Sheriff Sandra Hutchens pleaded with County Supervisors to provide $7.2 million in funding to stave off drastic public safety cuts while the Department secures a $20 million contract to house federal inmates.  The federal contract revenue would allow the Department to maintain public safety services basically at current levels.

Supervisors balked at the plan saying that it was too risky for them to support. 

Sheriff Hutchens answered that the alternative is forcing her to impose "draconian" cuts on public safety. Cuts will result in the closing of the Women's Jail, portions of the Musick Facility and reduction in investigations and patrol services. Sheriff Hutchens is attempting to obtain a sufficent federal commitment before the Supervisors take their formal vote on June 23. She will ask them again to reconsider the public safety cuts.  

The Orange County Register story on the hearing said this of the Sheriff's remark:

Hutchens says residents across the county, even in cities that have their own police departments, will feel the impact of the cuts. The department offers countywide services that could be affected, such as jails, crime scene services, air support and response to major traffic accidents.

"I view the cuts we may have to make today as pretty draconian," Hutchens said after the hearing. "The public will feel the impact."

She also told the Register:

If the cuts supervisors approved today remain, women's central jail could be closed and employees from across the department, from investigators to 9-1-1 dispatchers, could be laid off, she said.

"Everything is on the table," she said.

Here is the Register story:

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

County to slash public safety budgets by $50 million
Sheriff's department takes the biggest hit at nearly $28 million
By JENNIFER MUIR
The Orange County Register

SANTA ANA Despite warnings that slashing the sheriff's department could cripple jails, increase response times and impact investigations, the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday appeared poised to cut nearly $28 million from the Orange County Sheriff's Department budget.

It's the largest cut to services that supervisors are expected to make in the next two days as they consider how to carve more than $1 billion from next year's spending plan.

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said the department may soon get some financial relief in the form of a contract with Immigration and Customs Enforcement to house federal immigration detainees. The sheriff asked for $7.3 million to stave off jail layoffs for six months – allowing time for the federal contract to take effect.

But supervisors weren't comfortable gambling that an agreement could be reached.

"That means we have to make a decision based on a 'maybe'?" Supervisor John Moorlach asked. "I'm not comfortable voting on something that may happen. I may feel more comfortable voting on something once it does happen."

To view the full story click here:

To view the Los Angeles Times story click here:

The Orange County Board of Supervisors has scheduled a hearing for tomorrow on the Sheriff's Department budget.  These are tough times for the county and the Orange County Register had a story over the weekend to preview the hearings.

Should the Board of Supervisors vote to reduce services provided by the the Sheriff's Department, the Department will attempt to maximize county savings by shifting those personnel now providing the cut services to other positions where they can reduce the Department's overtime costs.   

Friday, June 5, 2009

County may cut $50 million for safety, 150 sheriff's jobs
Supervisors will consider how to slash more than from the county budget. Public safety is a target.
By JENNIFER MUIR
The Orange County Register

County executives are recommending that supervisors slash more than $50 million from next year's public safety budget – including more than 150 Sheriff's Department jobs – to bring the county's spending in line with plummeting revenue.

That's part of a $5.5 billion budget proposal that county supervisors will consider – and likely change – during two days of marathon hearings that begin Tuesday.

With tax revenues slammed by a staggering economy, county staff recommends shrinking the budget by $1.2 billion. While the majority of those savings would come from changes that most residents might not notice, such as canceling capital improvement projects and changes to how the county manages its cash flow, the biggest service cuts recommended by the CEO are aimed at public safety.

Everything from jail guards to sheriffs and district attorney investigators to 9-1-1 dispatchers is on the chopping block. A youth camp for young offenders could be closed and jails could be crippled.

The Sheriff's department faces the deepest cutbacks, at $27 million, followed by the district attorney at $10.6 million. Probation is looking at a $4.9 million reduction and the public defender would lose $1.5 million.

To see the full story click here:

Smoke billowed from the laundry room at the Men's Central Jail last Friday but it was no accident.  It was staged to test the skills of Department personnel and the Santa Ana Fire Department to respond to an emergency at the Jail.  The simulated casualties were Professional Services Responders.  

