Sheriff Lee Baca may decide to close off the older portion of the Men’s Central Jail in Los Angeles County. This part of the jail has been troubled by inmate killings, poor supervision and guards using excessive force.
The older section of the jail was built in 1963 and contains the older-style of long rows of jail cells that makes it more difficult to supervise inmates and jailers. The proposed plan is to move approximately 1,800 inmates to the Lynwood jail facility. Among them are some of the most violent offenders in the county. At this time, the Lynwood jail houses only female inmates.
In March 2006, CRDF officially re-opened Lynwood jail to be utilized as an all female jail facility. CRDF will continue to provide a booking center at Lynwood jail for Century Station, Compton Sheriff’s Station and for all female prisoners.
Instead of the antiquated rows of cells, Lynwood jail allows to have inmates in the more modern circular cell configuration with a security booth in the center. This will enable deputies to better-supervise the inmates without having to walk down long rows of cells to see what they are doing.
Right now, the Men’s Central Jail houses nearly 4,500 inmates, making it one of the largest detention facilities in the world. The third floor, also called the 3000 floor, keeps the county’s most dangerous inmates, including gang leaders and killers.
For additional information about Lynwood jail, please click here: Lynwood Jail
Picture source: La-Sheriff.org