Where I Stand: The Plumas County Correctional Facility

By Todd Johns

Plumas County Sheriff

I would like to speak regarding the Plumas County Correctional Facility (PCCF).  During this campaign, there has been very little discussion regarding the PCCF by myself or my opponent.  Yet, this is a vital role inside the Plumas County Sheriff’s Office and in Plumas County.  The PCCF is essentially a small town, needing logistics for planning future clothing needs, cleaning solutions, meals, medical care, behavior health care and programs to rehabilitate people in custody.  This has become so vital due to the State of California placing the job of rehabilitation into the county’s hands.  To this I would like to talk about the many changes that have been occurring over the past two years.  This is only a small snippet to what the PCCF does on a daily basis.

First and foremost is the importance of having and maintaining a great staff at the PCCF.  I can say with confidence the Citizens of Plumas County should be proud of the men and women who work as our Correctional Officers.  Our Officers are top notch, dedicated to the rehabilitation, safety, and security of all persons incarcerated.  This group of men and women are like a family. They work all hours and volunteer when needed to cover shifts to ensure we always have enough staffing.  We have five new Correctional Officers at the facility, two of which are re-hires that had worked at the Facility, but for personal reasons had to leave between ten months and two years ago (welcome back!).

Next, is the maintance of staff, which is being accomplished with Standard and Training for Corrections (STC) (this is mandated by the State).  We have started having Corrections Officer’s start training with Patrol when feasible, this is to build a team mentality between the two areas.  I have Correctional Sergeant’s attending staff meetings; this has never been done prior to my time as Sheriff.  The Correctional Sergeants knowledge, thoughts and concerns are important and need to be heard by all areas of the Sheriff’s Office.  Our Medical Director has also been highly involved in training regarding disease control, man down drills, the use of Narcan for people who may overdose during intake.

Our Medical Director has been working to gain accreditation with the National Commission on Correctional Health Care (NCCHC).  NCCHC only gives accreditation to Facilities who meet National standard.  NCCHC audited the PCCF last fall by looking through records, medical policies and procedures, and interviewing random persons in custody and random Officers.  They gave some suggestions for improvement.  We have made those improvements and NCCHC reinspected our Facility a few months ago.  I believe when the NCCHC board meets they will give us accreditation.  This is huge! for our small Facility to attain accreditation is an accomplishment our Medical Director, Nurses and Officer’s worked hard for and should be proud of.

The NCCHC is also looking at the Behavior Health (BH) side.  This to is being reviewed by the NCCHC board and I expect we will attain accreditation.  This is in large part to former BH Director Tony Hobson.  Just in the last year he has worked with our Medical Director, Jail Commander and our Correctional Sergeant who oversees rehabilitation services.  Our Medical Director has worked with BH to improve and develop a Medically Assisted Treatment (MAT) for substance abuse, sustain recovery and prevent overdoses.  MAT is the use of medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies for the treatment of substance use disorders.  The medications used are tailored to meet each person’s needs.  Mr. Hobson has also worked with our Jail Commander to establish ways to house behavior health patients in outside facilities which treat mental health needs.  This has always been an issue due to these hospitals not wanting to take people while they are in custody.  We now have avenues to take to get these people the treatments they need.

A Discharge Coordinator for people in custody and after custody is being developed.  This is a collaborative effort between the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, Public Health, Social Services, Behavior Health and the Probation Department.   This is an ongoing process, which the Discharge Coordinator who will fall under the District Attorney’s Office should be up and running this summer.  This is a vital role at the PCCF.  Our Correctional Sergeant who oversees rehabilitative services has been doing this job on top of her own duties. This job is to have people in custody participate in programs to better understand their needs, learn new skill sets (Culinary for example), come up with a plan upon release (job, housing, continued treatments).  There are many different routes to take with people in custody regarding: did they have a job prior to? do they need a new skill set? or just complete programs, work inside the facility to get themselves back to who they want to be.  After some time inside the Facility many people in custody are usually ready to go back to work. When they are ready, they can be released on Electronic Monitoring while still having supervision, as well as work release (released to go to work and then come back to the Facility when off work).  Many options are available, a Sergeant monitors this now.  Having the Discharge Coordinator will add more support and supervision when these people are released.  The ultimate goal is to release in custody persons, who can become productive in and with Society.  The interdepartmental collaboration is huge in making rehabilitation a success, and we have started to, and are maintaining an open working relationship with the District Attorney’s Office to make this happen.

One final thought I would like the Citizens of Plumas County to know.  During the Dixie fire our Correctional staff went above and beyond again and again. For instance, they organized meals for LEMA Officers by expanding the culinary program.  They planned meals for months, ordered supplies for those meals, and through the culinary program cooked and served meals between July through September (Approximately 160 meals per day).  The men and women did this with pride knowing they were helping our communities.  We had people in custody who assisted with this work detail.  Those people did this with pride, being in custody this was the only way they could help their communities and they felt as though they were a big help, which they were. The fact is, those people are part of this community and it showed with each meal they cooked and the pride on their faces. Preceding the Dixie fire and into the present, I routinely stop by the PCCF, walk around the facility, and work closely with our Jail Commander and our Correctional Sergeant who oversees the rehabilitative side at the PCCF.   The improvements inside the Facility are great and this is due to the incredible staff at the PCCF.

I ask if any of our Citizens who knows a Plumas County Corrections Officer or Sergeant, take a second and tell them thank you for going above and beyond with the care and treatment of people in custody.