Report 2012-107 Recommendation 7 Responses

Report 2012-107: Developmental Centers: Poor-Quality Investigations, Outdated Policies, Leadership and Staffing Problems, and Untimely Licensing Reviews Put Residents at Risk (Release Date: July 2013)

Recommendation #7 To: Developmental Services, Department of

To help ensure the quality of OPS investigations, the department should revise its OPS training policy to require its law enforcement personnel to attend annually specialized trainings that address their specific needs. At least initially, the department should focus the additional trainings on communicating with residents, writing effective investigative reports, and collecting investigative evidence. To further develop the leadership skills of OPS management, the department should consider having experienced or particularly skilled members of its OPS management provide this annual training.

1-Year Agency Response

As previously reported in the six-month response, a formal training plan was established in November 2013 to ensure all uniformed personnel receive initial and ongoing training in all aspects of their jobs. The following courses are identified as Job-Required in the training plan: Child Abuse Investigation; Sexual Assault Investigation; Homicide/Death Investigation; Interview and Interrogation; Crisis Intervention Training (dealing with the Mentally Disabled); and Report Writing. POST Supervisory and Management Courses are also Job-Required for applicable classifications. The subject matter of communicating with residents, writing investigative reports, and collecting investigative evidence are part of the training curricula.

From May 1, 2013 through May 31, 2014, OPS personnel have attended 753 individual training sessions related to these courses. An additional 114 sessions are scheduled in the coming months.

DDS has elected to utilize outside training to accomplish its training goals.

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

6-Month Agency Response

DDS supports the need for additional specialized training for its law enforcement officers. A formal training plan was established in November 2013 to ensure all uniformed personnel receive initial and ongoing training in all aspects of their jobs. The following courses are identified as "Job-Required" in the training plan: Child Abuse Investigation; Sexual Assault Investigation; Homicide/Death Investigation; Interview and Interrogation; Crisis Intervention Training (dealing with the Mentally Disabled); and Report Writing. POST Supervisory and Management Courses are also "Job-Required" for applicable classifications. The subject matter of communicating with residents, writing investigative reports, and collecting investigative evidence are part of the training curricula.

From May 1 through November 30, 2013, OPS personnel have attended 416 individual training sessions related to these courses. An additional 160 sessions are scheduled in the coming months.

At this juncture, DDS is utilizing outside training to accomplish its training goals. OPS staff are being developed internally who will provide leadership, expertise and training in the future.

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

60-Day Agency Response

DDS agrees with the intent of this recommendation and supports the need for additional specialized training for its law enforcement officers. The new Chief of OPS will have a formal training plan by September 30, 2013, to ensure officers receive initial and ongoing training in all aspects of their jobs. Prioritization will be given to areas noted in the audit and OPS will utilize internal resources to conduct training, as appropriate.

In May 2013, a comprehensive course on "Conducting Serious Incident Investigations" was provided to OPS investigators representing all developmental centers, including all investigators at Sonoma.

Additionally, since May 1, 2013 OPS personnel have attended 165 individual training sessions related to Child Abuse Investigations; Sexual Assault Investigations; Core Investigations Course; Homicide Investigations; Property and Evidence Room Training; Interview and Interrogation; Internal Affairs Investigations; Background Investigations; Team Approach to Child Abuse Investigations; Supervisory Course and other Law Enforcement specific subjects. An additional 101 sessions are scheduled in the coming months.

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

All Recommendations in 2012-107

Agency responses received are posted verbatim.