New System for Orange County Jails

A plan to institute a new Correctional Officer classification within the Orange County Jail system is

being drafted. This plan will provide an estimated savings of $26 to $34 million annually if implemented

in existing jail facilities. Savings would increase to an estimated $56 to $80 million annually once the

expansion of the James. A. Musick Correctional Facility is completed.

Traditionally the Sheriff’s Department has hired deputy sheriffs, sent them through the Sheriff’s

Academy, and had them work in the jails for a period of time. Back in the 1950’s deputies worked the

jail for less than a year, observing criminal behavior prior to working the streets on patrol. The Sheriff’s

Department has maintained this tradition over the last 50 years while jail operations appreciably

expanded with the population of Orange County. As a result, today deputy sheriffs serve eight years in

the jails before they can go to a patrol assignment.

With the James A. Musick Correctional Facility expansion on the horizon, under the current inmate to

deputy staffing ratio, at total expansion it is expected that an additional 700 deputy sheriffs will be

working in the jails. This will result in deputies serving around 15 years in corrections before they can

be transferred to a patrol assignment. Hiring deputy sheriffs, sending them to a six-month academy to

learn patrol skills and then having them work the jails for a decade and a half is not good personnel

management nor is it a prudent use of taxpayer resources. “Intuitively and from a business perspective, it

is obvious that continuing with tradition is not good public policy. Innovation and sound business

practices must be implemented,” said Acting Sheriff Jack Anderson.

The jobs of current staff will not be in jeopardy, as under these changes the Correctional Officer

classification would begin replacing jail deputies as they move into our communities to provide patrol

and crime prevention services.

“This plan is long overdue. The expansion of the James A. Musick Correctional Facility will allow us to

lock up more criminals, keeping our streets safe. But without this plan operational costs of our jails will

also increase dramatically. Our county and the state are facing turbulent economic times and fixes

cannot be found in the status quo,” said Acting Sheriff Jack Anderson. “We must be responsive so

Orange County taxpayers don’t have to carry this burden in the future.”

Further study on this initiative will require a great deal of innovation, planning, and implementation over

the next several months. In addition, the Acting Sheriff has directed department personnel to explore

other ways of operating more efficiently, while maintaining public safety.