs. The administrator/manager shall document ☒ ☐ ☐ the reasons why suspension of recreation and programs occurs. 7728 Ventura VCPAJF Commitment Services CAMP Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 15 of 15 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: 7740 FACILITY NAME: Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS FACILITY TYPE: SYTF PERSON(S) INTERVIEWED: Gina Johnson, Chief Probation Officer; Carrie Vredenburg, Deputy Chief Probation Officer; John Tormey, Division Manager - Housing; Teresa Jimenez, Division Manager - Housing; Hiediann Cobos, Division Manager - Operations; Chris Martinez, Supervising Deputy Probation Officer Operations (SDPO); Rebecca Jimenez, DPCO III (DPCO III) Operations; Karen Sewell, SDPO Housing; Nora Madrigal, SDPO Housing; Matthew Mattavich, SDPO Housing; Ref Rodriguez, SDPO Housing; Roberta Pineda, DPCO III; Roberto Juarez, DPCO III; Jill Pollonais, DPCO III; Justin Burdine, DPCO III; Lisa Pimentel, SrDPO; Rebecca Convery, Sr DPO; Rogelio Cruz, Sr DPO; Lizeth Ornelas, Sr DPO; Stacey Thompson, Food Services Manager; Youth: Christopher, age 18; Adrian, age 19; Anthony, age 23; Raul, age 17. FIELD REPRESENTATIVE: Elizabeth Gong DATE: August 13-14, 2024 **We were advised the agency has no youth in SYTF Detention and will only place youth in the SYTF Commitment Program. This checklist is for Policy and Procedure Designation and overall facility information only, nothing specific to SYTF Detention. TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1321 STAFFING 211 Staffing Plan Each juvenile facility shall: (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 and staff, and meet established standards and regulations; 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. 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 1 of 15 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 200.3 ⁋ 2 Supervision of Youth exigent circumstances; 211.3.1 (a) The facility roster of staff and schedules for all VCPAJF reflect compliance with regulations. We reviewed staffing patterns and schedules, finding the agency has sufficient coverage. Administrators are making substantive changes in how staff take time off or call out, refining a process that goes through a single point of contact, a Supervisor. This new process will provide fewer opportunities for overtime coverage manipulated by staff as well as more consistency in coverage. Supervision is also enhanced by the use of Special Function staff, who provide “Floater” coverage when necessary. It is important to note the re-classification of Corrections Services Officers to Deputy Probation Officers facility-wide occurred in ☒ ☐ ☐ July 2024 and adjustments to positions continue. Currently, the agency has 66 DPO (line staff) positions and four facility housing supervisors. There are 25 vacant DPO positions and seven on Leave of Absence. The vacancies are determined by the housing of eight operational units, and on the day of inspection, there were seven units occupied by youth. We again provided technical assistance to consider classification adjustments to condense populations. On the day of the inspection, there were 15 youths in two units for SYTF, 10 youths in two units for commitment youth, and 19 youths in two detention units. The agency has one additional operational unit with all three populations for behavior modification or protective custody. (c) have a sufficient number of supervisory level staff to ensure adequate supervision of all staff members; ☒ 211.3.1 (b) ☐ ☐ (d) have a clearly identified person on duty at all times who is responsible for operations and activities and has 211.3.1 (c) ☒ 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; ☒ 211.3.1 (e) ☐ ☐ 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 2 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (f) have sufficient food service personnel relative to the number and security of living units, including staff 900 Food Services qualified and available to: plan menus meeting nutritional 900.3 Bullet 2 requirements of youth; provide kitchen supervision; direct ☒ food preparation and servings; conduct related training ☐ ☐ programs for culinary staff; and maintain necessary records; or, a facility may serve food that meets nutritional standards prepared by an outside source; (g) have sufficient administrative, clerical, recreational, medical, dental, mental health, building maintenance, 200.5 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, (h) assign sufficient youth supervision staff to provide continuous wide awake supervision of youth, subject to 211.3.1 (f) 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 200.3 ⁋ 2 wide-awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 10 youth in detention; The agency continues to provide adequate staffing for the facility based on mandated overtime for the facility DPOs and field DPOs who cover four hours each per pay period. ☒ ☐ ☐ VCPAJF continues to train field DPOs to cover shifts for maximum supervision. Administrators have most recently made changes to the schedule and staffing plan with oversite and management of call-offs and filling shifts with a consistent approver of any changes in the day-to-day operations. (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☒ 200.3 ⁋ 2 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 200.3 ⁋ 3 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 ☒ 200.3 ⁋ 3 ☐ ☐ the facility. (E) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of 200.3.1 personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☒ 200.5 ☐ ☐ 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- This facility is not a Special Purpose ☒ awake youth supervision staff member on duty for ☐ ☐ Juvenile Hall. each 10 youth in detention; 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 3 of 15 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 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 This facility is not a Camp. ☒ wide-awake youth supervision staff member on ☐ ☐ duty for each 15 youth in the camp population; (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. 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 4 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1328 SAFETY CHECKS 0B 505.3 (a) The facility administrator shall develop and implement 505.3 (b) policy and procedures that provide for direct visual 505.3 (d) observation of youth at a minimum of every 15 minutes, at random or varied intervals during hours when youth We reviewed safety checks and audits for are asleep or when youth are in their rooms, confined in January, February, April, and June 2024 for holding cells or confined to their bed in a dormitory. each of the seven operational units in the Supervision is not replaced, but may be supplemented facility. The electronic checks are by, an audio/visual electronic surveillance system consistently between eight and 14 minutes, designed to detect overt, aggressive or assaultive ☒ recording the individual room and total youth behavior and to summon aid in emergencies. All safety ☐ ☐ in the unit. checks shall be documented with the actual time the check is completed. A DPCO III audits safety checks for late or missed checks, as well as patterned checks. For late checks, the staff responsible is noted in the Supervisor’s Log to allow the incident to be formally addressed, accompanied by an email to the immediate Supervisor of the staff. 