To view some scenes of the drill click the icon below. Still pictures of the drill are after the icon:

A power outage that lasted more than four and a half hours left the Men’s Central Jail and the Women’s Jail with limited lighting and no air conditioning.

Other Sheriff’s facilities in Santa Ana were impacted less because of greater backup generator power.

The Men’s Central Jail and the Women’s Jail had just 30 percent power during the outage and movement of inmates was kept to a minimum, said CJX Department Commander Lieutenant Roger Neumeister.

“Our sworn and professional staff rose to the occasion, pitched in and worked extra hard to see to it that our inmates were safe and secure,” said Lieutenant Neumeister.

One of the biggest impacts was that lunch was served an hour early. It had been prepared but because of the lack of power the meals could not be kept hot until the traditional meal hour and so they were served while they were still hot.

The impact at IRC was less severe because that facility has 80 percent backup from emergency generators.  Air conditioning was minimal but their booking operations continued as normal.

At the Coroner’s Office, operations were continued by backup power but their clerical and admin stations were closed down, along with the offices of the pathologists.

At the Brad Gates Builidng, only one elevator was in operation and many computer stations were shut down. Power was restored to the Gates Building at about 10:30 a.m.  It was restored to headquarters and the jail at about 1:30 p.m.  The Coroner’s Office remains on backup power.

The cause of the power outage remains under investigation. It impacted a large area of Santa Ana and forced the closing of the Orange County Central Justice Center.

For the Orange County Register’s story on the outage click here.

Thirty-four members of Congress, including at least three Representatives from Orange County, have signed a letter to leaders of the Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science Committee on Appropriations.  The letter asks that funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAPP) be restored to the federal budget for Fiscal Year 2010.

President Barack Obama cut the funding, which last year provided about $6.3 million to the Orange County Sheriff's Department and $400 million to law enforcement nationwide, to reimburse local agencies for incarcerating criminals who are in the country illegally.

The federal reimbursement in 2009 amounted to only about 20 percent of what law enforcement agencies actually spent to incarcerate illegal immigrants convicted of qualifying crimes. 

"We cannot afford to eliminate vital funding that already falls far short of what states and local governments spend to incarcerate undocumented criminal aliens," said the letter to U.S. Representative Alan Mollohan, Chairman of the subcommittee and U.S. Representative Frank Wolf, the subcommittee's ranking member.  

Notable signatures on the letter were Orange County Representatives Loretta Sanchez, Dana Rohrbacher and Ed Royce.

To view the entire letter with signatures click: SCAAP Letter to CJS 5.15.09.pdf (1.00 mb)

Captain Ron White of South Operations looks at the Sheriff's Department as a family affair, literally. His sons Patrickand Robert started with the Department as Explorers and moved up to be Cadets, Patrick in Mission Viejo and Robert in Lake Forest.

Robert White went on to be a Sheriff's Special Officer and later entered Basic Academy Class 187.

On Monday night, Patrick White was one of 23 graduates of SSO Class 38 who were sworn in as members of the Department.

Captain White came to the graduation as more than a proud father and dedicated member of the Orange County Sheriff's Department. He served as the keynote speaker for the graduation.

The White Family,  Colleen, Deputy Robert, Sheriff's  Special Officer Patrick and the Captain 

Photos by Professional Services Responder Randy Frager

Captain White told the graduates: 

Well Class 38, distinguished guest, family and friends, it is both my honor and privilege to be invited here to speak to you tonight. 

I always enjoy coming to the graduations for several reasons.  One is because the excitement and enthusiasm the class members demonstrate is invigorating.  But most importantly, because these young men and women are the future of this great department.  Of course, this graduation is extra special to me as my oldest son, Patrick, is a member of this class. To the men and women of Class 38 you should take great pride for what you just accomplished.  Each one of you has earned your place here today. 

As the Sheriff mentioned I started in this Department approximately 29 years ago and have enjoyed each and every day.  Now each of you are about to embark on a fantastic career.  So congratulations and welcome to our family.  Speaking of our family-  I would like to take a moment and thank all of the Department personnel who have taken time out of their busy schedules to join us here today.  

