HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/15/1990, LR-1 - '/dliEwl AGENDA
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ANNUAL REPORT FOR 1989
CITIZEN'S ADVISORY COMMITTEE - CALIFORNIA MEN'S COLONY
San Luis Obispo
Foreword
Consistent with its charge, the Citizen's Advisory Committee met with CMC Warden
Wayne Estelle and members of his staff on a bi-monthly basis during 1989 to discuss
matters of community/prison concern. Members of the Advisory Committee continue
to be impressed with the high level of professionalism and dedication exhibited by
the administrative and line personnel of the California Men's Colony and,with the
efficiency with which the institution is operated. The Committee's respect and
admiration was verified this year when the North American Association of Wardens
and Superintendents named Wayne Estelle "Warden of the Year" a very significant
and well-deserved honor. ,
A Word About the Citizen's Advisory Committee
The CAC acts as an interface between the communities it represents and the
administration of CMC. The CAC attempts to interpret and express community
concerns to institution officials as well as to gain insight into the operations of the
prison -- the significant problems and the various programs and techniques used to
maintain a quality penal institution. Some of the more high profile concerns include:
prison security, community and staff safety, prison growth, impacts on community
resources and services, drug trafficking, prison employment opportunities, budget,
inmate services to the community, and inmate parole procedures. Highlights of 1989
meetings, reports and programs follow:
Inmate Po ulation December 1988 December•1989 >: ;
Department of Corrections 76,121 '87;40
California Men's Colony 51822 6,402
Number of Beds
Department of Corrections 46,219 48,311
California Men's Colony 3,859 3,859
Budeet FY 1988/89 FY 1989/90
Department of Corrections 1,627,117,000 -11847,9237000
California Men's Colony 87, 000,000 96,000,000
Average Cost per Inmate FY 1988/89 FY 1989/90
Department of Corrections 19,450 19,874
California Men's Colony 16,366 18,205
Citizen's Advisory Committee Membership
CAC's were established in 1985 with a membership of ten citizens'representing a
.' spectrum of community interests. Early this year, CDC Director James Rowland
directed CAC's be increased in size to twelve and required that one new member
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ANNUAL REPORT— 2
represent a victim's assistance organization. To comply as well as to broaden the
CAC-CMC, Warden Estelle appointed Cindy Absey of the District Attorney's Victim
Assistance office, and George Whiting to represent the City of Morro Bay. (Whiting
is the former San Luis Obispo County Sheriff).
Prison Security
I. CMC continued to be a "prison of choice" for inmates within California's
corrections institutions. As such, inmate behavior at CMC is more self-
disciplined. This self-discipline coupled with a no-nonsense disciplinary
program has resulted in less stressful conditions.
2. CMC did experience one escape during 1989. The escapee was a Mexican
national and is believed to have fled the U.S. Staff reports that escape "hole"
has been plugged.
3. Gang activity within CMC is not tolerated and the "wearing of colors" (gang
identification) is strictly prohibited. CMC uses a Criminal Activities
Coordinator to educate staff on gangs and to coordinate information on gang
members within the prison system. CMC utilizes computerized programs to
track gang members. 500-700 gang members are estimated to exist in the
CDC prisonpopulation of which 30-50 are considered hard core. Prison gang
strongholds are Folsom and Tehachapi.
4. This year the annual "Disturbance Control Exercise" was called without prior
notice of staff. A Disturbance Control Exercise is a refereed exercise that
simulates a disorder which requires prompt and effective control response and
tests staff preparedness and efficiency. Professional evaluators rated staff
effectiveness as very high.
Staff Safety and Welfare
1. Prison employment occasionally requires involvement in critical life-threatening
incidents causing stress disorders. CMC has trained counselors who intercede
to provide assistance to staff who have suffered (or could suffer) post
traumatic stress disorders as a result of such involvements. The program
involves immediate response as well as peer counseling, it is well received by
institution personnel.
2. A State Employee Child Care Program is in existence, but to date tangible
benefits of—this program have not been available to CMC employees for
several reasons including prison isolation from employee places of residence
and. shift hours of employees. A needs assessment is being conducted to
determine feasibility of program for CMC. A potential exists for combining
CMC child care needs with those of employees of other public institutions in
the area.
Budget and Internal Operations
1. The proposed 1989-90 budget portended significant impacts on CMC staff and
operations. Initial employee concerns were overcome through good
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ANNUAL REPORT--3
communications and cooperation; some $2,146,000 was identified as potential
savings. CMC's Community Service Program was identified as an item which
might require cooperative funding. Governor Deukmejian proposed an Inmate
Employment Program as a means to augment the CDC budget shortfall;
however, adoption of this program has been delayed.
2. CMC continues to have the largest Prison Industries component in the CDC
system. The percentage of inmates "employed" continues to, rise.
Approximately 68% of CMC inmates are currently employed. (Another 19%
are enrolled in CMC's education programs for total assignment of 87%.)