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 5 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1354.5 ROOM CONFINEMENT 1B 601 Room Confinement (RC) (a) The facility administrator shall develop and implement written policies and procedures addressing The VCPAJF agency reported 193 incidents the confinement of youth in their room that are of Room Confinement from January 2024 to consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code Section the date of the inspection. We reviewed 208.3. The placement of a youth in room confinement incident reports for all 6 SYTF youth placed shall be accomplished in accordance with the following on RC during this period, accounting for 21 guidelines: separate RC incidents. After a safety and security-related incident, staff initiate an RC Log which prompts them to initiate specific documentation practices and alerts to senior staff. Agency policy and procedures include the staff recording behavior and attempts to remove the youth from RC status as soon as the threat is minimized. When this happens, youth must agree to respond with appropriate behaviors in a contract format to document the expectations when removed. We noted the agency completes a form articulating the need to keep youth on RC beyond four hours, with emphasis on noting the youth’s agreement to complete a Behavior Contract, which is the process for ☒ ☐ ☐ a youth’s reintegration back into normal programming. Each incident reviewed included a youth-on-youth assault, assault to youth, or assault to staff. We found the agency appropriately uses RC for incidents that pose a safety and security risk to other youth, staff, or facility operations. Staff and supervisors document youth responses and attempts to reintegrate youth into programming, including behavior health input and involvement. Behavior Health intervention documentation was included in the reviewed incidents. For youth on RC at bedtime, the agency had a few incidents in which RC did not begin until the following morning. We provided technical assistance indicating RC is initiated at the placement of the youth in their room. Log entries and Incident reports were detailed indicating the plan for RC at bedtime, but the clock did not start until 6:00 am the following morning. Because the IR was clear in the documentation, we found compliance based on this and practice. (1) Room confinement shall not be used before other, less restrictive, options have been attempted 601.4 (a) and exhausted, unless attempting those options ☒ ☐ ☐ poses a threat to the safety or security of any youth or staff. 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 6 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (2) Room confinement shall not be used for the purposes of punishment, coercion, convenience, or ☒ 601.4 (b) ☐ ☐ retaliation by staff. (3) Room confinement shall not be used to the extent that it compromises the mental and physical health ☒ 601.4 (c) ☐ ☐ of the youth. (b) A youth may be held up to four hours in room confinement. After the youth has been held in room 601.4.5 (a) ☒ confinement for a period of four hours, staff shall do one ☐ ☐ or more of the following: (1) Return the youth to general population. ☒ 601.4.5 (a) (1) ☐ ☐ (2) Consult with mental health or medical staff. ☒ 601.4.5 (a) (2) ☐ ☐ (3) Develop an individualized plan that includes the goals and objectives to be met in order to reintegrate ☒ 601.4.5 (a) (3) ☐ ☐ the youth to general population. (4) If room confinement must be extended beyond four hours, staff shall do each of the following: 601.4.5 (b) (A) Document the reasons for room confinement 601.4.5 (b)(1) 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 ☒ 601.4.5 (b)(2) ☐ ☐ integrate the youth to general population. (C) Obtain documented authorization by the facility superintendent or his or her designee ☒ 601.4.5 (b)(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 601.1.1 ☒ 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 ☒ 102.2.1 ☐ ☐ protections to youth. (8) This section does not apply during an extraordinary emergency circumstance that requires 400 Facility Emergencies a significant departure from normal institutional 400.3.1 Emergency Suspension of operations, including a natural disaster or facility- Standards ☒ 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. 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 7 of 15 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 501.7.2 protect against the spread of a communicable 519 Medical Separation 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. 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 8 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1357 USE OF FORCE 511 Use of Force (UF) The facility administrator, in cooperation with the 511.3 ⁋ 6 responsible physician, shall develop and implement 511.3.3 Health Care assistance in written policies and procedures for the use of force, developing policy which may include chemical agents. Force shall never 301 Use of Force-Administration Manual be applied as punishment, discipline, retaliation or treatment. There were 126 UF incidents from January (a) At a minimum, each facility shall develop policies and 2024 to the date of the inspection, of which procedures which: 79 included the use of OC Spray at the VCPAJF. We reviewed UF incident reports and found the agency documents the efforts to use the least restrictive option when available. Staff are required to include the circumstances leading to the use of force and justify why force was used. The Supervisor on duty is also required to write a Use of Force Report to include a summary of the incident, Supervisor actions (including review of video and interviews with involved staff), and lastly, the Supervisors Evaluation, which details the assessment of staff response and critique of the staff actions. Each month the agency conducts a UF ☒ ☐ ☐ Review with a committee consisting of the Facility Managers, Supervisors, and staff involved. All documentation and video footage are presented so the committee can determine if the incident was within policy. The outcome for the Review Committee is: A – Within Policy; B – Within Policy but training identified; C – Staff actions referred to Professional Standards Unit; and D – Other. Of the 80 incidents involving detention youth, all were designated within