To become a Sheriff Special Officer, or SSO as they are more commonly referred, these men and women had to demonstrate and prove that their private lives were untarnished; that they were honest and trustworthy; and deserving of wearing the badge of the Orange County Sheriff’s Department.  And folks, let me tell you, this is no easy task.  More...

State Senator Bob Huff reported in his electronic newsletter "Huff Headlines" on his recent tour of the Department's Central Jail Complex, where he observed educational programs offered to the inmates.

As a member of the Senate Public Safety Committee, I was happy to have the opportunity to tour the Central Jail complex in Santa Ana on April 24 to learn more about a model inmate education program operated by the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Orange Education Center (OEC) and the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. The program, which serves more than 7,000 inmates annually, provides instruction in the GED, a host of career technical education courses (such as welding and construction technology), English as a Second Language ( ESL), computer-related coursework, workforce readiness, parenting, life skills and more to ensure the employability and success of the inmates in being productive citizens following the completion of their sentences. I was able to visit a variety of classrooms, including an ESL course and two software application courses, and spoke to students about the benefits of having access to educational courses while serving out their sentences.

To see the complete newsletter story click here.

On Thursday, April 30, 2009, Deputy Amanda Ketring had a once-in-a-career experience.  

While working as a Second Floor Prowler at the Central Women’s Jail, at approximately 9:20 pm, Deputy Ketring was informed by Deputy Victoria Rangel that the emergency button in one of the dorms had been pushed.  Deputies Ana Macedo, Lizette Lopez, Edith Lucero, and Ketring responded.   As the deputies entered the dorm, they saw an inmate in the restroom being helped by two other inmates.  

The inmate was pregnant, crying, and appeared to be in severe pain.  She told the deputies that her water broke and she needed to push.  Deputy Ketring, a mother herself, realized that the birth was imminent and attempted to calm the inmate. It is rare for an inmate to give birth at the jail, ordinarily the pregnant inmate is transported to the hospital for delivery of the child. 

Jail medical staff and paramedics were summoned.  Deputy Ketring advised Deputy Lopez to time the contractions.  Deputy Ketring requested that the inmates in the dorm pass her any clean towels or sheets they had.  Deputies laid them on the floor and then assisted the inmate to lie down on top of the towels. 

As the inmate began to have another contraction she yelled, “I need to push.”  Deputy Ketring advised the inmate not to push just as the medical staff arrived.  Deputy Ketring told the nursing staff the inmate only had a few contractions since they arrived, so they didn’t have a good comparison, but the contractions lasted approximately 30 seconds in duration and were about one minute apart.  The inmate suddenly yelled, “It’s coming out!”  Deputy Ketring saw that the baby was crowning, and informed the nurses.  One of the nurses assisted Deputy Ketring by supporting the baby’s head.    Deputy Ketring manipulated the baby’s  head and shoulders out.  Seconds later at about 9:29 pm, the baby boy was delivered by Deputy Ketring. 

Deputy Ketring held the baby as Deputy Rangel and Sergeant John Murray looked for a clamp for the umbilical cord and a suction bulb for the baby’s mouth and nose.  Deputy Lopez assisted Deputy Ketring with wrapping the baby in sheets to keep him warm. RN Trout advised Ketring to put the baby on its side.  Deputy Ketring laid the baby on its side and immediately began patting the baby’s back to help initiate a response.  After about 5 – 10 seconds the baby began crying and his color improved.  

About ten minutes later, the Santa Ana Fire Paramedics arrived in the dorm.  After putting an additional clamp on the umbilical cord, it was cut.  Deputy Ketring was handed a beanie and placed it on the head of the baby.  Another paramedic took the baby to evaluate him. Deputy Rangel carried the baby, and Deputy Courtney Todoroff escorted the mother along with paramedics to the ambulance.  Deputy Todoroff accompanied them to the hospital.  Both mother and baby spent several hours together before being separated until the mother is released from jail in June. The deputies in the Central Women’s Jail performed as if this was something they had done many times before.  They are all to be commended for their teamwork in a stressful situation and Deputy Ketring is commended for her leadership and her first delivery!             

