COUNTY EXECUTIVE OFFICE - E. COLIO WARREN
1. Approve the County's response to the 2025-2026 San Benito County Civil Grand Jury Consolidated Report;
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign the response letter; and
3. Direct staff to submit the signed response to the presiding Judge of the San Benito County Superior Court and file copies as required by law.
SBC FILE NUMBER: 119
CONSENT AGENDA
On June 10, 2026, the San Benito County Clerk of the Board received the 2025-2026 San Benito County Civil Grand Jury Consolidated Report. The report includes investigations concerning the San Benito County Sheriff's Department, the City of Hollister, and Sunnyslope County Water District.
The report concerning the San Benito County Sheriff's Department requests responses from both the County of San Benito Board of Supervisors and the San Benito County Office of the Sheriff. It contains five findings and five corresponding recommendations addressing staffing and retention; implementation of the new radio communications system; accessibility improvements at the Curtis J. Hill Rehabilitation Center; staffing and policy for inmate and detainee transportation; and compliance with the use of sobering cells.
The Sheriff has separately submitted their response to the Presiding Judge of the San Benito County Superior Court. The Sheriff's response is included as an attachment for the Board's information and reference.
California Penal Code section 933 requires the governing body of a public agency to respond to the Presiding Judge of the Superior Court within 90 days regarding findings and recommendations that pertain to matters under its control. Based on the Clerk of the Board's receipt of the report on June 10, 2026, the County's response is due by September 8, 2026. An elected county officer or agency head must respond within 60 days on matters under that officer's control, with an informational copy provided to the Board of Supervisors.
Penal Code section 933.05 requires a response to each finding to state whether the respondent agrees or disagrees wholly or partially and, if there is disagreement, to identify the disputed portion and explain the reasons. Each recommendation must be reported as implemented; not yet implemented but to be implemented in the future with a timeframe; requiring further analysis within the statutory timeframe; or not to be implemented because it is not warranted or reasonable, with an explanation.
Where a finding or recommendation concerns budgetary or personnel matters involving a department headed by an elected officer, Penal Code section 933.05 limits the Board's response to matters over which the Board has decision-making authority. The proposed County response has been prepared consistent with these requirements and is presented for Board consideration as an attachment to this staff report. Following approval, the Chair will sign the response letter, and staff will transmit it to the Presiding Judge, provide a copy to the currently impaneled Civil Grand Jury, and maintain the required copies with the Clerk of the Board and County Clerk in accordance with panel code section 933.
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with approval and submission of the County's response. Any future expenditures associated with implementation of specific recommendations will be evaluated through the County's regular budget, procurement, and capital improvement processes, as applicable, and returned to the Board for separate consideration when required.
1. Approve the County's response to the 2025-2026 San Benito County Civil Grand Jury Consolidated Report;
2. Authorize the Chair of the Board of Supervisors to sign the response letter; and
3. Direct staff to submit the signed response to the presiding Judge of the San Benito County Superior Court and file copies as required by law.