policy but one included a follow-up for staff for further assessment, which was cleared 30 days later as within policy. We provided technical assistance to the agency regarding their monthly review of UF incidents. Due to changes in administrators, the facilities were delayed in reviewing incidents within a month of their occurrence. The policy articulates monthly reviews but is not specific to a review occurring within one month. It is the plan to ‘catch up’ on these high-risk reviews to ensure staff receive validation of their involvement and/or accountability for their response. (1) restricts the use of force to that which is deemed reasonable and necessary, as defined in Section 1302 511.3 ⁋ 1 to ensure the safety and security of youth, staff, others ☒ 511.3.1 Factors to Determine ☐ ☐ and the facility. Reasonableness of Force 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 9 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (2) outline the force options available to staff including both physical and non-physical options and define 511.5 when those force options are appropriate. ☒ 511.5.1 ☐ ☐ FPO.08.F, 1 (3) describe force options or techniques that are expressly prohibited by the facility. 511.10 (l) 511.5.1 ⁋ 1 and 3 The policy defines the only prohibited use of force as the Carotid Hold. If time allows, the agency's operational procedure promotes a ☒ ☐ ☐ use-of-force team approach to an incident, including a supervisor, to determine how and what type of force is appropriate given the circumstances. This process allows for a ‘natural’ de-escalation and the use of the least amount of force necessary. (4) describe the requirements of staff to report any inappropriate use of force, and to take affirmative 511.3.2 Duty to Intervene action to immediately stop it. ☒ 511.6 ☐ ☐ 511.6.1 (5) define a standardized reporting format that includes time period and procedure for documenting 511.6 Reporting UF and reporting the use of force, including reporting 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. 511.9 UF Review ☒ ☐ ☐ 511.91 UF Review Committee (7) define the role, notification, and follow-up procedures required after use of force incidents for 511.6.1 Notifications to Medical, Mental medical, mental health staff and parents or legal ☒ Health, and Parent ☐ ☐ guardians. 517.5 (8) describe the limitations of use of force on pregnant youth in accordance with Penal Code Section 6030(f) ☒ 512.9 ☐ ☐ and Welfare and Institutions Code Section 222. (b) Facilities that authorize chemical agents as a force option shall include policies and procedures that: 511.4 ⁋ 1 and 2 (1) identify who is approved to carry and/or utilize ☒ chemical agents in the facility and the type, size and ☐ ☐ the approved method of deployment for those chemical agents. (2) mandate that chemical agents only be used when there is an imminent threat to the youth’s safety or the 511.4.1 safety of others and only when de-escalation efforts ☒ ☐ ☐ have been unsuccessful or are not reasonably possible. 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 10 of 15 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. 511.4 ⁋ 3 and 5 This shall include that youth who have been exposed ☒ FPO.08.L, 2 to chemical agents shall not be left unattended until ☐ ☐ FPO.08.L, 4 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 511.6.1 Notifications to Medical, Mental ☒ involving chemical agents for medical, mental health ☐ ☐ Health, and Parent staff and parents or legal guardians. (5) provide for the documentation of each incident of use of chemical agents, including the reasons for 511.6 (g) which it was used, efforts to de-escalate prior to use, FPO.08.I, 2 youth and staff involved, the date, time and location ☒ FPO.08. 4 ☐ ☐ 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 300.3.1 in use of force and chemical agents when appropriate 511.4 ☒ that address: ☐ ☐ 511.10 (i) (1) known medical and behavioral health conditions that would contraindicate certain types of force; (2) acceptable chemical agents and the methods of application. ☒ 511.4 ⁋ 2 ☐ ☐ (3) signs or symptoms that should result in immediate referral to medical or behavioral health. ☒ 511.10 (j) ☐ ☐ (4) instruction on the Constitutional Limitations of Use of Force. ☒ 511.10 (i) ☐ ☐ (5) physical training force options that may require the use of perishable skills. ☒ 511.3 ⁋ 2 ☐ ☐ 511.10 (6) timelines the facility uses to define regular training. 300 Training ☒ ☐ ☐ 511.10 Initial and Annual Training 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 11 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1361 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE 606 Youth Grievances The facility administrator shall develop and implement 606.3 ⁋ 1 written policies and procedures whereby any youth may appeal and have resolved grievances relating to any The VCPAJF agency reported 72 condition of confinement, including but not limited to grievances filed from January 2024 through health care services, classification decisions, program July 2024, an average of just over 10 per participation, telephone, mail or visiting procedures, month. The process and form are compliant food, clothing, bedding, mistreatment, harassment or with regulation and policy, allowing youth to violations of the nondiscrimination policy. There shall be communicate and staff to be responsive to no time limit on filing grievances. Policies and ☒ ☐ ☐ the operational procedures used. procedures shall include provisions whereby the facility manager ensures: We reviewed all the grievances filed in January, April, and July 2024 and found them to be timely with appropriate sanctions. Staff continue to document the conversations with the youth, allowing them to understand the behavior and sanction, or to find a resolution for a condition of confinement the youth did not agree with. (a) a grievance form and instructions for registering a grievance, which includes provisions for the youth to ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.3 Bullet 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 ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.3 Bullet 8 supervision staff working in the facility; (c) resolution of the grievance at the lowest appropriate staff level; ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.3 Bullet 2 (d) provision for a prompt review and initial response to grievances within three (3) business days, grievances ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.2 ⁋ 3 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 606.4.5 (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. ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.5 (b) (e) provision for a written response to the grievance which includes the reasons for the decisions; ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.3 (f) a system which provides that any appeal of a grievance shall be heard by a person not directly 606.4.5 (a) ☒ ☐ ☐ 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 ☐ ☐ ☐ 606.4.2 ⁋ 4 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. 