This material based on a report by Sergeant Kenneth Burmood at the  Central Jail Complex.

On Friday, April 17, at approximately 2035 hours, Deputies Gallivan and Zeigler were escorting medical staff in Disciplinary Isolation for the evening medical check. As they entered Disciplinary Isolation, Deputy Gallivan looked into a cell and saw an inmate hanging from a noose that had been made from a jail-issued bed sheet. The sheet was securely attached to the ceiling air vent. The inmate's feet were on top of the toilet seat and he was suspended by the noose around his neck.  Though his feet were on the toilet seat, his body was leaning forward, causing the noose to tighten around his neck and cut off oxygen flow.  

Deputy Gallivan requested assistance via his hand-held radio, reporting a possible suicide attempt. Deputies Larson, Cortes, Yoshimoto, Diganci and two members of the medical staff, along with Sergeants Burmood and Wagner, responded to the call for help. Deputy Gallivan unlocked the cell door and attempted to open it, but the inmate had secured the door closed by tying a bed sheet from the door to the seat. Deputy Gallivan was able to force the door open. Deputies Gallivan and Zeigler entered the cell.  Deputy Gallivan lifted the inmate while Deputy Zeigler removed the noose from around his neck. At that time other deputies, medical staff and both sergeants arrived on scene. Deputy Yoshimoto checked for a pulse, but there was none. The inmate was unresponsive and was carried out of his cell and placed on the floor. Deputy Larson checked for a pulse and determined he now had one. The inmate started to breathe. Medical staff put an oxygen mask in place and began a medical assessment. The inmate was placed in a wheelchair and taken to the dispensary. Paramedics were called and transported the inmate to Western Medical Center, Santa Ana.

There had been a previous Disciplinary Isolation completed at 2020 hours by Deputy Gallivan. At that time, the inmate who later attempted to hang himself did not appear to need any medical attention and appeared to be fine. 

The inmate appeared to have no injuries from the incident but he was sent to Western Medical Center for precautionary reasons.  Sgt. Burmood interviewed the inmate and he stated he did not remember the incident.  All personnel did an excellent job.

"I advised the Watch Commander, Lt. Gavin of the incident."

Lieutenant Mike Gavin later said: “Great job by the Central Men’s Jail staff.  Their quick action definitely saved the life of this inmate.”  

The American Red CrossInvites you to join their efforts on saving lives.Blood DriveWednesday May 6, 20097:30 AM to 7:30 PM

Please sign up to donate blood today!

To make your appointment please visit: http://www.givelife.org  

Type in the Sponsor Code: OC1(OR)

 E-mail at cdvincent@ocsd.org or call Deputy Curtis Vincent at 647-6063 to sign up IRC – BRIEFING ROOM 

***FREE T-shirt******

In-house raffle for Gas Cards and other Prizes

***FIRST 30 DONORS TO PRE-REGISTER WILL RECEIVE A $1.00 SCRATCHER FROM CALIF. LOTTERY***

With Parent Permission children as young as 16 years old may donate

MUST BRING PICTURE IDENTIFICATION

The graduates are Lieutenant Adam Powell, Sergeant Daniel Elsner and Sergeant Gary Strachan.   

From the Police Officer Standards and Training Website:

Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute  

The Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SBSLI) is a program designed to stimulate personal growth, leadership, and ethical decision-making in California law enforcement front-line supervisors. Designed and implemented in 1988 through the efforts of California law enforcement professionals and top educators and trainers, the SBSLI is an intense program based on experiential learning techniques. Students are challenged to learn new ways to resolve issues through group and individual work.

The curriculum takes students through an analysis of management (planning, organizing, directing, etc.) and leadership (inspiring, challenging, developing, etc.) and how each discipline compliments the other. The course progresses from self-evaluation, to interpersonal evaluation, to organizational relationships.

