San Joaquin County Jail, juvenile hall not doing enough to prevent sex abuse: Grand jury

Aaron Leathley, The Record
·3 min read
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A San Joaquin County Grand Jury published multiple findings on Friday regarding three local jail facilities' lack of oversight and information disclosure under a federal anti-sexual abuse law.
A San Joaquin County Grand Jury published multiple findings on Friday regarding three local jail facilities' lack of oversight and information disclosure under a federal anti-sexual abuse law.

The San Joaquin County Jail and the Juvenile Hall facility have never completed legally-required audits aimed at preventing the sexual abuse of prisoners, a grand jury found.

It was one of multiple findings the San Joaquin County Grand Jury published last Friday revealing poor oversight, inadequate avenues for reporting abuse, and insufficient information for those in custody about their rights at the county jail and at Juvenile Hall.

"Failure to meet standards [...] can result in serious consequences for detainees, inmates, and residents, and an inability to protect vulnerable individuals housed at the County custodial facilities," the grand jury said in a statement released last Friday.

The Lodi jail also did not provide people adequate information about their rights as required by law, the grand jury stated.

The failures represent a violation of the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA), signed into law in 2003, the grand jury stated.

During its investigation, the grand jury reviewed complaints about alleged sexual and physical abuse at county facilities, according to the statement.

Jurors examined "numerous documents, video files, and regulations" and media reports, and conducted tours and interviews, the statement said.

The San Joaquin County Probation Department for Juvenile Detention is responsible for Juvenile Hall, and the sheriff's office administers the jail. The Lodi Police Department runs the Lodi jail.

"Most of the concerns addressed by the grand jury have already been rectified," Sheriff Patrick Withrow said in a statement Monday.

The agencies must respond to the findings within 60 days.

Chief Probation Officer Steve Jackson could not immediately be reached for comment.

'Blind spots,' no audits at county jail

At the county jail, the grand jury found:

  • The sheriff's office has failed to ensure that a legally-required Department of Justice audit "has ever been done" at the county jail, though one is required every three years. "Contracting with a DOJ-approved auditor is actively being investigated and addressed," Withrow said Monday.

  • The sheriff's office "does not provide adequate means to report sexual abuse or harassment confidentially and privately," a violation of the 2003 anti-sexual assault law, the grand jury report stated.

  • The jail's interrogation rooms have no video cameras or audio recording equipment, creating "blind spots" inside the jail, the report stated. "There should be no area in the jail, absent issues of mandated privacy, where an inmate could be with officers in secluded settings," the report stated.

  • There is not adequate written or visibly posted information explaining peoples' rights in jail and explaining the zero-tolerance policy on sexual abuse.

The sheriff’s office "is moving in the right direction by installing more than 100 additional cameras throughout the San Joaquin County jail," the report stated. "But the project is not expected to be completed until July of 2023."

Failure to document separation of adults and minors at Juvenile Hall

At the juvenile detention facility, the grand jury said in its report:

  • The probation department "lacks published material explaining how separation between juveniles and older residents is to be maintained."

  • The probation department has "never scheduled nor completed" the legally-required DOJ audit required under the anti-sexual assault law, possibly putting children at risk. The department also hasn't carried out a required annual review since 2019.

  • The department also failed to show any written policy explaining how reports of sexual assault to a women's crisis line would be kept confidential. The department does not adequately explain on its website or in other public information how someone could make a confidential report on behalf of a child.

  • Department staff "demonstrated a lack of understanding that all federally mandated PREA standards apply to San Joaquin County’s Juvenile Detention Facility." The probation department also didn't consistently train educators, contract workers and volunteers as required by the anti-assault law.

Additionally, the grand jury found that the Lodi Police Department did not have adequate written information or visibly-displayed posters informing people about their rights in jail.

"We are in the process of purchasing the required pamphlets and posters" to display in the jail," Lodi police Sgt. Matt Latino said.

Record reporter Aaron Leathley covers public safety. She can be reached at aleathley@recordnet.com or on Twitter @LeathleyAaron. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow.

This article originally appeared on The Record: San Joaquin County Jail failing sex abuse oversight: Grand jury