Keep Bailing

The Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail’s metal detectors are putting people at risk.  This particular facility, the largest jail in the world housing approximately 4,000 inmates, has a total of seven scanners, and many of them are not working.  As scary as that sounds, the jail’s chief says that security has not been compromised by the frequent breaking down of metal detectors. 

Deputies are often confiscating weapons made by inmates from various scrap metals.  Sheriff’s Captain Daniel Cruz, who is responsible for overseeing the jail, stated that, “We’re stuck with old technology and stuff that breaks down regularly.”  Cruz also mentioned that out of seven metal detectors at the jail, only one is working properly at the moment.  

On Wednesday, the LA Times inquired about the non-working metal detectors and the Sheriff’s Department made a commitment to replace three of the seven metal detectors.  Spokesman for the Sheriff’s Department, Steve Whitmore, said two replacements have already been ordered and should be installed sometime this week.  Whitmore also mentioned that security has not been compromised and downplayed the issues with the non-working metal detectors at the jail.

Sheriff Lee Baca is very aware of the metal detector deficiencies in the jail and the risks posed to deputies and inmates, and have lobbied county officials to open a new jail facility. 

Guards face the daily challenges of inmates making weapons out of scrap metal that is hidden in their jail cells and clothing.  Cruz said the weapons are most often used in inmate attacks on other inmates; however, they can and have been used in attempted assaults on jail staff.  When those metal detectors are not working the guards have to increase pat-downs and jail cell searches and always find several weapons per week.  This results in safety and security expectations being lowered for everyone; inmates, visitors, and jail staff. 

Cruz and Whitmore disagree about the county’s budget and reasons behind the metal detectors not being repaired.  Whitmore does not think the budget has anything to do with them being repaired as he mentioned that if it was really a problem, then they would get them repaired and did go on to say that maybe that is something they need to look at a bit closer.  Cruz said the budget crunch is a reason the old metal detectors have not been replaced sooner.

Whitmore goes on to say that those machines are spread out through the facility, the visitors’ entrance, various floors, and at the main hall and when they go down, they are repaired quickly.