During the program, a typical successful student develops the ability to:

Correlate the relationship between personal and organizational principles and values

Exercise greater leadership in personal and professional activities

Increase personal influence with individuals and groups to accomplish organizational goals

Analyze issues from multiple perspectives

Develop increased self-confidence and confidence in the ability of others

Provide support and development for peers and subordinates

Recognize and address areas for personal improvement

Effectively integrate management skills and leadership qualities

A typical successful student is willing to learn, open to new ideas, and able to engage in deep self-examination of values and beliefs. The program is not a "how-to" course and should not be viewed as a fix for problem individuals. The curriculum provides a forum for personal growth and development of qualities necessary for effective public safety leadership.

Sheriff Sandra Hutchens and Assistant Sheriff Mike James briefed the Board of Supervisors on April 7 about the state of the Department Jails.

To view the video see below:

Five of the Department's top Sergeants have been temporarily promoted to Lieutenant. The reason for the temporary promotions is due to the uncertainty of the Department's budget. It is the Department's desire to make the promotions permanent in the near future.

Lieutenant Robert Wren joined the department in June 1986 and served in Dana Point Police Services prior to his most recent assignement as the Command Staff's Administrative Aide.

Lieutenant Sheryl Dubsky joined the Department in April 1986 and served South Operations and Laguna Hills Police Services prior to her being appointed to lead the School Mobile Assessment and Response Team.

Lieutenant James England joined the Department in April 1984 and worked North Investigations, Professional Standards Division and IRC before heading the Department's Sex Crimes/Child Abuse Unit.     

Lieutenant Andrew Ferguson joined the Department in July 1993 and worked Laguna Niguel Police Services before heading General Investigations for South Operations.

Lieutenant Timothy Moy worked Narcotics South and the Theo Lacy Facility before heading the Deparment's Economic Crimes Unit.

Assistant Sheriff Mike James updated the Board of Supervisors yesterday on the ongoing changes and reforms in our Custody Operations Command. The Orange County Register's Norberto Santana attended the meeting and interviewed Sheriff Hutchens after the report.

...Deputy overtime – mostly at the jail — has been trimmed by 13 percent during each pay period, meaning that more than 4,000 hours have been cut, Hutchens said. And a new, cheaper, class of civilian jail worker should be arriving by December to Orange County jails – the second largest jail system in the state.

[...]

Capt. Mike James gave a morning presentation at the weekly board meeting, noting that a cultural change has taken place at the jails that has lowered costs as well as violence and incidents of unprofessional behavior by deputies.

"Chamberlain was so shocking," Hutchens said after the meeting, referring to the cover ups over the 2006 beating death of inmate John Derek Chamberlain.

The shock, Hutchens said, came from the fact that there was lack of accountability under the former administration of Sheriff Mike Carona – who was indicted by federal prosecutors just as the Chamberlain grand jury took form.

Jail reforms were also discussed in an article on the county's offer to settle a lawsuit on a jail beating that occurred in 2006:

...The update on the reforms in our jails is also discussed in an article on a settlement the county is offering in a jail beating which took place in 2006.

At issue in both cases was the fact that sheriff's deputies weren't always walking the floors of the jail and in many cases left inmates to manage each other.

"We are under the understanding that changes were in progress but regretfully didn't get implemented before Chamberlain," said Supervisor John Moorlach, who voted for the settlement offer. "But they are definitely in place now."

Supervisor Bill Campbell, who also approved the settlement, said he had questions for the Sheriff's Department to ensure that such cases are a thing of the past.

"The question the board was most concerned about was, 'have we changed how we are doing things?' " he said.

At an update on jail issues Tuesday, Capt. Mike James – now in charge of jail operations – said there has been a sea change in culture at the three jails operated by the department in Orange County.

James told supervisors that the department has instituted ethics training using the Chamberlain case as an example. He also added that numerous structural modifications – such as cameras and recording devices – have been introduced into the jails.

Also, James said, he has deputies walking the floors of the jail much more often.

[...]

Moorlach said the update offered this week makes him confident because "we learned a lot from the Chamberlain case and the investigative work done by the district attorney released last year. There was a culture that needed to be changed," he said.

The goal today is simple, Moorlach added.

"We should not have inmates being brutally attacked by other inmates."

