Ventura Probation Unannounce Insp Rpt (2023-2024 inspection cycle)

December 30, 2024 Gina Johnson, Chief of Probation Ventura County Probation Department 800 South Victoria Avenue Ventura, CA 93003 2023-2024 UNANNOUNCED INSPECTION, WELFARE & INSTITUTIONS CODE SECTIONS 209 & 885, VENTURA COUNTY PROBATION DEPARTMENT DETENTION FACILITIES Dear Chief Johnson: The 2023-2024 Unannounced Inspection of the Ventura County Probation Department has been completed. The following facilities were inspected on Tuesday, December 17, 2024: FACILITY NAME BSCC # FACILITY TYPE Ventura County Detention Services 7727 JH Ventura County Commitment Services 7728 CAMP Ventura County SYTF Detention Services 7740 SYTF Ventura County SYTF Commitment Services 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 Titles 15, California Code of Regulations. INSPECTION RESULTS We identified no items of noncompliance with Title 15 Minimum Standards. Refer to the attached Title 15 Procedures Checklist for detailed information. The purpose of the Unannounced Inspection was to review Room Confinement and Use of Force regulations to determine how the facility addressed technical assistance recommendations after the Targeted Inspection in August 2024. Our findings for Room Confinement incidents determined the agency accurately reflected the time a youth was placed on Room Confinement and provided clear timelines for length of time the youth was placed through removal. The articulation of the circumstances for placement and reintegration was clear. This is an improvement in process and is aligned with the regulation expectations. Gina Johnson, Chief Probation Officer Page 2 We continue to encourage the agency to prioritize the administrative review of uses of force in accordance with agency policy. While onsite, we interviewed several SYTF youth who exhibited frustration with the agency’s lack of long-term relevant services available. The youth also indicated grievances and conversations with staff, supervisors, and administration were not addressed to their satisfaction. Lastly, youth indicated the unit calendars were not reflective of their needs and included activities they have had for “years” since in custody. I discussed these items with facility administrators and supervisors in the exit briefing, noting I would return in the near future to evaluate the comments made and further review documents. An Exit Briefing with your staff was held on Tuesday, December 17, 2024; BSCC staff presented an inspection overview and provided feedback for the areas inspected. 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, Ventura County Probation Juvenile Facilities *Copies of the inspection are available upon request or online at www.bscc.ca.gov. 7727+ Ventura Probation JH Camp SYTF UI LTR 23-24 JUVENILE HALLS, SPECIAL PURPOSE JUVENILE HALLS AND CAMPS Board of State and Community Corrections PROCEDURES CHECKLIST1 BSCC Code: 7727 FACILITY NAME: Ventura County Probation Agency Juvenile Facility (VCPAJF) F A C I L I T Y T Y P E : J H Ventura County Detention Services PERSON(S) INTERVIEWED: Gina Johnson, Chief Probation Officer; Carrie Vredenburgh, Chief Deputy Probation Officer; John Tormey, Division Manager; Teresa Jimenez, Division Manager; Heidiann Cobos, Division Manager; Chris Martinez, Supervising Deputy Probation Officer; L Pimental, Senior Deputy Probation Officer; Youth: Jaden C, age 16; David M, age 17; SYTF – Hayden, Oscar, Emma, Matthew, Joel, Alex, Jonathan, and Jesus. FIELD REPRESENTATIVE: Elizabeth Gong DATE: December 17, 2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1354.5 ROOM CONFINEMENT 601 Room Confinement (RC) (a) The facility administrator shall develop and implement written policies and procedures addressing The VCPAJF agency reported 12 incidents of the confinement of youth in their room that are Room Confinement for the month of consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code Section November 2024 involving 24 youth. Seven 208.3. The placement of a youth in room confinement incidents were in Detention, involving 14 shall be accomplished in accordance with the following youth. On the day of the Unannounced guidelines: Inspection, there were 26 youth in detention, 24 males and two females. Per policy 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 reviewed all 12 RC incidents and found 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 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 Detention Services Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 1 of 6 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS security risk to other youth, staff, or the facility operations. Staff and supervisors continue to document youth responses and attempts to reintegrate youth to programming, including behavior health input and involvement. Behavior Health intervention documentation was included in the reviewed incidents. The reports we reviewed provided a clearly articulated timeline for all incidents. (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. (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. 7727 Ventura Detention Services Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 2 of 6 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (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. 