Understanding Torrance County Detention’s Recent Inspection History

ODO inspection records give you a quick picture of when outside oversight happened and what kind of access inspectors had. For Torrance County Detention, recent ODO documents show three events: a remote follow-up in May 2021 (conducted remotely because on-site visits weren't possible during the COVID-19 pandemic), an unannounced follow-up compliance inspection on February 27–29, 2024, and a compliance inspection on October 22–24, 2024.

• ✓ May 2021 - Remote follow-up inspection (remote format used because an on-site inspection was not possible due to the COVID-19 pandemic)
• ✓ February 27–29, 2024 - Unannounced follow-up compliance inspection
• ✓ October 22–24, 2024 - Compliance inspection

An ODO inspection is a formal review checking whether a detention facility meets required standards and how conditions and services look day to day. The result is a written report describing what inspectors reviewed, their methodology (on-site versus remote), and their findings. For families, these reports help anchor concerns to a specific time period - so you're working with documented facts rather than rumors or secondhand accounts.

When you see an inspection listed with a date range (like "February 27–29, 2024"), that's the actual inspection window - not a general year-in-review. The ODO PDFs for Torrance County Detention show identifying details on the cover: dates and inspection type (compliance inspection, unannounced follow-up compliance inspection, etc.). If you're reading these reports, start by matching the cover date range to the event you care about. Then check the executive summary and methodology section to understand what inspectors actually did and whether it was remote or on-site.

1. Open the report for the inspection date you’re checking - Use the PDF that matches the date range and type (May 2021 remote follow-up; Feb. 27–29, 2024 unannounced follow-up compliance; Oct. 22–24, 2024 compliance).
2. Read the executive summary first - This is usually the fastest way to understand the major takeaways before you get into details.
3. Confirm the inspection method and dates - Look for whether it was remote vs. on-site, and whether it was unannounced, so you know what inspectors could realistically observe.
4. Review findings and recommendations - Pay attention to what areas were flagged and what corrective actions were recommended.
5. Write down exact wording and page numbers - If you need to raise a concern later, quoting the report and citing the page is more effective than summarizing from memory.

S4

• ✓ Read the inspection report that matches the timeframe you’re concerned about, and pull out the specific section that relates to your issue.
• ✓ Keep a simple timeline: dates of the inspection window, dates your loved one describes, and any related incidents you’re tracking.
• ✓ Document details you can verify (names, dates, housing unit, medical request dates, grievance dates), and separate them from what you can’t.
• ✓ Use the report’s own references to oversight or follow-up channels when you’re deciding who to contact next.
• ✓ If the concern is serious or ongoing, consider talking with a qualified attorney or a trusted advocacy organization and share the exact report pages you’re relying on.