Our jails hold thousands of inmates on a given day and yet a few can cause most of the trouble. Sheriff Hutchens this week joined a group of Deputies for Pizza at the Women’s Jail as the staff bid farewell to an inmate who will not soon be forgotten.

The Women’s Jail has a rated capacity of 358 inmates and has a staff of 35.

These Deputies conducted themselves in an outstanding manner when dealing with a most challenging individual.

The inmate had a history of mental issues and assaulting deputies by spraying them with urine. 

Over the past 19 years, she was an inmate at the Central Women’s Jail on eleven different occasions, adding up to approximately 3½ years spent at our facility. 

On January 29, 2009, at about 0800 hours, an Emergency Response Team (ERT) entered her cell as she slept on her bunk and was able to secure her.  The members of this team moved with precision carrying out their mission without having to use force and without incurring injury to any deputies or the inmate.  The team leader gave directives to the inmate and explained what was going to take place in a calming tone.   She was escorted from the Central Women’s Jail to Sheriff’s Transportation and was transferred to Patton State Hospital to serve a three year sentence.  One of the cases included in the inmate’s sentence was for assaulting a deputy at the Central Women’s Jail in 2004.

Her most recent stay totaled 603 days.  During this time, she assaulted and attempted to assault staff by throwing urine and food at them several times.  The deputies always maintained a professional demeanor when dealing with her despite her often uncooperative, disrespectful, and boisterous demeanor.  The inmate was written up a total of 58 times resulting in loss of privileges over 509 days.  If she had not been transferred she would have been on "loss of all privileges" through at least March 18th.

A sergeant personally witnessed deputies on several occasions use their communication skills in dealing with the inmate when use of an ERT would be justified.  The deputies would take the time to attempt to gain the inmate’s compliance with words rather than force.  The fact that many of these deputies have been the targets of her urine throwing rages speaks volumes about the character of our deputies.  The ability of the deputies to set aside their personal feelings and maintain their professionalism during each contact demonstrated the commitment our people have to our code of ethics, our department, and the citizens of Orange County.  The fact that during her last incarceration only six incidents with the inmate resulted in a use of force is a testament to our deputies doing their jobs above and beyond what was necessary in their daily contacts with her. 

As it is pointed out the outstanding the job our deputies have done handling this inmate, it would also be appropriate to say that this level of professionalism is displayed daily in the work ethic of the sworn and professional staff at the Central Women’s Jail!

Confronted with murders and violent crimes committed by gang members who appeared to grow younger by the case, the Orange County Grand Jury launched a study of efforts by local law enforcement, including the Sheriff's Department, to divert youngsters from joining gangs. The Grand Jury applauded the efforts by Department personnel in Stanton, San Juan Capistrano and San Clemente, as well as the Departments School Mobile Assement and Resource Team (SMART), which intercedes to prevent violence at schools, and Intake Diversion program, which offers counseling to first time offenders.

The Sheriff's Department was among numerous local agencies, including the Orange County District Attorney, probation department, Anaheim Police Department and Pio Pico Collaboration, which works with at risk youngsters in the schools, to win the grand jury's praise.

To read the report click here:

To read the Orange County Register's story on the report click here:  

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has introduced a new newsletter and it shows they have some of the same concerns that we in the Department have, like deported criminals returning to the country illegally and budget constraints in an uncertain economic time.

CDCR Secretary Matthew Cate had this to say about deported criminals returning:

For many years the federal government has struggled to enforce our borders and has failed to provide state and local law enforcement with adequate compensation for the costs of housing criminal aliens who enter our country illegally and commit crimes.  Consequently, our state prisons and local jails have become revolving doors for thousands of undocumented criminals who have violated federal immigration laws.

The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) has reviewed the fiscal and public safety implications of our previous policy of shouldering the burden and decided it is necessary to make a change. 

For the rest of his article and to view the new newsletter click here.

Administrative Manager Dominic Mejico, of Inmate Services, recently reported on the latest accomplishments of the Department's In Custody Drug Treatment Program. 

In his letter he stated: 

Approximately one (1) year ago the Orange County Sheriff’s Department in partnership with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation implemented an In Custody Drug Treatment Program (ICDTP) designed to assist inmates with their substance abuse problems while in custody and structured residential treatment services upon release.  

