Independent Ombudsman for the Texas Juvenile justice System Gainesville State School Site Visit Report O10-SV-19-040 November 7-8, 2018 Observer: Allen E Wallace and Janet Clark Purpose: Routine Secure Facility Site Visit Report: This report is designed to identify problems and seek remedies that help secure the rights and ensure the safety of youth housed at the facility. The issues identified in this report are based entirely on the Ombudsman’s observations, interviews with staff and youth, and collected data. Unless otherwise noted, the issues identified in this report do not constitute formal legal findings. Last Review Date: October 10-11, 2018 Facility Budgeted Capacity: 234 / Capped at 200 Facility Population: 200 Number of Youth Interviewed: 51 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Facility, Programs, Processes or Administrative Functions: The facility population has risen to 200. As reported by facility management there are 68 vacant Juvenile Correctional Officer (JCO) positions, with a fill rate of 70%, and 64% available for coverage. Fourteen positions are unavailable for duty due to training status or extended leave/alternate work assignments. This indicates an increase in vacant positions from the previous site visit and a decrease in percentage available for duty. Management stated they are continuing weekly recruitment efforts. ‘There is only 1 case management vacancy. Security and dorm JCOs stated they were regularly working 12 hour shifts which was confirmed by supervisory staff. Upon entering one dorm, the Ombudsman (10) was asked by a JCO if they were her relief, as she had been on duty 14 hours. Youth were seen on their dorms, education, in the security unit, and the Redirect Program (RDP). Youth were observed outside for recreation, transitioning across campus to and from dorms to school, medicine call, and on the second day to cafeteria for meals. On the first day of the site visit all youth were eating on their dorms as the dishwasher was not functional. Although the dishwasher had not been repaired, on the second day youth walked through the cafeteria picking up their meal trays. During the site visit, concerns regarding movement of youth and staff/youth ratios were identified, and are discussed in the Issues section below. On the first day of the site visit there were 0 youth assigned to the security program (SP), 1 assigned to Medical Observation (MO), and 1 assigned to Institutional Detention (IDP) status. The youth on MO and IDP status were both being housed on the Re-Direct Program (RDP) pod. On the second day, there were 6 youth assigned to SP. Review of security files revealed no discrepancies in documentation, and safety/welfare checks were in compliance with standards. One youth had been admitted the previous evening and was to be released after 6:00 a.m. The youth's admission paperwork was missing fromthe pod, although the safety/welfare observation sheet was correctly documented he was still in security after 8:00a.m. The 10 asked for the paperwork and was advised by the security case manager that the youth had been released. When asked why the youth was still in security some 2 hours later, the 10 was told “out-side Security must be too busy.” This type of concern was an issue in the September 2018 site visit report. Seven youth were assigned to the Re-Direct Program (RDP). Individual Case Plans (ICP) were current. ‘The RDP Tracking Sheet CCF-519 for the most part contained appropriate documentation. The goals for youth identified on RDP Daily Performance Log (CCF-411) were appropriate as were the JCO's individual shift comments. The safety /welfare checks (INS-100) were completed according to policy. The youth on MO status had a fractured jaw, but had not seen the medical specialist. He was being allowed to eat solid foods. His plan indicated he could have phone calls, large muscle exercise, but made no mention of him being assigned education work. The repainting of the interior of the security building continues, It was noted that rooms on the security pods and RDP pod that had been re-painted already had new tagging with black markers and/or had paint peeled from the walls. Awalk-through of the school was conducted during the second day of the site visit. With the exception of one class, youth were actively engaged in their school work and responding appropriately to staff. Several youth that were displaying behavior issues were sent out for one-to-one counseling with aJCO. A walk-through of all dorms was conducted, and overall they appeared to be clean unless otherwise stated. Youth on Dorm 7/8 were observed with shoes tagged with gang graffiti in marker and pen. This was discussed with the JCO VI, who advised the youth were given new shoes and they quickly tagged them. A walk-through of the dorms was conducted and they were clean and orderly. On Dorm 3 one of the group rooms appeared to have mold on it and was dirty. Risk Management said there was a water leak and the facility was working on finding the leak before replacing the flooring. Shower stall tiles on dorm 13 had been broken since the last site visit, and the carpet on dorm 14 is stained and appears unclean. One toilet door on dorm 17 was tagged. Capital Offender treatment groups were observed in progress on dorms 17/18. Random documentation review across campus included the Room/Cell Check Logs (INS-100s), Daily Dormitory Shift Logs (INS-110), the Individual Youth Performance Logs (CCF-411s), and conference requests. On Dorm 7 the INS-100s indicated observation checks between the am and pm shift change ‘were conducted 20-30 minutes apart. On Dorm 3 the forms were marked to indicate that youth were in their rooms for approximately 5 hours without room checks being conducted. Examples were provided to the facility management. Inconsistencies were found on the daily shift logs on dorms 3, 4, 7,8,9 and 10. The 0 found youth movement/activities were not documented uniformly and lacked notation of specific recreational activities. Shift logs for dorm 13/14 were reviewed from the end of October through the date of the site visit. It was noted that numerous sections of the form were blank or inadequately completed on alll shifts. Interviews: There were 51 youth interviewed across campus. Youth were able to describe their treatment needs, current treatment, and current stage levels. They said they have contact with their families and knew who to tell if they felt unsafe at the facility. The 10 received various complaints from youth and they were referred to the grievance system for resolution. Youth interviewed on Dorms 9/10 stated they were still not going outside or to the gym for recreation. The 10 checked the INS-110 and the youth Gainesville State School, November 7-8, 2018 Page 2 of 9 10-003 05/18were documented as receiving recreation but not where it was done. On Dorm 7/8 the youth interviewed said the JCO VI sometimes curses at them. The IO spoke with the Dorm Supervisor and he confirmed he had received the same complaint. One youth on Dorm 7/8 said when he was in the Security Unit for medical observation he did not receive any treatment work. The IO spoke with the Program Supervisor and he confirmed work was not provided to the youth. He said the issue would be addressed in the next staff meeting, A transgender youth complained of harassment by a specific youth assigned to the same dorm and alleged the dorm JCO Supervisor was not taking appropriate action to curtail the harassment. The information was provided to Youth Rights and was filed as an emergency grievance. The allegation was also discussed during the exit conference with facility management. Youth across campus alleged the JCOs were turning off their body cameras while interacting with the youth. These comments were shared with management during the exit conference also. MONTHLY SUMMARY: Facility incident data was taken from the T)JD intranet as of November 19, 2018, The table and graph below detail the number of incidents by category and month in comparison to the same time periods from one year ago. In October 2017 the facility's average daily population (ADP) was 231.7, and the ADP for October 2018 was 200.9, ‘Augi7 | Sep17 | Octi7 ‘Augi8 | Sep 18 [ Octi8 oc 39 19 39 30 30 27 Restraints 116 91 95 108 94 101 Assaults-Youth on Youth 59) 37 59 45 26 a ‘Assaults-Youth on Staff 28 20 26 23 18 26 Escape/Attempt Escape 0 0 o 1 0 0 Fleeing Apprehension 9 51 31 17 16 14 Gang related 15 13 13 10 10 17 Part. Major Disruption 24 61 62 23 12 21 Aug 17 msep 17 mocta7 120 | 100 Gainesville State School, November 7-8, 2018 Page 3 of 9 10-003 05/18