MERCED COUNTY GRAND JURY A BIG JOKE

HAVE YOU EVER FELT THE NEED TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THE MERCED COUNTY GRAND JURY. DON’T WASTE YOUR TIME THEY ARE A BIG JOKE AND ACCOMPLISH NOTHING OF IMPORTANCE BUT USE UP TAX PAYERS DOLLARS.
I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE GRAND JURY A YEAR AGO THIS MONTH. I SENT THE COMPLAINT REGISTERED MAIL JUST SO I WOULD BE SURE THEY GOT THERE.
AFTER A MONTH WENT BY AND I HAD NOT RECEIVED ANY KIND OF A RESPONSE, I SENT AN EMAIL TO THEIR ADDRESS THEY HAVE POSTED ON THEIR WEB SITE.
I RECEIVED A RESPONSE FROM YVETTE BRISCO WHO WAS THE JURY FORE PERSON AT THE TIME. (YOU ALL REMEMBER YVETTE DON’T YOU?? THE SUN STAR DID A STORY ON HER HOW SHE HAD ALL THIS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION THAT BELONGED TO THE GRAND JURY AT HER HOUSE. NOTHING EVER HAPPENED TO YVETTE, GO FIGURE). ANY WAY IN HER RESPONSE SHE ADVISED ME A LETTER WAS SUPPOSE TO BE SENT TO ME, WHICH NEVER HAPPENED. STRIKE ONE
ANOTHER MONTH GOES BY AND STILL NOTHING, SO I SEND ANOTHER EMAIL ASKING HOW THE SYSTEM WORKS AND WHAT WILL BE DONE WITH MY LETTER.
TWO WEEKS LATER I GET A RESPONSE FROM A COURT EMPLOYEE ADVISING ME THEY ARE IN THE MIDDLE OF CHANGING GRAND JURY MEMBERS AND THAT HAS BEEN THE HOLD UP IN PROCESSING MY COMPLAINT. THIS WAS 7/26/05.
NOW ITS 9/8/2005 AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE IN OVER A MONTH. I SEND YET ANOTHER EMAIL SAYING THAT I UNDERSTOOD THE CHANGING OF THE JURY BUT THE SITUATION IS STARTING TO GET RIDICULOUS.
ON 9/22/05 AGAIN I GET A RESPONSE FROM THE COURT EMPLOYEE ADVISING ME MY EMAIL HAS BEEN FORWARDED TO THE GRAND JURY WEB SITE AND A SHELENE BERNAL WILL BE CONTACTING ME DIRECTLY (EXACT WORD USED).
ON 10/3/2005 AFTER NOT HEARING DIRECTLY FROM SHELENE BERNAL, I AGAIN EMAIL THE COURT EMPLOYEE ASKING IF THERE IS ANY JUDGE I CAN CONTACT ABOUT HOW MY COMPLAINT IS BEING HANDLED.
ON THE SAME DATE OF 10/3/2005 I SEND AN EMAIL DIRECTLY TO THE GRAND JURY EMAIL ADDRESS THAT AGAIN IS THE ONE FROM THEIR WEB SITE. MY EMAIL ADVISES THEM OF MY FRUSTRATION WITH THEIR SYSTEM.
RESPONSE I RECEIVED FROM SHELENE BERNAL ON THE SAME DAY AS ABOVE 10/3/2005
Dear Mr. Sofranek,First I would like to apologize about the delay in the response from my end. As you know we have started a new term and I am learning and carefully settling into my new responsibilities. I would have to say that it hasn't been the easiest thing. With that said I need to remind you, Mr. Sofranek, that this e-mail or the receipt of this e-mail are to be kept confidential. It is only with strct confidentiality can the lines of communication be kept open.The 2004-2005 Grand Jury did receive your complaint it was voted as to not act on the complaint and to forward to the 2005-2006 Jury. We, the 2005-2006 jury have your complaint and it will be up for discussion sometime during the month of October time permitting. If after discussion the Grand Jury decides to continue with the invetigative process then we will getting in contact with you.If you have any questions feel free to reply to this e-mail.Thank You,Shelene BernalForeperson