Over the past year the Inmate Reentry Unit placed eighty (80) female probationers into the sixty (60) day ICDTP program. Of the eighty (80) who participated in the program fifty seven (57) have graduated and been released. Of the fifty seven (57) that have been released only fourteen (14) have re offended. Many of those have voluntarily enrolled in our Post Custody residential treatment program which allows them to continue their rehabilitation process once they are released in a paid for residential treatment program. Funding for the aftercare portion of the program is provided by our partnership with HCA and Tobacco Settlement funds.

Studies have shown that if we provide inmates with programming while in custody and the inmate continues those same or similar services upon release their chances of not re offending increase by about 50%. Other studies have shown that inmates have not truly been rehabilitated unless they have been out of custody and clean and sober for three (3) years. Regardless of the studies the aforementioned statistics prove that this philosophy can work if you have a willing participant, staff that can properly assess and coordinate placement, and funding to provide aftercare services. 

I will continue to monitor this program and provide you with periodic updates on its progress.                    

Preliminary results of the American Red Cross Battle of the Badges Blood Drive are in and the Orange County Sheriff's Department was named runner up in two of the major categories: Greatest Number of Donors at a Single Drive and Greatest Participation (per captia) Overall Agency.

The competition included 59 law enforcement agenices in the Southern California area. The competition inspired 2,472 donors to participate, including 94 from the Orange County Sheriff's Department. 

The Department's participation was organized by Deputy Curtis Vincent. He had been honored last year by the American Red Cross for his work in organizing blood drives.

He received this letter from a Red Cross official after the results were announced.

Deputy Vincent, 

Your Blood Drive on January 28th was a big success.  94 donors and 73 Units were collected. 

Thank you so much for all you do.  Have a great day. 

Vanessa Van Mil

DRD Biomedical Services

American Red Cross

To see the announcement of the winners click: battle of badges.pdf (46.11 kb)

To see the Website on the competition click here.

For a rundown on the agency by agency results click here.

The tents are empty.

As part of the Department’s effort to cut costs due to declining tax revenues all inmates have been removed from the five tent complex at the James A. Musick Facility.  

The tents were opened in North Compound of the Musick facility as temporary housing in 1985. The use of tents were authorized by the federal court and housed up to 360 minimum security inmates.  The tents were outfitted with heating and air conditioning. 

Closing the tent complex is expected to save $1.2 million a year.

The complex included four housing tents, Blue, Yellow, Green and Red. There was also a recreational tent. All of the occupants were sentenced inmates and each housing tent held 90 in minimum security status.

The inmates included work crews for IRC and the Musick Facility.

All of the inmates formerly housed in the North Compound have been relocated to other compounds at Musick.

The staff, which included eight Deputies and four Sheriff’s Special Officers, have been given other assignments in the Custody Command. 

For more information on the James A. Musick Facility click here:

This story out today from Associated Press comes just as the Department's issued its latest figures on the program of cross-designating a team of specially trained Deputies as Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agents. The Department's ICE program is one of the most highly praised in the country and is used as a model by ICE when enlisting cooperation from other local agencies.

The Department is going into it's third year of the program, which screens those booked into the jail to determine if they are in the country legally. Those found to be here illegally are turned over to ICE for processing.

Here is the Associated Press story:

Homeland secretary wants criminal aliens out of US

By EILEEN SULLIVAN
Associated Press Writer 
 
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says if you're a criminal and you're not entitled to be in the United States, she wants you out of the country.

Napolitano wants what she calls "criminal aliens" off American streets. She is looking at existing immigration enforcement programs to see if taxpayers are getting the most bang for their buck.

To see the full story click here.

In 2008, the Department screened 63,146 inmates, interviewed 4,479, detained 3,839, including 2,315 held for felonies, 1,517 for misdemeanors, 4,262 males and 217 females.  

O.C. Sheriff Sandra Hutchens: 'Let's move on'

Hutchens addresses ethical issues and county jail policies this morning at Fountain Valley Mayor Breakfast.