606.5 ☐ ☐ ☐ 606.5.1 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 12 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS Whether or not associated with a grievance, concerns of parents, guardians, staff or other parties shall be 606.4.5 (c) ☒ ☐ ☐ addressed and documented in accordance with written policies and procedures within a specified timeframe. 1371 PROGRAMS, RECREATION, AND 2B EXERCISE. 1002 Programs, Recreation, and Exercise 1002.2 The facility administrator shall develop and implement written policies and procedures for programs, ☒ ☐ ☐ recreation, and exercise for all youth. The intent is to minimize the amount of time youth are in their rooms or their bed area. Juvenile facilities shall provide the opportunity for programs, recreation, and exercise a minimum of three 1002.3 ⁋ 1 hours a day during the week and five hours a day each Saturday, Sunday or other non-school days, of which We found proof of practice for this regulation ☒ ☐ ☐ one hour shall be an outdoor activity, weather in our review of the Unit Schedules, permitting. Programming Audits (completed daily), and interviews with youth and staff. A youth’s participation in programs, recreation, and exercise may be suspended only upon a written finding 1002.3 ⁋ 2 by the administrator/manager or designee that a youth ☒ ☐ ☐ 1002.7 ⁋ 4 represents a threat to the safety and security of the facility. Such program, recreation, and exercise schedule shall be posted in the living units. ☒ ☐ ☐ 1002.3 ⁋ 3 There will be a written annual review of the programs, recreation, and exercise by the responsible agency to 1000.3 (l) ensure content offered is current, consistent, and relevant to the population. A review of Programming at the Juvenile ☒ ☐ ☐ Facility was completed on May 1, 2024, by Chief Deputy Carrie Vredenburg and Division Managers Teresa Jimenez and John Tormey. 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 13 of 15 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 1000.2 include, but not be limited to, trauma focused, cognitive, 1000.3 evidence-based, best practice interventions that are 1002.6 culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate, or pro- social interventions and activities designed to reduce Programming continues to address Victim recidivism. These programs should be based on the Awareness, Substance Abuse, Conflict youth’s individual needs as required by Sections 1355 Resolution, Anger Management, Parenting and 1356. Such programs may be provided under the Skills, Gender Programming, Mental Health direction of the Chief Probation Officer or the County Services, Positive Youth Development, Office of Education and can be administered by county Building Effective Decision-Making Skills, partners such as mental health agencies, community and other topics that suit the needs of the based organizations, faith-based organizations or youth population. The Juvenile Facility Probation staff. conducts daily program audits to ensure all Programs may include but are not limited to: youth are afforded a minimum of one hour (1) Cognitive Behavior Interventions; daily of the programs provided below. We (2) Management of Stress and Trauma; found the Boys and Girls Club has hired a (3) Anger Management; second Program Coordinator and the (4) Conflict Resolution; agency has contracted with Interface (5) Juvenile Justice System; Children and Family Services to provide (6) Trauma-related interventions; programming services and a Coordinator. (7) Victim Awareness; (8) Self-Improvement; Available programs include Healthy (9) Parenting Skills and support; Lifestyles - Women of Substance Men of (10) Tolerance and Diversity; Honor (WOSMOH); Interactive Journaling; (11) Healing Informed Approaches; Ventura County Arts Council (art, guitar, (12) Interventions by Credible Messengers; poetry, drumming, and mural painting); (13) Gender Specific Programming; Healthy Lifestyles; Brent’s Club and Smart (14) Art, creative writing, or self-expression; Girls (Boys and Girls Club facilitate); Dating (15) CPR and First Aid training; Matters; First 5 Parenting Program; (16) Restorative Justice or Civic Engagement; ☒ ☐ ☐ Podcasting; ADPS Tablets; STEPS-Y; Word (17) Career and leadership opportunities; and, on the Street; City Impact; Forever Found (18) Other topics suitable to the youth population. (CSEC youth); Passport to Manhood; ARISE; Operation Peace Works; Podcasting; Book Club; Word on the Street; Mando Mentors; Gender Specific Services and, Music N Society. Ventura County Behavior Health provides the following: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); Drug and Alcohol Programs (individual and group); Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT); Seeking Safety; Anger Management and Conflict Resolution; Reins of HOPE (equine therapy); Family Counseling; Individual and Group Therapy; Co-Parent Counseling; Therapy Dog Program; Sex Offender Treatment. Educational Programs include Paxton Patterson (Construction Trades Program); Providence Scholars Program (online college); College Success; Literacy Tutors; READ Adult Literacy Program; and, a Driving Simulator. Re-entry services include First Aide/CPR; Alpha Leadership; Forever Found Case Management; Money Matters; Auto Tech; Second Chance Re-entry Services; Reducing Risks for Girls; Harm to Healing 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 14 of 15 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS Restorative Justice; Alpha Leadership; and Court Appointed Special Advocates. We spoke with Fernando from the Mando Mentors Program and were able to observe his interactions with the graduated youth. He has recently met with Scott Budnick regarding Ventura’s youth programming and has worked with Luis Venegas, another local youth advocate who has Podcasts to engage youth locally. He hopes to bring in more speakers of this caliber to the youth population. (b) Recreation. All youth shall be provided the opportunity for at least one hour of daily access to unscheduled 1002.5 activities such as leisure reading, letter writing, and entertainment. Activities shall be supervised and include ☒ ☐ ☐ Recreation Programs include Library Carts; orientation and may include coaching of youth. Organized Games; Chess; Special Events; and, the Boys and Girls Club Rec Center. (c) Exercise. All youth shall be provided with the opportunity for at least one hour of large muscle activity 1002.4 each day. Large Muscle Exercise is facilitated by staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Other exercise activities include Futsal, Basketball, Boys and Girls Club Gym, and Special Events. The administrator/manager may suspend, for a period not to exceed 24 hours, access to recreation and 1002.7 ⁋ 3 programs. The administrator/manager shall document ☒ ☐ ☐ the reasons why suspension of recreation and programs occurs. 