NOW ITS 11/25/2005 AND I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM THE GRAND JURY SINCE THE EMAIL FROM SHELENE ON 10/3/2005.
I SEND AN EMAIL TO CHANNEL 47 PROGRAM "ON YOUR SIDE", DETAILING THE PROBLEMS I AM HAVING WITH GETTING ANY PLACE WITH THE MERCED GRAND JURY. I ASK THEM TO CONSIDER DOING A STORY ON THE MERCED GRAND JURY.
ON 1/4/2006 I CONTACT A LAWYER BY THE NAME OF JACK ZEPP. I FOUND HIS NAME ON THE INTERNET FROM AN ARTICLE ABOUT CALIFORNIA GRAND JURIES. I ASK HIM IF THERE IS A STATE AGENCY THAT I CAN CONTACT ABOUT MY PROBLEM OF NO RESPONSE FROM THE LOCAL GRAND JURY ON MY COMPLAINT. HE ADVISES ME THAT EACH LOCAL GRAND JURY COMES UNDER THE JURISDICTION OF THE LOCAL COURTS. ITS NOW BEEN OVER SIX MONTHS SINCE I SENT MY COMPLAINT TO THE GRAND JURY.
NOW ITS ABOUT THE MIDDLE OF JANUARY AND I RECEIVE A CALL FROM A GRAND JURY MEMBER. THEY WANT TO SET UP A MEETING. I TELL THEM JUST NAME THE PLACE AND TIME AND I WILL BE THERE.
WE MEET IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS AND WE TALK FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. I BRING TO THEIR ATTENTION SOME OTHER PROBLEMS FOR THEM TO ADDRESS BESIDES MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT AND PRESENT THEM WITH DOCUMENTS THAT TOOK ME TWO DAYS TO PUT TOGETHER. AT THE END OF THE MEETING I AM TOLD THEY WILL CHECK INTO MY COMPLAINT AND WRITE ME A RESPONSE BUT THIS COULD TAKE 6 TO 8 WEEKS.
I FIGURE BY THE END ON MARCH I SHOULD GET A REPORT. MARCH COMES AND GOES AND NO CONTACT FROM THE GRAND JURY.
NOW ON 4/11/2006, I LEAVE A MESSAGE ON THE PHONE NUMBER THAT IS LISTED ON THE GRAND JURY WEB SITE. I FIGURED I SENT ALL THESE EMAILS AND NOTHING SO LETS TRY LEAVING A PHONE MESSAGE. AS USUAL NOTHING.
THE NEXT DAY 4/12/2006 I SEND ANOTHER EMAIL TO THEIR OFFICIAL EMAIL ADDRESS. YOU GUESS IT NO RESPONSE.
AS OF TODAY 5/21/2006 I HAVE STILL NOT HEARD OR RECEIVED ANYTHING ABOUT THE INVESTIGATION THEY DID ABOUT MY COMPLAINT. IT IS NOW A YEAR.
I HAVE NOTHING BUT DISGUST WITH THE PRESENT MERCED COUNTY GRAND JURY AND THE WHOLE SYSTEM. THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO EXCUSE FOR THE WAY THIS GRAND JURY HAS TREATED MY COMPLAINT. I ONLY WONDER IF OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS I. I ESPECIALLY HOLD RESPONSIBLE THE THREE MEMBERS I SPOKE TO.
I SPENT ALMOST 28 YEARS WORKING THE CORRECTIONS DIVISION FOR THE MERCED COUNTY SHERIFFS DEPARTMENT. I REMEMBER AS A NEW OFFICER BEING TOLD THAT THE GRAND JURY WAS COMING FOR THEIR ANNUAL TOUR OF THE JAIL. WE SPENT DAYS CLEANING AND MAKING SURE EVERYTHING WAS IN ORDER.
OVER THE YEARS I REALIZED THAT THE GRAND JURY SYSTEM IS ONE BIG JOKE AND THEY HAVE NO REAL AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE ANY SUGGESTIONS OR COMMENTS THEY MAKE. AFTER BEING PROMOTED I REALIZED THAT THE SHERIFFS ADMINISTRATION DIDN’T TAKE THE GRAND JURY SERIOUSLY BUT JUST PLAYED THE GAME WHEN THEY CAME AROUND ASKING QUESTIONS. THEY ALSO KNEW THE GRAND JURY HAS NO REAL AUTHORITY OR ELSE THE PROBLEMS THEY BROUGHT UP TWO YEARS IN A ROW WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN CARE OF.
I RECALL ONE PARTICULAR GRAND JURY REPORT, WHEN THE ONLY THING THEY COULD FIND TO COMMENT ON ABOUT THE SANDY MUSH JAIL FACILITY WAS THAT THE WHITE CANVAS LAUNDRY CARTS WE USED HAD RUST MARKS ON THEM. IF YOU GO TO THEIR WEB SITE YOU CAN BRING UP PAST GRAND JURY REPORTS, I JUST DON’T REMEMBER THE YEAR. WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS IN THE CORRECTIONS DIVISION THEY ZOOM IN ON RUSTY LAUNDRY CARTS.
WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO IS DEPARTMENT HEADS APPEASE THE GRAND JURY MEMBERS WHEN THEY COME AROUND BECAUSE THEY KNOW THE SYSTEM IS A JOKE AND ISN’T TAKEN SERIOUSLY.
NOW I KNOW THE SAME THING ABOUT THE GRAND JURY WHEN YOU FILE A COMPLAINT WITH THEM.
IF ANYONE HAS HAD ANY EXPERIENCE WITH THE GRAND JURY I SURE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR FROM YOU.

