While those involved in the apprehension of five juveniles who attempted to escape from the William F. James Ranch July 18 agree the on-site staff handled the incident swiftly and safely, a union representative said the county is unwilling to provide counselors with resources they need to stay safe at the detention facility.
Late in the evening July 18, five juvenile inmates tried to escape from the James Ranch, which is located on Malaguerra Avenue in northeast Morgan Hill, authorities said. Four of the subjects were apprehended immediately, while the fifth hid out on campus grounds within the perimeter fence. The fifth subject was found on the property by ranch staff after a search was under way.
“The good news is that none of the youth were able to leave the campus grounds,” said Laura Garnette, Santa Clara County Chief of Probation.“Our staff followed established procedures and their quick action ensured that no one in the community was at risk.”
James Ranch Probation Counselor Joel Grabscheid, Chief Steward of SEIU 521 or the Probation Counselors Safety Unit, noted that staff at the James Ranch handled the incident and rounded up the attempted escapees on their own, without the assistance of Morgan Hill police or sheriff’s deputies.
County staff said MHPD was alerted in order to be “consistent with standard protocol.”
A press release from MHPD suggested that the fifth attempted escapee, Anthony Ruezga, 17 of San Jose, had made it outside the facility. Grabscheid and county staff said that never happened.
No injuries were reported during the incident.
Grabscheid added that during the last round of negotiations with the county, which ended this year as a new contract commenced, the union asked for upgrades and more resources at the James Ranch that would improve security for the probation counselors.
“But they have not taken action or been slow to respond,” Grabscheid said.
Specifically, the union asked for more staff on-site, where counselors—whose job includes keeping watch over and guarding the juvenile inmates—are unarmed and outnumbered by inmates at a rate of 12 juveniles to one counselor, Grabscheid said. Plus, the counselors have asked the county to allow them to carry “OC” or pepper spray at the detention center, in order to assist with apprehending inmates.
“We don’t have anything to help us restrain these minors,” Grabscheid said. “Sometimes we have to get physical and restrain them, and there are times we’re severely outnumbered.”
The James Ranch employs 60 Probation Counselors Safety Unit members, Grabscheid added. The facility is a “medium security” detention center, in which inmates are permitted to move somewhat freely from one building to another, but cannot exit the perimeter fence.
County staff said they don’t think the use of pepper spray or chemical agents has been proven to be effective in detaining juvenile offenders. Staff noted that six states have recently taken action to prohibit the use of pepper spray and other chemicals in juvenile facilities.
Furthermore, juvenile justice agencies in only 15 states permit the use of chemical agents, and only six of those states permit guards or counselors to carry pepper spray in secure facilities.
“Santa Clara County juvenile rehabilitation facilities use evidence based strategies, and nothing in the research or best practices supports use of OC spray on juveniles,” said Santa Clara County Assistant Chief of Probation Robert DeJesus.
Grabscheid and county staff declined to say how many escapes or attempted escapes have occurred at the James Ranch in the months leading up to the July 18 incident.
“This isn’t the first time this year it’s happened,” Grabscheid said.
