Keep Bailing

Los Angeles jail officials and staff are planning to test out a new form of technology produced by the military as a weapon at the LA County Castaic Jail. This innovative tool is an invisible beam of heat that will produce “intolerable heat” to those whom it is beamed on.

The heat-beam is officially known as an Assault Intervention Device developed by Raytheon Company. It is said to be harmless and the one inside the L.A. jail is scaled down considerably.

The device works by emitting a beam, focused on the wave of energy that is traveling at the speed of light to produce an intolerable heat sensation that advertently will cause those in it’s line of fire to move. Once the individual has moved away from the beam, all heat sensations cease to exist.

Jail officials and deputies have tested this device and it is all controlled by a single joystick. According to Sheriff Lee Baca, “We believe that technology can help solve problems facing the corrections community, including addressing issues of inmate violence. The Assault Intervention Device appears uniquely suited to address some of the more difficult inmate violence issues without the drawbacks of tools currently available to us.”

He also added, “This device will allow us to quickly intervene without having to enter the area and without incapacitation or injuring either combatant.”

Officials have high hopes that the device will help reduce violence in prison and help end inmate assaults. The device will be monitored by Pennsylvania State University and the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Institute of Justice.

The device is currently being tested at Pitchess Detention Center in L.A. County, Castaic, California.