By JAIMEE LYNN FLETCHER
The Orange County Register

FOUNTAIN VALLEY– After more than a year of scrutiny and questions about the ethical structure and efficiency of the Orange County Sheriff's Department, it is time to move on.

That's the message Sheriff Sandra Hutchens conveyed to about 80 people this morning at the Mayor's Breakfast at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital.

"Some people are still stuck in the past but I'm not looking backward," she said.

To read the whole story click here.

All OCSD Employees, Family and Friends;

On Wednesday January 28, 2009 from 7AM to 7PM, The Orange County Sheriff’s Department will be participating in the 3rd Annual “BATTLE of the BADGES” Blood Drive.  

The Battle of the Badges Blood Drive will run for two weeks from Tuesday January 20th to Tuesday February 2nd 2009, as Police and Fire Departments throughout Southern California compete in a friendly competition to see which Badge Carrying Personnel, Family and Friends can donate the most blood and ultimately save the most lives.  

So please join us and help save a life, and help Law Enforcement collect and donate the most blood.  

Thank You for your assistance,

***FREE T-shirt******In-house raffle for Gas Cards and other Prizes***FIRST 30 DONORS TO PRE-REGISTER WILL RECEIVE A $1.00 SCRATCHER FROM CALIF. LOTTERY***With Parent Permission children as young as 16 years old may donate***MUST BRING PICTURE IDENTIFICATION

To see the flyer click: battleofthebadges (3).pdf (1.03 mb)

There is alot of bad news out there: from war in the Middle East to financial carnage on Wall Street stretching to Main Street and lots of other awful things we'd rather forget.

Here is our list of stories from 2008 that will make you glad you're with the Orange County Sheriff's Department.  

10. Women’s Running Team Places First in Baker 2 Vegas Run, inspired by the untimely death of their coach, Retired Sheriff's Lieutenant Darrell “Guy” Poncy.

Click: Sheriffs-Womens-Team-is-Tops-at-Baker-2-Vegas-Run

Click: County-Supervisors-Honor-Departments-Womens-Running-Team

9.   The Department Crime Lab Won Prestigious Accreditation and a special acclaim from the Department of Justice.

Click: Coveted Accreditation

Click: Justice Department Kudo

8.  A search team made up of Deputies, Reserve Deputies and Professional Services Responders found a woman who had been missing for three days in Tijeras Creek. 

Click: Searchers Find Woman in Tijeras Creek.

7.  TAGRS Program developed by Department personnel helps nab Taggers across jurisidictions.

Click: TAGRS

6.   Deputies Rescue Woman from Overpass

Click: Rescue 

Click: Heroism Cited

5.  Immigration and Customs Enforcement applauded Department for the Cross-Designation Program that helped prevent illegal immigrants jailed for crimes from returning to further victimize our community.

Click: ICE Credits OCSD Cross Designation Program 

Click: ICE Cross Designation Program Thrives

Click: Five Deputies Join ICE Program

4.  The Saddleback Presidential Forum was the first joint public appearance by Presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. It drew hundreds of protestors from both sides but the OCSD kept all peaceful and safe.

Click: Demonstration

3.    Crime rates are lowest in cities policed by Sheriff’s Department.

Click: Sheriff's Jurisdiction Safer

2.  Kidnap victim Ryan Ramos found safe In Juarez, Mexico after all-out effort by OCSD.

Click: Amber Alert for Kidnapped Boy

Click: Aero Squadron Pilot, OCSD investigators retrieve Kidnapped Boy

1. Sandra Hutchens sworn in as Orange County Sheriff

Click: Swearing in Video

Click: Hundreds Witness Swearing In

Click: OCSD Welcomes Sheriff Hutchens

Orange County Register Reporter Kimberly Edds spent Christmas morning at the jail and filed this report:

SANTA ANA -- The stockings and twinkling white lights were hung in the Module M guard station with care. Christmas carols were piped across the booking area and Christmas cards and family pictures lined a shelf inside a one-woman cell. The phones inside the inmate visiting booths at the county's Central Jail Complex dangled lifeless Christmas morning as thousands of inmates dozed in their bunks.

To read the whole story click here.