Voice of OC (https://voiceofoc.org/tag/orange-county-grand-jury/)
The lawsuit claims the District Attorney and Sheriff continue to use informants illegally as part of a long-standing snitch program, despite official claims that the illegal use of informants is the work of a few rogue deputies.
Judge Kirk Nakamura, Orange County Superior Court’s Assistant Presiding Judge, writes to invite local residents to make a difference and join the grand jury for the next year. This year’s deadline has been extended to Feb. 5.
A county grand jury found a widespread perception within the investigations bureau that promotions and favorable treatment went to employees as a result of sexual relationships with superiors.
In an official response to the Orange County Grand Jury’s June report, which called the jailhouse informant scandal a “myth,” District Attorney Tony Rackauckas agreed with most of the report’s findings, except for those which criticized his department for a lack of training protocols and procedure.
The sheriff agrees with the grand jury about a lack of supervision the Central Men’s Jail regarding key issues that could have prevented the escape, like properly inspecting plumbing tunnels, and that her executives failed to take action when problems with inmate counts were raised.
Sex between supervisors and subordinates, sexual harassment, and perceptions of a “good old boys club” that receives promotions and favorable treatment may contribute to a hostile work environment within the Orange County District Attorney’s investigations bureau, according to an Orange County Grand Jury report released Tuesday.
With many insiders scratching their heads about the recent grand jury report on jailhouse snitches, focus is increasingly on the upcoming race for DA in 2018. Amidst lingering questions about current DA Tony Rackauckas’ leadership and the judgment of his challenger, Supervisor Todd Spitzer, a third option has arisen out of Chapman University’s law school, Professor Mario Mainero.
Orange County’s civil grand jury said ongoing court hearing about possible misuse of jailhouse informants have turned into a “witch-hunt,” and should stop after the grand jury determined there is no “systemic, widespread informant program.”
The question now is, what, if anything, will result from the investigations.
An internal ranking of Sheriff’s Department managers raises serious questions even if Sheriff Sandra Hutchens doesn’t like it’s frank language.