7740 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at DS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 15 of 15 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: 7741 FACILITY NAME: Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS FACILITY TYPE: SYTF PERSON(S) INTERVIEWED: Gina Johnson, Chief Probation Officer; Carrie Vredenburg, Deputy Chief Probation Officer; John Tormey, Division Manager - Housing; Teresa Jimenez, Division Manager - Housing; Hiediann Cobos, Division Manager - Operations; Chris Martinez, Supervising Deputy Probation Officer Operations (SDPO); Rebecca Jimenez, DPCO III (DPCO III) Operations; Karen Sewell, SDPO Housing; Nora Madrigal, SDPO Housing; Matthew Mattavich, SDPO Housing; Ref Rodriguez, SDPO Housing; Roberta Pineda, DPCO III; Roberto Juarez, DPCO III; Jill Pollonais, DPCO III; Justin Burdine, DPCO III; Lisa Pimntel, SrDPO; Rebecca Convery, Sr DPO; Rogelio Cruz, Sr DPO; Lizeth Ornelas, Sr DPO; Stacey Thompson, Food Services Manager; Youth: Christopher, age 18; Adrian, age 19; Anthony, age 23; Raul, age 17. FIELD REPRESENTATIVE: Elizabeth Gong DATE: August 13-15, 2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1321 STAFFING 211 Staffing Plan Each juvenile facility shall: (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 and staff, and meet established standards and regulations; 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. 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 1 of 14 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 200.3 ⁋ 2 Supervision of Youth exigent circumstances; 211.3.1 (a) The facility roster of staff and schedules for all VCPAJF reflect compliance with the regulation. We reviewed staffing patterns and schedules, finding the agency has sufficient coverage. Administrators are making substantive changes in how staff take time off or call out, refining a process that goes through a single point of contact, a Supervisor. This new process will provide fewer opportunities for overtime coverage manipulated by staff as well as more consistency in coverage. Supervision is also enhanced by the use of Special Function staff, who provide “Floater” coverage when necessary. It is important to note the re-classification of Corrections Services Officers to Deputy Probation Officers facility-wide occurred in ☒ ☐ ☐ July 2024 and adjustments to positions continue. Currently, the agency has 66 DPO (line staff) positions and four facility housing supervisors. There are 25 vacant DPO positions and seven on Leave of Absence. The vacancies are determined by the housing of eight operational units, and on the day of inspection, there were seven units occupied by youth. We again provided technical assistance to consider classification adjustments to condense populations. On the day of the inspection, there were 15 youths in two units for SYTF, 10 youths in two units for commitment youth, and 19 youths in two detention units. The agency has one additional operational unit with all three populations for behavior modification or protective custody. (c) have a sufficient number of supervisory level staff to ensure adequate supervision of all staff members; ☒ 211.3.1 (b) ☐ ☐ (d) have a clearly identified person on duty at all times who is responsible for operations and activities and has 211.3.1 (c) ☒ 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; ☒ 211.3.1 (e) ☐ ☐ 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 2 of 14 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (f) have sufficient food service personnel relative to the number and security of living units, including staff 900 Food Services qualified and available to: plan menus meeting nutritional 900.3 Bullet 2 requirements of youth; provide kitchen supervision; direct ☒ food preparation and servings; conduct related training ☐ ☐ programs for culinary staff; and maintain necessary records; or, a facility may serve food that meets nutritional standards prepared by an outside source; (g) have sufficient administrative, clerical, recreational, medical, dental, mental health, building maintenance, 200.5 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, (h) assign sufficient youth supervision staff to provide continuous wide awake supervision of youth, subject to 211.3.1 (f) 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 200.3 ⁋ 2 wide-awake youth supervision staff member on duty for each 10 youth in detention; The agency continues to provide adequate staffing for the facility based on mandated overtime for the facility DPOs and field DPOs who cover four hours each per pay period. There were 19 youths in the SYTF on the day of the inspection, 18 males and one ☒ ☐ ☐ female. VCPAJF continues to train field DPOs to cover shifts for maximum supervision. Administrators have most recently made changes to the schedule and staffing plan with oversite and management of call-offs and filling shifts with a consistent approver of any changes in the day-to-day operations. (B) during the hours that youth are confined to their room for the purpose of sleeping, one wide-awake ☒ 200.3 ⁋ 2 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 200.3 ⁋ 3 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 ☒ 200.3 ⁋ 3 ☐ ☐ the facility. (E) personnel with primary responsibility for other duties such as administration, supervision of 200.3.1 personnel, academic or trade instruction, clerical, ☒ 200.5 ☐ ☐ kitchen or maintenance shall not be classified as youth supervision staff positions. 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 3 of 14 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- This facility is not a Special Purpose ☒ awake youth supervision staff member on duty for ☐ ☐ Juvenile Hall. 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 This facility is not a Camp. ☒ wide-awake youth supervision staff member on ☐ ☐ duty for each 15 youth in the camp population; (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. 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 4 of 14 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1328 SAFETY CHECKS 0B 505.3 (a) The facility administrator shall develop and implement 505.3 (b) policy and procedures that provide for direct visual 505.3 (d) observation of youth at a minimum of every 15 minutes, at random or varied intervals during hours when youth We reviewed safety checks and audits for are asleep or when youth are in their rooms, confined in January, February, April, and June 2024 for holding cells or confined to their bed in a dormitory. each of the seven operational units in the Supervision is not replaced, but may be supplemented facility. The electronic checks are by, an audio/visual electronic surveillance system consistently between eight and 14 minutes, designed to detect overt, aggressive or assaultive ☒ recording the individual room and total youth behavior and to summon aid in emergencies. All safety ☐ ☐ in the unit. checks shall be documented with the actual time the check is completed. A DPCO III audits safety checks for late or missed checks, as well as patterned checks. For late checks, the staff responsible is noted in the Supervisor’s Log to allow the incident to be formally addressed, accompanied by an email to the immediate Supervisor of the staff. 