Report 2018-106 Recommendation 7 Responses

Report 2018-106: Correctional Officer Health and Safety: Some State and County Correctional Facilities Could Better Protect Their Officers From the Health Risks of Certain Inmate Attacks (Release Date: September 2018)

Recommendation #7 To: Alameda County Sheriff's Office

To ensure the health and safety of its employees and hold its supervisors accountable, Santa Rita should revise its policies and procedures to require documentation that its supervisors are notifying victims of gassing attacks in a timely manner of the medical services and workers' compensation benefits available to them.

1-Year Agency Response

The Detention and Corrections Policy and Procedure (P&P) 3.15, "Infectious Disease Control" was approved and distributed for review.

This policy is fully implemented and includes all previous referenced recommendations for supervisors in the Detention and Corrections Division to notify victims of gassing attacks in a timely manner of the medical services and workers' compensation benefits available to them.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 1-Year Status: Fully Implemented

6-Month Agency Response

This policy is currently under annual review and will be implemented upon approval.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 6-Month Status: Pending

60-Day Agency Response

Currently in place is the Detention and Corrections Policy and Procedure (P&P) 3.15, "Infectious Disease Control." This policy sets forth the procedures for supervisors to ensure personnel obtain a medical examination and that all workers' compensation forms are completed in accordance with General Order (GO) 3.03, "Occupational Injury/Illness or Other Long-Term Illness." If needed, supervisors and staff can access GO 3.03 via the hyperlink, which is indicated by the underlined policy number. The forms can also be accessed under the "Forms" link on the Sheriff's Office Intranet.

California State Auditor's Assessment of 60-Day Status: Pending

The Alameda County Sheriff's Office did not revise its policies to require documentation that its supervisors notified the victims of gassing attacks of the medical services and workers' compensation benefits available to them. As noted on page 14 of our report, we concluded that Santa Rita Jail had policies to notify victims of their aftercare rights, but we also found that it did not track whether it notified victims of these rights. As a result, we were unable to determine if Santa Rita complied with its aftercare policies and procedures.

All Recommendations in 2018-106

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.