3. Health matters:
a. CMC's hospital was recently accredited and additional work has been
completed in compliance with accreditation requirements. Capacity of
the hospital is 41 inmates. Inmates who cannot be accommodated or
who have health problems which cannot be treated at CMC are
transferred to the CDC facility at Vacaville or Chino; i.e., dialysis.
b. CMC also increased it's outpatient psychiatric treatment facilities this
year.
C. Inmates with AIDS represent a special concern to the CDC and CMC.
Prison populations contain a higher risk profile of people subject to
AIDS and those populations are obviously confined. A recent court
ruling will place some identified AIDS inmate patients into the general
prison population. AIDS infected_patients will not be knowingly
brought to CMC. CMC inmates identified with HIV may be screened
to stay at CMC, but CMC inmates with advanced stages of the disease
will be transferred to the California Medical Facility or the California
Institution for Men. CMC AIDS infected inmates will be housed in a
single cell or with another volunteer inmate, but only with staff
approval. This pilot housing program is limited to East Facility.
4. The San Luis Obispo County Grand Jury made its required annual inspection
of CMC on 8/29/89 and reported favorably on the operations of-the
institution.
Water and Wastewater Treatment
I. Water conservation continues to be of significant importance. In the face of
the deepening drought and limited reserves in the Whale Rock Reservoir
which the CMC owns and manages jointly with Cal Poly and the City of San
Luis Obis o, CMC has refurbished the Chorro reservoir located on the
institutions property; dredging has restored the reservoir to its original
capacity. Water usage has been reduced from 200 gallons per inmate in 1988
to 134 gallons this year. Other methods of saving water and/or augmenting
supply - such as the feasibility of adding gates to Chorro reservoir dam - are
.. being evaluated.
-- 2. The CMC, which operates its own wastewater treatment plant, is currently
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ANNUAL REPORT-- 4
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discussing with other Chorro Valley water users the use of tertiary treated
sewer effluent for irrigation uses in the immediate area. The proposed new
Sheriffs facilities are interested in utilizing reclaimed water for non-potable
uses.
Parole Procedures/Crimes in the Community
1. The Advisory Committee identifies the parole of CMC inmates into the San
Luis Obispo community as the single most pressing fear of local citizens with
respect to having a large prison as a neighbor. While the penal code
specifically calls for inmates to be "returned to the county of commitment",
there exists the potential for interpretation that a crime committed while
incarcerated might lead to an inmate being paroled in San Luis Obispo
County. Consequently, the CAC has petitioned its representatives in the State
Legislature, Senator Maddy and Assemblyman Seastrand, to carry legislation
which would close this loophole. Assemblyman Seastrand has responded
positively and will include this matter in his legislative program this year.
CAC's at other CDC institutions have been contacted for additional legislative
support.
2. Exceptions exist in the penal code whereby an inmate can be paroled to a
county other than that of commitment. On January 15, 1990, a former CMC
inmate who has successfully petitioned to be paroled to San Luis Obispo
rather than his county of commitment, was shot and killed in the act of
burglarizing a San Luis Obispo home. The CAC-CMC will undoubtedly
review these penal code sections during its 1990 meetings to determine if
anything can be done to tighten the administration of these exceptions, or
perhaps, change the exceptions themselves.
Community_ Relations/Community Service
p 1. Members of the CAC as well as the CMC administration are very conscious
of the prison's image in the community, and make every attempt to maintain
a low profile and to provide accurate information to offset mistaken rumors or
unfounded bias. This year the CAC had an opportunity to review a TV script
entitled "Dangerous Company" produced by Ventura station KADY. The
CAC felt that the story was very one-sided and certainly did not apply to
CMC. CAC objections were sent to the station manager containing data
illustrating that, to the contrary, CMC was a very good neighbor.
2. CMC participated with the CD_ C in assisting relief agencies in assisting victims
of the recent Santa Cruz/San Francisco/Oakland earthquake. CMC staff
contributed a stake truck of blankets, clothes and canned food as well as
$780.00. Inmates donated $249.00.
3. Inmate work crews participating in CMC's Community Services .Work Crew
Program contributed 287,420 man hours saving local government $2,026,686.60
on various public works projects. Included in this work was the planting of
over 400 trees and shrubs, and the clearing of 42.5 miles of creeks for flood
control. CMC fire crews assisted the Forestry Department in fighting 46 fires
in San Luis Obispo County and 15 fires in other parts of the state.
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Conferences
1. The CAC was represented at the Third Annual State-wide Citizen's Advisory
Committee conference March 7-8 by Ken Schwartz, Penny kappa and Warden
Wayne Estelle. The conference was held at the new prison at Avenal and
.included a tour of the facility. Director Rowland's report touched on budget
problems facing the CDC and also noted the increased number of returning
parolees.
2. CAC member John Voss represented CMC at- the October 5-6 Citizen
Participation Forum in Manhattan Beach. The forum focused on programs
which would involve middle and lower CDC management personnel in citizen
participation programs. Communication techniques were an emphasis area.
Advisory Committee Officers for 1990
San Luis Obispo Councilwoman Penny Ral2pa was elected chairperson and Cindv
Absey was elected vice-chair.
�Respet'tfally submitted for the Committee,
NNETH E. SCHWARTZ
hairman 1989