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 5 of 14 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1354.5 ROOM CONFINEMENT 1B 601 Room Confinement (RC) (a) The facility administrator shall develop and implement written policies and procedures addressing The VCPAJF agency reported 193 incidents the confinement of youth in their room that are of Room Confinement from January 2024 to consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code Section the date of the inspection. 208.3. The placement of a youth in room confinement shall be accomplished in accordance with the following After a safety and security-related incident, guidelines: staff initiate an RC Log which prompts them to initiate specific documentation practices and alerts to senior staff. Agency policy and procedures include the staff recording behavior and attempts to remove the youth from RC status as soon as the threat is minimized. When this happens, youth must agree to respond with appropriate behaviors in a contract format to document the expectations when removed. We reviewed all RC reports of the 14 incidents for SYTF youth. The agency completes a form articulating the need to keep a youth on RC beyond four hours, with emphasis on noting the youth’s agreement to complete a Behavior Contract, which is the process for a youth’s reintegration back ☒ ☐ ☐ into normal programming. Each incident reviewed included a youth-on-youth assault, assault to youth, or assault to staff. We found the agency appropriately uses RC for incidents that pose a safety and security risk to other youth, staff, or facility operations. Staff and supervisors document youth responses and attempts to reintegrate youth into programming, including behavior health input and involvement. Behavior Health intervention documentation was included in the reviewed incidents. For youth on RC at bedtime, the agency had a few incidents in which RC did not begin until the following morning. We provided technical assistance indicating RC is initiated at the placement of the youth in their room. Log entries and Incident reports were detailed indicating the plan for RC at bedtime, but the clock did not start until 6:00 am the following morning. Because the IR was clear in the documentation, we found compliance based on this and practice. (1) Room confinement shall not be used before other, less restrictive, options have been attempted 601.4 (a) 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 ☒ 601.4 (b) ☐ ☐ retaliation by staff. 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 6 of 14 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (3) Room confinement shall not be used to the extent that it compromises the mental and physical health ☒ 601.4 (c) ☐ ☐ of the youth. (b) A youth may be held up to four hours in room confinement. After the youth has been held in room 601.4.5 (a) ☒ confinement for a period of four hours, staff shall do one ☐ ☐ or more of the following: (1) Return the youth to general population. ☒ 601.4.5 (a) (1) ☐ ☐ (2) Consult with mental health or medical staff. ☒ 601.4.5 (a) (2) ☐ ☐ (3) Develop an individualized plan that includes the goals and objectives to be met in order to reintegrate ☒ 601.4.5 (a) (3) ☐ ☐ the youth to general population. (4) If room confinement must be extended beyond four hours, staff shall do each of the following: 601.4.5 (b) (A) Document the reasons for room confinement 601.4.5 (b)(1) 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 ☒ 601.4.5 (b)(2) ☐ ☐ integrate the youth to general population. (C) Obtain documented authorization by the facility superintendent or his or her designee ☒ 601.4.5 (b)(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 601.1.1 ☒ 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 ☒ 102.2.1 ☐ ☐ protections to youth. (8) This section does not apply during an extraordinary emergency circumstance that requires 400 Facility Emergencies a significant departure from normal institutional 400.3.1 Emergency Suspension of operations, including a natural disaster or facility- Standards ☒ 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. (9) This section does not apply when a youth is placed in a locked cell or sleeping room to treat and 501.7.2 protect against the spread of a communicable 519 Medical Separation 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. 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 7 of 14 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1357 USE OF FORCE 511 Use of Force (UF) The facility administrator, in cooperation with the 511.3 ⁋ 6 responsible physician, shall develop and implement 511.3.3 Health Care assistance in written policies and procedures for the use of force, developing policy which may include chemical agents. Force shall never 301 Use of Force-Administration Manual be applied as punishment, discipline, retaliation or treatment. There were 126 UF incidents from January (a) At a minimum, each facility shall develop policies and 2024 to the date of the inspection, of which procedures which: 79 included the use of OC Spray at the VCPAJF. The agency reported 21 of the UF incidents involving SYTF youth. We reviewed 15 UF incident reports for youth in SYTF and found the agency documents the efforts to use the least restrictive option when available. Staff are required to include the circumstances leading to the use of force and justify why force was used. The Supervisor on duty is also required to write a Use of Force Report to include a summary of the incident, Supervisor actions (including review of video and interviews with involved staff), and lastly, the Supervisors Evaluation, which details the assessment of staff response ☒ and critique of the staff actions. ☐ ☐ Each month the agency conducts a UF Review with a committee consisting of the Facility Managers, Supervisors, and staff involved. All documentation and video footage are presented so the committee can determine if the incident was within policy. The outcome for the Review Committee is: A – Within Policy; B – Within Policy but training identified; C – Staff actions referred to Professional Standards Unit; and D – Other. There were no findings other than within policy for all SYTF incidents. We provided technical assistance to the agency regarding their monthly review of UF incidents. Due to changes in administrators, the facilities were delayed in reviewing incidents within a month of their occurrence. The policy articulates monthly reviews but is not specific to a review occurring within one month. It is the plan to ‘catch up’ on these high-risk reviews to ensure staff receive validation of their involvement and/or accountability for their response. (1) restricts the use of force to that which is deemed reasonable and necessary, as defined in Section 1302 511.3 ⁋ 1 to ensure the safety and security of youth, staff, others ☒ 511.3.1 Factors to Determine ☐ ☐ and the facility. Reasonableness of Force 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 8 of 14 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (2) outline the force options available to staff including both physical and non-physical options and define 511.5 when those force options are appropriate. ☒ 511.5.1 ☐ ☐ FPO.08.F, 1 (3) describe force options or techniques that are expressly prohibited by the facility. 