7727 Ventura Detention Services Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 3 of 6 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 developing written policies and procedures for the use of force, policy which may include chemical agents. Force shall never 301 Use of Force-Administration Manual be applied as punishment, discipline, retaliation or treatment. The VCPAJF agency reported 11 incidents of (a) At a minimum, each facility shall develop policies and the Use of Force for the month of November procedures which: 2024 involving 27 youth, three of those included the use of OC Spray, all for detention youth. We reviewed all 11 incident reports, including video footage, and found the agency documents the circumstances leading up to the incident, what happened during the incident, and post-incident response. Of the total facility-wide, six incidents involved 15 youth in detention, one of which involved five youth. We note on the day of the inspection there were 26 youth in detention, 24 males and two females. 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. The agency has improved their policy requirement to complete an Internal Review within 30 days of the incident involving all UF incidents; however, we found some incidents were delayed in review beyond 30 days. We continue to provide technical assistance to the agency regarding their monthly review of UF incidents. (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. 7727 Ventura Detention Services Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 4 of 6 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 ⁋ Policy defines the only prohibited use of force is the Carotid Hold. If time allows, the agency ☒ 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. 7727 Ventura Detention Services Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 5 of 6 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 7727 Ventura Detention Services Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 6 of 6 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: Ventura County Probation Agency Juvenile Facility (VCPAJF) F A C I L I T Y T Y P E : C a m p Ventura County Commitment Services PERSON(S) INTERVIEWED: Gina Johnson, Chief Probation Officer; Carrie Vredenburgh, Chief Deputy Probation Officer; John Tormey, Division Manager; Teresa Jimenez, Division Manager; Heidiann Cobos, Division Manager; Chris Martinez, Supervising Deputy Probation Officer; L Pimental, Senior Deputy Probation Officer; Youth: Jaden C, age 16; David M, age 17; SYTF – Hayden, Oscar, Emma, Matthew, Joel, Alex, Jonathan, and Jesus. FIELD REPRESENTATIVE: Elizabeth Gong DATE: December 17, 2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1354.5 ROOM CONFINEMENT 601 Room Confinement (RC) (a) The facility administrator shall develop and implement written policies and procedures addressing The VCPAJF agency reported 12 incidents of the confinement of youth in their room that are Room Confinement for the month of consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code Section November 2024 involving 25 youth. Four 208.3. The placement of a youth in room confinement incidents were in Commitment, involving 10 shall be accomplished in accordance with the following youth. It is noted, on the day of the guidelines: Unannounced Inspection, there were 17 youth in commitment, 16 males and one female. Per policy 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 reviewed all 12 RC incidents and found 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 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 Commitment Services Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 1 of 6 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS uses RC for incidents that pose a safety and security risk to other youth, staff, or the facility operations. Staff and supervisors continue to document youth responses and attempts to reintegrate youth to programming, including behavior health input and involvement. Behavior Health intervention documentation was included in the reviewed incidents. The reports we reviewed provided a clearly articulated timeline for all incidents. (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. (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. ☒ ☐ ☐ 7728 Ventura Commitment Services Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 2 of 6 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (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. 7728 Ventura Commitment Services Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 3 of 6 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 developing written policies and procedures for the use of force, policy which may include chemical agents. Force shall never 301 Use of Force-Administration Manual be applied as punishment, discipline, retaliation or treatment. The VCPAJF agency reported 11 incidents of (a) At a minimum, each facility shall develop policies and the Use of Force for the month of November procedures which: 2024 involving 27 youth, three of those included the use of OC Spray, none for commitment youth. We reviewed all 11 incidents reports, including video footage, and found the agency documents the circumstances leading up to the incident, what happened during the incident and post incident response. Of the total facility-wide, six incidents involved 11 youth in commitment. We noted two incidents with commitment youth also involved one youth in detention and one youth in SYTF. 