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SANDY MUSH DISTURBANCE

Less than two weeks after a state report said Merced County's biggest jail is severely understaffed, rampant overcrowding and fights between rival gang members have forced officers to put the facility in lockdown mode.
News about the lockdown – which started last weekend and could last for another couple of weeks -- was not made public until the Sheriff's Department was questioned about unusual activity at the John Latorraca Correctional Facility.
The jail is located 10 miles south of Merced on Sandy Mush Road.
Sheriff Mark Pazin said the lockdown was initiated after "substantial unrest" at the jail earlier this week.
Scott Dover, a spokesman for the Sheriff's Department, said members of two rival gangs were "involved in several altercations" in the jail yard where inmates are allowed to mingle.
He said there were a series of scuffles between a few individuals, but no large fights. Two inmates were hospitalized with moderate injuries and have since been sent back to the jail.
"Tension was rising between two gangs," Dover said. "It kept getting more and more aggressive."
The last time the jail went into lockdown mode was a year ago, Dover said.
The jail apparently had not thoroughly screened its inmates for gang affiliations, leaving some cells filled with members of rival gangs.
The problems were also exacerbated by extreme overcrowding and a lack of staffing at the jail.
At any given time, there are eight or nine correctional officers staffed at the Latorraca jail, Dover said. They oversee about 625 inmates.
The jail is designed to hold 608 inmates at maximum capacity.
When the nearly 500 male inmates are allowed to mingle in the jail yard -- though in separate shifts -- they are watched over by only three officers.
Asked if the jail had adequate staffing, Dover said: "No, no, no. It's a volatile situation. We don't have enough staffing to handle that number of inmates. The facility doesn't have enough space to handle that safely."
A state Department of Corrections report released earlier this month said the Latorraca jail is severely understaffed and that required fire and health inspections have not been completed.
It also found that many inmates were sleeping on mattresses on the floor.
Dover said overcrowding problems have forced the jail to let many of the nonviolent inmates out early, leaving the jail with a more aggressive population.
"It leaves us with the worst of the worst," he said.
During the lockdown, the majority of inmates will not be allowed to have visitors and also lose other privileges.
Dover said that the lockdown "could last for another two days or two weeks."
He said that officers will spend that time screening inmates to make sure they are not placed in situations where they could get in fights with rival gang members.
Pazin said that news about the gang fights and subsequent lockdown was not announced because he did not think they were unusual events.
"For us, it's day-to-day, almost routine," Pazin said. "You just get used to it."
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ANOTHER STORY IN TODAYS SUN STAR ABOUT THE SANDY MUSH JAIL FACILITY BEING ON LOCK DOWN BECAUSE OF FIGHTS BETWEEN RIVAL GANGS.
THE SHERIFF MADE THE COMMENT THAT THIS INCIDENT WAS NOT MADE AVAILABLE TO THE NEWSPAPER BECAUSE FIGHTS BETWEEN GANGS ARE ROUTINE. THE SHERIFF IS CORRECT BUT LOCKING DOWN A FACILITY BECAUSE THE LEVEL OF POSSIBLE VIOLENCE HAS GOTTEN SO HIGH THAT A TOTAL LOCK-DOWN WAS NEEDED IS NOT PART OF THE DAILY ROUTINE. NEITHER IS IT PART OF THE DAILY ROUTINE FOR INMATES TO BARRICADE THEMSELVES IN A DORM AND BLOCK THE WINDOWS WITH MATTRESSES AND ITS CERTAINLY NOT ROUTINE FOR OFFICERS TO USE A STING BALL GRENADE TO GET INMATES TO COMPLY WITH VERBAL ORDERS .
THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE PERFECT TIME FOR THE SHERIFF TO MAKE THIS INCIDENT PUBLIC. THE STATE HAD JUST CAME OUT WITH A REPORT STATING THE JAIL FACILITY IS WAY UNDERSTAFFED.
THE REAL REASON THIS WANT GIVEN TO THE NEWS WHEN IT HAPPENED IS BECAUSE THE SUN STAR IS BEING FROZEN OUT BECAUSE OF ITS COVERAGE OF THE STORY ON SPENCER.