511.10 (l) 511.5.1 ⁋ 1 and 3 The policy defines the only prohibited use of force as the Carotid Hold. If time allows, the agency's operational procedure promotes a ☒ ☐ ☐ use-of-force team approach to an incident, including a supervisor, to determine how and what type of force is appropriate given the circumstances. This process allows for a ‘natural’ de-escalation and the use of the least amount of force necessary. (4) describe the requirements of staff to report any inappropriate use of force, and to take affirmative 511.3.2 Duty to Intervene action to immediately stop it. ☒ 511.6 ☐ ☐ 511.6.1 (5) define a standardized reporting format that includes time period and procedure for documenting 511.6 Reporting UF and reporting the use of force, including reporting 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. 511.9 UF Review ☒ ☐ ☐ 511.91 UF Review Committee (7) define the role, notification, and follow-up procedures required after use of force incidents for 511.6.1 Notifications to Medical, Mental medical, mental health staff and parents or legal ☒ Health, and Parent ☐ ☐ guardians. 517.5 (8) describe the limitations of use of force on pregnant youth in accordance with Penal Code Section 6030(f) ☒ 512.9 ☐ ☐ and Welfare and Institutions Code Section 222. (b) Facilities that authorize chemical agents as a force option shall include policies and procedures that: 511.4 ⁋ 1 and 2 (1) identify who is approved to carry and/or utilize ☒ chemical agents in the facility and the type, size and ☐ ☐ the approved method of deployment for those chemical agents. (2) mandate that chemical agents only be used when there is an imminent threat to the youth’s safety or the 511.4.1 safety of others and only when de-escalation efforts ☒ ☐ ☐ have been unsuccessful or are not reasonably possible. 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 9 of 14 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. 511.4 ⁋ 3 and 5 This shall include that youth who have been exposed ☒ FPO.08.L, 2 to chemical agents shall not be left unattended until ☐ ☐ FPO.08.L, 4 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 511.6.1 Notifications to Medical, Mental ☒ involving chemical agents for medical, mental health ☐ ☐ Health, and Parent staff and parents or legal guardians. (5) provide for the documentation of each incident of use of chemical agents, including the reasons for 511.6 (g) which it was used, efforts to de-escalate prior to use, FPO.08.I, 2 youth and staff involved, the date, time and location ☒ FPO.08. 4 ☐ ☐ 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 300.3.1 in use of force and chemical agents when appropriate 511.4 ☒ that address: ☐ ☐ 511.10 (i) (1) known medical and behavioral health conditions that would contraindicate certain types of force; (2) acceptable chemical agents and the methods of application. ☒ 511.4 ⁋ 2 ☐ ☐ (3) signs or symptoms that should result in immediate referral to medical or behavioral health. ☒ 511.10 (j) ☐ ☐ (4) instruction on the Constitutional Limitations of Use of Force. ☒ 511.10 (i) ☐ ☐ (5) physical training force options that may require the use of perishable skills. ☒ 511.3 ⁋ 2 ☐ ☐ 511.10 (6) timelines the facility uses to define regular training. 300 Training ☒ ☐ ☐ 511.10 Initial and Annual Training 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 10 of 14 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1361 GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE 606 Youth Grievances The facility administrator shall develop and implement 606.3 ⁋ 1 written policies and procedures whereby any youth may appeal and have resolved grievances relating to any The VCPAJF agency reported 72 condition of confinement, including but not limited to grievances filed from January 2024 through health care services, classification decisions, program July 2024, an average of just over 10 per participation, telephone, mail or visiting procedures, month. The process and form are compliant food, clothing, bedding, mistreatment, harassment or with regulation and policy, allowing youth to violations of the nondiscrimination policy. There shall be communicate and staff to be responsive to no time limit on filing grievances. Policies and ☒ ☐ ☐ the operational procedures used. procedures shall include provisions whereby the facility manager ensures: We reviewed all the grievances filed in January, April, and July 2024 and found them to be timely with appropriate sanctions. Staff continue to document the conversations with the youth, allowing them to understand the behavior and sanction, or to find a resolution for a condition of confinement the youth did not agree with. (a) a grievance form and instructions for registering a grievance, which includes provisions for the youth to ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.3 Bullet 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 ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.3 Bullet 8 supervision staff working in the facility; (c) resolution of the grievance at the lowest appropriate staff level; ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.3 Bullet 2 (d) provision for a prompt review and initial response to grievances within three (3) business days, grievances ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.2 ⁋ 3 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 606.4.5 (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. ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.5 (b) (e) provision for a written response to the grievance which includes the reasons for the decisions; ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.3 (f) a system which provides that any appeal of a grievance shall be heard by a person not directly 606.4.5 (a) ☒ ☐ ☐ 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 ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.4.2 ⁋ 4 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. 