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. The agency has improved their policy requirement to complete an Internal Review within 30 days of the incident involving all UF incidents, however we found some incidents were delayed in review beyond 30 days. We continue to provide technical assistance to the agency regarding their monthly review of UF incidents. (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 Commitment Services Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 4 of 6 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 ⁋ Policy defines the only prohibited use of force is the Carotid Hold. If time allows, the agency 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 Commitment Services Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 5 of 6 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 Commitment Services Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 6 of 6 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 County Probation Agency Juvenile Facility (VCPAJF) F A C I L I T Y T Y P E : S Y T F Ventura County Secure Youth Treatment Facility - Detention PERSON(S) INTERVIEWED: Gina Johnson, Chief Probation Officer; Carrie Vredenburgh, Chief Deputy Probation Officer; John Tormey, Division Manager; Teresa Jimenez, Division Manager; Heidiann Cobos, Division Manager; Chris Martinez, Supervising Deputy Probation Officer; L Pimental, Senior Deputy Probation Officer; Youth: Jaden C, age 16; David M, age 17; SYTF – Hayden, Oscar, Emma, Matthew, Joel, Alex, Jonathan, and Jesus. FIELD REPRESENTATIVE: Elizabeth Gong DATE: December 17, 2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1354.5 ROOM CONFINEMENT 601 Room Confinement (RC) (a) The facility administrator shall develop and implement written policies and procedures addressing The VCPAJF agency reported 12 incidents of the confinement of youth in their room that are Room Confinement for the month of consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code Section November 2024 involving 24 youth. One 208.3. The placement of a youth in room confinement incident with one youth involved SYTF. On shall be accomplished in accordance with the following the day of the Unannounced Inspection, guidelines: there were 21 youth in SYTF-Detention, 20 males and one female. Per policy 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 reviewed all 12 RC incidents and found the agency completes a form articulating the need to keep a youth on RC beyond 4 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 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 SYTF Detention Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 1 of 6 A453 JUV UI PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS security risk to other youth, staff, or the facility operations. Staff and supervisors continue to document youth responses and attempts to reintegrate youth to programming, including behavior health input and involvement. Behavior Health intervention documentation was included in the reviewed incidents. The reports we reviewed provided a clearly articulated timeline for all incidents. (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. (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. 7740 Ventura SYTF Detention Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 2 of 6 A453 JUV UI PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (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. 7740 Ventura SYTF Detention Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 3 of 6 A453 JUV UI 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 developing written policies and procedures for the use of force, policy which may include chemical agents. Force shall never 301 Use of Force-Administration Manual be applied as punishment, discipline, retaliation or treatment. The VCPAJF agency reported 11 incidents of (a) At a minimum, each facility shall develop policies and the Use of Force for the month of November procedures which: 2024 involving 27 youth, three of those included the use of OC Spray, all for detention youth. We reviewed all 11 incidents reports, including video footage, and found the agency documents the circumstances leading up to the incident, what happened during the incident, and post-incident response. Of the total facility-wide, one incident involved one youth in SYTF. For clarification, the incident with the SYTF youth was with a youth in detention. Additionally, all youth presently in SYTF are in the initial commitment phase and no youth have ‘stepped down’ to the commitment phase of the program. 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. The agency has improved their policy requirement to complete an Internal Review within 30 days of the incident involving all UF incidents, however we found some incidents were delayed in review beyond 30 days. We continue to provide technical assistance to the agency regarding their monthly review of UF incidents. 