SALINAS, Calif. - It's a question you asked for months. How did so many teens escape from the Monterey County Youth Detention Center last year, and what's being done about it?
The Monterey County Grand Jury toured both the county juvenile hall and youth detention center before 11 juveniles escaped from either facility beginning in August.
But it included security policy and prodecdures in its report saying they may not be adequate and should be re-evaluated.
Chief Probation Officer Manny Real couldn't talk today on camera but said the internal investigation of the escapes was finished in November and sent Central Coast News a list of security changes. They include a reinforced front gate and strengthened internal security procedures. For example, they now require the physical presence of a Juvenile Institutions Officer in all groups held at the Youth Center.
Real said they have taken appropriate personnel action but can't say what. They are also proceeding with efforts to strengthen the physical security by adding a no climb fence and razor wire.
The Grand Jury said it's tough to tell if the probation department's case management system is able to successfully track ex-cons once they get out to see if intervention and first-time offender programs are working.
Today, Real said "We do have evaluation data for our Juvenile Justice Crime Prevention Act funded programs, among others, which show the programs to be quite successful. We are looking forward to capturing more complete and relevant data with our new Case Management System."
Other Grand Jury findings said child rape and abuse cases were under-reported by county medical and social workers.
The report also said EBT cards for those on welfare can be used to withdraw cash at several high end hotels and clothing stores in the county.