COUNTY AND THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT

DID YOU SEE THE ARTICLE IN TODAYS SUN STAR ABOUT THE COUNTY AND THEIR REFUSAL TO TURN OVER PUBLIC RECORDS TO THE SUN STAR.
THE SUN STAR CAUGHT COUNTY COUNSEL TELLING A LIE AND THEY GOT CAUGHT. ACCORDING TO COUNTY COUNSEL THERE WAS A MISCOMMUNICATION BETWEEN THEM AND THE STATE.
WHAT HAPPENED WAS THE REPORTER WAS SMART ENOUGH NOT TO TAKE THE WORD OF THE COUNTY AND CHECKED THINGS OUT HIMSELF. THE STORY SURE WAS DIFFERENT WHEN HE SPOKE WITH A STATE REP AND SOME EXPERTS ON OUR RIGHTS UNDER THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT.
I FOUND OUT MANY YEARS AGO BEFORE I RETIRED TO NEVER BELIEVE ANYTHING THE COUNTY OR YOUR DEPARTMENTS ADMINISTRATION TELLS YOU. TAKE TIME TO CHECK IT OUT. WITH THE INTERNET ITS VERY EASY TO CHECK ON CERTAIN THINGS.
I HAVE BEEN TURNED DOWN SEVERAL TIMES FOR INFORMATION BY MERCED COUNTY WHEN I REQUESTED INFORMATION USING THE PUBLIC RECORDS ACT. I GET THESE LETTERS BACK WITH A BUNCH OF LEGAL MUMBLE JUMBLE FROM COUNTY COUNSEL .
THE SUN STAR HAS A LAWYER SO THEY CAN CALL THE COUNTIES BLUFF AND IT MAKES THEM LOOK LIKE FOOLS.

MIKE SOFRANEK

THE BEGINNING

LETS GET THIS BLOG GOING

AS YOU CAN SEE, I STARTED WORKING ON THIS BLOG IN FEBRUARY. I DIDN'T LIKE HOW I STARTED IT AND HAVE BEEN HESITANT TO PUT IT OUT THERE TO THE PUBLIC BUT WITH WHAT'S BEEN HAPPENING WITH THE STORY WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY I THINK ITS TIME TO GO PUBLIC.

PART OF THE REASON FOR THIS BLOG IS TO EXPOSE THE WRONGS THAT GO ON DAILY IN MERCED COUNTY GOVERNMENT. THIS CAN COVER MANY TOPICS FROM FAVORITISM, HIRING PRACTICES, PROMOTIONS, HARASSMENT AND EVEN CRIMINAL INCIDENTS.

I CAN NOT SAY FOR SURE BUT THE CHANCES THAT THE INFORMATION THE SUN STAR WAS GIVEN ORIGINALLY ON THE SPENCER INCIDENT PROBABLY CAME FROM A COUNTY EMPLOYEE.

I KNOW AND YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS NOT THE ONLY INCIDENT THAT NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT TO THE PUBLICS ATTENTION. WRONGS NEED TO BE MADE RIGHT.

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ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS I AM ASKING HELP FOR FROM ANY COUNTY EMPLOYEE PRESENT OR RETIRED, IS FOR INFORMATION THAT WILL HELP A GROUP OF COUNTY EMPLOYEES THAT ARE LOOKING INTO THE PROCEDURE FOR COUNTY EMPLOYEES TO FILE A GRIEVANCE.

THIS GROUP IS TRYING TO SEE HOW MANY TIMES WHEN A EMPLOYEE HAS FILED A GRIEVANCE, THAT THE HEARING OFFICER HAS EITHER RULED IN FAVOR OF THE COUNTY OR COMES BACK SAYING THE GRIEVANCE CAN NOT BE SUBSTANTIATED.

DOES ANYONE REMEMBER A COUNTY EMPLOYEE WINNING A GRIEVANCE?? I KNOW THERE HAS BEEN SOME BUT ITS VERY VERY FEW. I KNOW THE TWO I FILED CAME BACK IN THE COUNTY'S FAVOR.

AGAIN I AM NO EXPERT IN BLOGS SO IF YOU HAVE SUGGESTIONS OR QUESTIONS, POST THEM ALSO. I AM SURE THERE IS SOME COUNTY EMPLOYEE THAT CAN HELP.

TWO LAST COMMENTS. PLEASE PASS ON THIS BLOG SITE TO OTHERS AND DON'T USE YOUR WORK COMPUTER TO POST ON THIS BLOG, DON'T GIVE THE COUNTY A REASON TO DO A DISCIPLINARY ACTION ON YOU.

MICHAEL SOFRANEK