7740 Ventura SYTF Detention Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 4 of 6 A453 JUV UI 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 ⁋ Policy defines the only prohibited use of force is the Carotid Hold. If time allows, the agency 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. 7740 Ventura SYTF Detention Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 5 of 6 A453 JUV UI 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 7740 Ventura SYTF Detention Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 6 of 6 A453 JUV UI 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 County Probation Agency Juvenile Facility (VCPAJF) F A C I L I T Y T Y P E : S Y T F Secure Youth Treatment Facility-Commitment PERSON(S) INTERVIEWED: Gina Johnson, Chief Probation Officer; Carrie Vredenburgh, Chief Deputy Probation Officer; John Tormey, Division Manager; Teresa Jimenez, Division Manager; Heidiann Cobos, Division Manager; Chris Martinez, Supervising Deputy Probation Officer; L Pimental, Senior Deputy Probation Officer; Youth: Jaden C, age 16; David M, age 17; SYTF – Hayden, Oscar, Emma, Matthew, Joel, Alex, Jonathan, and Jesus. FIELD REPRESENTATIVE: Elizabeth Gong DATE: December 17, 2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS 1354.5 ROOM CONFINEMENT 601 Room Confinement (RC) (a) The facility administrator shall develop and implement written policies and procedures addressing The VCPAJF agency reported 12 incidents of the confinement of youth in their room that are Room Confinement for the month of consistent with Welfare and Institutions Code Section November 2024 involving 24 youth. No 208.3. The placement of a youth in room confinement incidents involved SYTF - Commitment shall be accomplished in accordance with the following youth. On the day of the Unannounced guidelines: Inspection, there were 21 youth in SYTF- Detention, 20 males and one female. There are presently no youth in the SYTF – Commitment program. Per policy 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 reviewed all 12 RC incidents and found 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 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. 7741Ventura SYTF Commitment Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 1 of 6 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS staff. We found the agency appropriately uses RC for incidents that pose a safety and security risk to other youth, staff, or the facility operations. Staff and supervisors continue to document youth responses and attempts to reintegrate youth to programming, including behavior health input and involvement. Behavior Health intervention documentation was included in the reviewed incidents. The reports we reviewed provided a clearly articulated timeline for all incidents. (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. (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. ☒ ☐ ☐ 7741Ventura SYTF Commitment Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 2 of 6 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024 TITLE 15 SECTION YES NO N/A P/P REFERENCE – COMMENTS (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. 7741Ventura SYTF Commitment Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 3 of 6 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 developing written policies and procedures for the use of force, policy which may include chemical agents. Force shall never 301 Use of Force-Administration Manual be applied as punishment, discipline, retaliation or treatment. The VCPAJF agency reported 11 incidents of (a) At a minimum, each facility shall develop policies and the Use of Force for the month of November procedures which: 2024 involving 27 youth, three of those included the use of OC Spray, all for detention youth. We reviewed all 11 incidents reports, including video footage, and found the agency documents the circumstances leading up to the incident, what happened during the incident, and post-incident response. Of the total facility-wide, one incident involved one youth in SYTF. For clarification, the incident with the SYTF youth was with a youth in detention. Additionally, all youth presently in SYTF are in the initial commitment phase and no youth have ‘stepped down’ to the commitment phase of the program. 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. The agency has improved their policy requirement to complete an Internal Review within 30 days of the incident involving all UF incidents, however we found some incidents were delayed in review beyond 30 days. We continue to provide technical assistance to the agency regarding their monthly review of UF incidents. 7741Ventura SYTF Commitment Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 4 of 6 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 ⁋ Policy defines the only prohibited use of force is the Carotid Hold. If time allows, the agency 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. 7741Ventura SYTF Commitment Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 5 of 6 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 7741Ventura SYTF Commitment Unannounced PRO 23-24 Page 6 of 6 A453 JUV Targeted PRO eff. 1/2024