A new prison soon to open in Orange County will provide more positive opportunities for inmates and new ways for visitors to interact with inmates, while increasing safety for everyone in the facility. .
The new James A. Music Facility, a medium-security prison in Irvine, is part of a $256 million project “designed to meet the needs of an evolving prison population,” according to the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. became a target. It consists of multiple temporary structures and replaces the old James A. Music facility, which closed in 2019.
The 324,000 square foot facility includes 896 beds, direct supervision housing units, and state-of-the-art medical and programming facilities. A 384-bed program building will be added to the 512-bed building that will house administrative facilities, officials said.
Exterior view of the James A. Music Facility in Irvine, California. November 19, 2024.
KTLA 5 Orange County Bureau Chief Chip Yost toured the new correctional center, and as soon as he stepped inside, changes began. Instead of a typical prison visiting area with a window between visitors and inmates, visitors communicate via tablet devices while the inmate remains in the housing unit, and also via tablets. You will be communicating.
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Officials told Yost that the prison was built in a way that minimized movement of inmates. They said they are looking to keep inmates within their living areas as often as possible, and not having to move inmates regularly will help with that.
Inside the James A. Music Facility in Irvine on November 19, 2024. Inside the James A. Music Facility in Irvine on November 19, 2024.
An example of this would be taking a prisoner to the mess hall. Meals are served in their living area rather than taking them there. That would eliminate the need to lock down other parts of the facility as often and give inmates more time out of their cells, officials said.
And while it’s still a jail, Orange County Sheriff’s Office officials said Tuesday the facility was designed with inmate rehabilitation in mind.
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“The design features soft colors and the furniture is movable…not industrial or stainless steel,” said OCSD Commander Mark Alsobrook. “Having a landscape or ocean view in each housing unit also acts as soundproofing and contributes to the mental and emotional well-being of the incarcerated population. [allow them to] Take advantage of those educational opportunities and participate in your own transition to prepare to return to your community. ”
The facility also includes body scanners, which Albrook said are “very similar to what you’d find at an airport,” allowing for a less invasive search for illegal contraband that inmates may be trying to sneak into the prison.
“Each unit will be assigned a 24-hour staff member within the module who will be able to interact directly with incarcerated people to encourage positive behavior and identify potential problems before they escalate. ,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a press release. “This design also limits movement within the facility while providing direct services to those in our care, creating a safer environment with a focus on education and rehabilitation.”
“The facility’s aesthetic elements include large-scale colorful murals and more natural light, features that have been shown to benefit mental health and stimulate a calming environment. ,” the OCSD release continued.
Instead of a typical prison visiting area with a window between visitors and inmates, visitors will communicate via tablet devices while the inmate remains in the housing unit. November 19, 2024. The new front entrance to the James A. Music Facility in Irvine, California. November 19, 2024.
The original James A. Music facility opened in 1963 in what was once “a mostly undeveloped area miles from any incorporated city,” according to Orange County officials, and was initially built with minimalist construction. It was said to have been a high-security prison.
In fact, when the facility first opened, security was so lax that former officials said inmates were allowed to “roam around on their own,” and fences kept neighboring cattle from eating crops grown in the prison. He testified that it was only installed for the purpose.
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Because of its agricultural origins, the prison was nicknamed “The Farm,” but its official name was named after James A. Musick, who served as Orange County Sheriff from 1946 to 1974. .
The facility is currently surrounded by the City of Irvine on three sides and Bake Parkway, which is part of the City of Lake Forest, on one side.
If all goes according to plan, it is scheduled to open in early December 2020, more than four years after construction began in August 2020.
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