Valley Briefing : Budgets Leave County in a Jail Jam

Los Angeles County Sheriff Sherman Block says he will have to release prisoners, shut down jails, lay off deputies and possibly close sheriff’s stations if Sacramento approves a plan by Gov. Pete Wilson to shift $2.6 million in property tax revenues from local government to the state.

Wilson’s proposal has heightened tensions between Block and the Board of Supervisors over funding for the county jail system.

Block shut down the Mira Loma Jail on May 25 because the board had not guaranteed full funding for his department in the next fiscal year starting July 1. In a tense showdown, the board agreed to release $4 million to the Sheriff’s Department. Block reopened Mira Loma Jail and agreed to trim his budget by $1 million.

Department officials say the funding is only a stopgap measure and that jails could be closed as soon as August. The Department oversees nine jail facilities--Biscailuz Center, Central Jail, Mira Loma Jail, Sybil Brand Institute for Women and the Peter J. Pitchess Honor Rancho, composed of five separate jails, East Facility, North Facility, South Facility, Ranch Facility and North County Correctional Facility.

Near Capacity

Last week’s jail population, 20,542, was just 13% short of the maximum capacity of 23,595 (87%).

Uncertain Future: Three Budget Scenarios

The Sheriff’s Department has developed three possible scenarios for cutting back on facilities and personnel, depending on the outcome of county budget talks.

Scenario 1 (8% cut)

* Close three jails

* Release 4,000 to 5,000 inmates

* Lay off 683 sworn and civilian personnel

* Cut budget $58 million

Scenario 2 (16% cut)

* Close four jails

* Release 5,000 to 6,500 inmates

* Lay off 1,339 sworn and civilian personnel

* Cut budget $108 million

Scenario 3 (25% cut)

* Close five jails and nine sheriff’s stations

* Release 7,500 to 9,000 inmates

* Lay off 2,078 sworn and civilian personnel

* Cut budget $152 million

Possible Closures

Mira Loma Facility

* Location: Lancaster

* Population: 217 men, 273 women

* Capacity: 1,229

* Inmates: Minimum- to medium-security

* Future: Would be second to close under proposed cuts

Biscailuz Center

* Location: Los Angeles

* Population: 1,069 men, 45 women.

* Capacity: 1,470

* Inmates: Minimum- to medium-security

* Future: Would be third jail to close under proposed cuts

Peter J. Pitchess Honor Rancho

* Location: Castaic

* Population: 9,932 men

* Capacity: 10,952

* Inmates: Minimum- to maximum-security

* Future: Three of five jail facilities--Ranch, South and East--face closure.

Ranch Facility

Population: 2,022 men

Capacity: 2,366

Inmates: Minimum security

Future: Would be first jail to close under proposed cuts

South Facility

Population: 1,528 men

Capacity: 1,900

Inmates: Medium-security

Future: Would be fourth jail to close under proposed cuts

East Facility

Population: 1,620 men

Capacity: 1,786

Inmates: Maximum security

Future: Would be fifth jail to close under proposed cuts

Sheriff’s Department Profile

* Operates 20 stations

* Annual budget of $1.2 billion

* Employs 7,659 sworn officers

* Employs 3,782 civilians

* Operates nine jail facilities

Future Plans

Even as the Sheriff’s Department struggles to keep its nine jail facilities open, two more jails are under construction.

Twin Towers Correction Facility: Next to the Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, would house an estimated 4,000 maximum-security prisoners.

Century Regional Detention Facility: Located in Lynwood, it would incarcerate another 1,600 maximum-security inmates.

Jails for Juveniles

Although not under the Sheriff’s Department, 18 county probation camps and juvenile halls that house about 4,500 young offenders also may be closed by budget cuts.

1. Mira Loma Camps

2. Camp William Mendenhall

3. Camp John Munz

4. Camp Kenyon J. Scudder

5. Camp Joseph Scott

6. San Fernando Valley Juvenile Hall

7. Camp Karl Holton

8. Camp Barley Flats

9. Camp Benjamin Afflerbaugh

10. Camp Joseph Paige

11. Camp Gleen Rockey

12. Camp Vernon Kilpatrick

13. Camp Fred Miller

14. Camp David Gonzales

15. Central Juvenile Hall

16. Dorothy F. kirby Center

17. Los Padrinos Juvenile Hall

18 Camp 15

Los Angeles County Jails

A. Mira Loma Facility

B. Biscailuz Center

C. Peter J. Pitchess Honor Rancho

D. Sybil Brand Institute

Source of information: The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department