606.5 ☒ ☐ ☐ 606.5.1 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 11 of 14 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS Whether or not associated with a grievance, concerns of parents, guardians, staff or other parties shall be 606.4.5 (c) ☒ ☐ ☐ addressed and documented in accordance with written policies and procedures within a specified timeframe. 1371 PROGRAMS, RECREATION, AND 2B EXERCISE. 1002 Programs, Recreation, and Exercise 1002.2 The facility administrator shall develop and implement written policies and procedures for programs, ☒ ☐ ☐ recreation, and exercise for all youth. The intent is to minimize the amount of time youth are in their rooms or their bed area. Juvenile facilities shall provide the opportunity for programs, recreation, and exercise a minimum of three 1002.3 ⁋ 1 hours a day during the week and five hours a day each Saturday, Sunday or other non-school days, of which We found proof of practice for this regulation ☒ ☐ ☐ one hour shall be an outdoor activity, weather in our review of the Unit Schedules, permitting. Programming Audits (completed daily), and interviews with youth and staff. A youth’s participation in programs, recreation, and exercise may be suspended only upon a written finding 1002.3 ⁋ 2 by the administrator/manager or designee that a youth ☒ ☐ ☐ 1002.7 ⁋ 4 represents a threat to the safety and security of the facility. Such program, recreation, and exercise schedule shall be posted in the living units. ☒ ☐ ☐ 1002.3 ⁋ 3 There will be a written annual review of the programs, recreation, and exercise by the responsible agency to 1000.3 (l) ensure content offered is current, consistent, and relevant to the population. A review of Programming at the Juvenile ☒ ☐ ☐ Facility was completed on May 1, 2024, by Chief Deputy Carrie Vredenburg and Division Managers Teresa Jimenez and John Tormey. 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 12 of 14 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 1000.2 include, but not be limited to, trauma focused, cognitive, 1000.3 evidence-based, best practice interventions that are 1002.6 culturally relevant and linguistically appropriate, or pro- social interventions and activities designed to reduce Programming continues to address Victim recidivism. These programs should be based on the Awareness, Substance Abuse, Conflict youth’s individual needs as required by Sections 1355 Resolution, Anger Management, Parenting and 1356. Such programs may be provided under the Skills, Gender Programming, Mental Health direction of the Chief Probation Officer or the County Services, Positive Youth Development, Office of Education and can be administered by county Building Effective Decision-Making Skills, partners such as mental health agencies, community and other topics that suit the needs of the based organizations, faith-based organizations or youth population. The Juvenile Facility Probation staff. conducts daily program audits to ensure all Programs may include but are not limited to: youth are afforded a minimum of one hour (1) Cognitive Behavior Interventions; daily of the programs provided below. We (2) Management of Stress and Trauma; found the Boys and Girls Club has hired a (3) Anger Management; second Program Coordinator and the (4) Conflict Resolution; agency has contracted with Interface (5) Juvenile Justice System; Children and Family Services to provide (6) Trauma-related interventions; programming services and a Coordinator. (7) Victim Awareness; (8) Self-Improvement; Available programs include Healthy (9) Parenting Skills and support; Lifestyles - Women of Substance Men of (10) Tolerance and Diversity; Honor (WOSMOH); Interactive Journaling; (11) Healing Informed Approaches; Ventura County Arts Council (art, guitar, (12) Interventions by Credible Messengers; poetry, drumming, and mural painting); (13) Gender Specific Programming; Healthy Lifestyles; Brent’s Club and Smart (14) Art, creative writing, or self-expression; Girls (Boys and Girls Club facilitate); Dating (15) CPR and First Aid training; Matters; First 5 Parenting Program; (16) Restorative Justice or Civic Engagement; ☒ ☐ ☐ Podcasting; ADPS Tablets; STEPS-Y; Word (17) Career and leadership opportunities; and, on the Street; City Impact; Forever Found (18) Other topics suitable to the youth population. (CSEC youth); Passport to Manhood; ARISE; Operation Peace Works; Podcasting; Book Club; Word on the Street; Mando Mentors; Gender Specific Services and, Music N Society. Ventura County Behavior Health provides the following: Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT); Drug and Alcohol Programs (individual and group); Moral Recognition Therapy (MRT); Seeking Safety; Anger Management and Conflict Resolution; Reins of HOPE (equine therapy); Family Counseling; Individual and Group Therapy; Co-Parent Counseling; Therapy Dog Program; Sex Offender Treatment. Educational Programs include Paxton Patterson (Construction Trades Program); Providence Scholars Program (online college); College Success; Literacy Tutors; READ Adult Literacy Program; and, a Driving Simulator. Re-entry services include First Aide/CPR; Alpha Leadership; Forever Found Case Management; Money Matters; Auto Tech; Second Chance Re-entry Services; Reducing Risks for Girls; Harm to Healing 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 13 of 14 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS Restorative Justice; Alpha Leadership; and Court Appointed Special Advocates. We spoke with Fernando from the Mando Mentors Program and were able to observe his interactions with the graduated youth. He has recently met with Scott Budnick regarding Ventura’s youth programming and has worked with Luis Venegas, another local youth advocate who has Podcasts to engage youth locally. He hopes to bring in more speakers of this caliber to the youth population. (b) Recreation. All youth shall be provided the opportunity for at least one hour of daily access to unscheduled 1002.5 activities such as leisure reading, letter writing, and entertainment. Activities shall be supervised and include ☒ ☐ ☐ Recreation Programs include Library Carts; orientation and may include coaching of youth. Organized Games; Chess; Special Events; and, the Boys and Girls Club Rec Center. (c) Exercise. All youth shall be provided with the opportunity for at least one hour of large muscle activity 1002.4 each day. Large Muscle Exercise is facilitated by staff. ☒ ☐ ☐ Other exercise activities include Futsal, Basketball, Boys and Girls Club Gym, and Special Events. The administrator/manager may suspend, for a period not to exceed 24 hours, access to recreation and 1002.7 ⁋ 3 programs. The administrator/manager shall document ☒ ☐ ☐ the reasons why suspension of recreation and programs occurs. 7741 Ventura Secure Youth Treatment Facility at CS SYTF Targeted PRO 23-24 Page 14 of 14 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024