Chief of Police Services Promoted to Captain

Lieutenant Paul D’Auria, Chief of Police Services for San Clemente, has been promoted to captain. He will be moving into his new role as the commander of the James A. Musick Facility, an Orange County Jail.

The Musick Jail is a minimum-security facility located in Irvine that holds up to 1,250 men and women.

D’Auria began his career in law enforcement as an officer with the San Clemente Police Department until it was shut down. He then joined the Sheriff’s Department and has spent the last six years as the chief of police services.

D’Auria has taken great pride in his career, which includes many highlights such as his work in the gang injunction. This was a court action that identified members of gangs and prohibited them from hanging around each other. He also worked to improve ties with the Hispanic residents of San Clemente.

He is also extremely proud of Read more »

Lawsuit Filed Over Musick Jail Expansion

Elected officials in the city of Irvine have filed a lawsuit against Orange County, hoping to delay if not halt construction plans at a local jail.

At the crux of the controversy, according to the lawsuit, is the potential negative impact the proposed 512-bed expansion of the James Musick Jail could have to surrounding communities.   Voice of OC (VOOC) has reported that members of the City Council feel strongly that an environmental impact studyjames must be completed prior to moving forward.

Irvine Councilman Jeffrey Lalloway has said that the proposed expansion and how it will impact the character of the neighborhood “needs to be studied in a more thoughtful and thorough way,” he said.

Other concerns include Read more »

San Diego PD Celebrates 100 Years of Women

One century ago, the first female employee was hired at the San Diego Police Department. Rose Longacre was put in charge of female prisoners in her position as jail matron.

January 19, 1912 is the official anniversary of the hiring of the first woman in the SDPD, but there has been some controversy over just how accurate this history of the department is.

According to records at the U-T San Diego archives, “San Diego Police Chief Keno Wilson hires the first female department employee; police widow Rose Longacre, as a jail matron for female prisoners.” This was recorded on January 19, 1912. The San Diego Police Museum, as well as a book titled “History of the San Diego Police Department,” written by Chief William Lansdowne and Steve Willard in 2005, cite Longacre as the first female employee of the department also.

There are some records that credit a woman named Ida Griffin as the first female employee of the SDPD. Griffin had been hired either in April 1912 or Christmas Eve that year to fill a similar role.

History is often recorded inaccurately, which can lead to confusion in the future. However, there are several sources Read more »

Finding a Bondsman for Orange County

If a friend or family member ever finds themselves in the Orange County Jail, it’s important to know the options for getting them a bail bond. An arrest can turn your family’s whole world upside down. The bail bond process can be overwhelming for those who have never worked with it before. When you understand what to expect throughout the process, it can help ease the stress of the situation.

When you need Orange County bail bonds, the right bondsman will be one who:

• Is available 24-hours a day, 7 days a week

• Works quickly

• Can work with any jail in Orange County

• Will explain the entire process to you

• Charges the fee set by the California Department of Insurance

• Has convenient office locations

• Offers free consultations

• Provides convenient payment options and finance plans

Arrests don’t always happen at the most convenient hour. You want to find a bail bonds Read more »

Musick Jail Expansion Plan Approved

The plan to expand the James A. Musick Jail was given the go-ahead on Tuesday by Orange County supervisors. Sheriff Sandra Hutchens was given permission to apply to a California state for a $100 million grant.

The planned expansion is going to add another 512 beds to the Musick Jail. In the past, expansion attempts have been met with lawsuits and protests. Officials from the Sheriff’s Department have assured the county that the jail will only hold minimum security inmates.

There are still many who are critical of the expansion, seeing it as the first step in expanding the jail from a 1,250-bed facility to a 7,500 bed facility over time. Councilman Jeff Lalloway fears that the county has plans to set up a full-scale prison in the middle of the community.

Sheriff’s officials point to the recent realignment as Read more »

Orange County Jails Out of Room – Out of Money

California County Jails Face Overcrowding from Realignment

During the first month after the new jail realignment plan was set in place, Orange County jails have received nearly double the number of inmates that was expected. This is raising concerns with county officials that there may soon be no empty beds.

The offenders being sent to county jails are those not considered violent and non-sex offenders. Orange County was told to expect about 143 additional inmates to its correctional system due to the realignment. In actuality, the county booked an additional 292 inmates last month.

Orange County Sheriff Sandra Hutchens said, “That’s a concern now. This was supposed to be a slow month, and it’s not. My concern is h Read more »

Newport and Costa Mesa Looking at Cost-Saving Partnership

Two Orange County Jails to Join

The Newport Beach Jail and Costa Mesa Jail are considering several different options to help cut their costs.

At this weeks council meeting in Newport, Councilwoman Leslie Daigle proposed that the city look into contracting jail services and hiring guards from a private firm to supplement existing staff at the jail.

Police Chief Jay R. Johnson of Newport and Costa Mesa’s Interim Police Chief Steve Staveley have both confirmed that both cities are considering sharing or altering their jail facilities.

Both cities are also looking into other ways to reduce costs, like combining their 911 dispatch and maintenance of the police departments’ fleets. There has been no discussion of combining the two departments. Newport Beach is considering the proposal from Costa Mesa that would let officers book anyone they arrest into the Newport Jail, said City Manager Dave Kiff.

Guards from a private security firm would have to be hired to help bolster the staff of the jail since current staff cannot handle an influx of Costa Mesa inmates.

“The advantage to this is a measured approach to switching from public to private and gives us time to ensure we are happy with the private contractors’ service, as well as train them with our own custody officers,” said Johnson in a recent email. “If we become comfortable with the service, one option would be to replace the remainder of our own custody officers with the private contractor through attrition.”

The cities are also considering sharing Read more »

Orange County Bondsman To Do Time For Referrals

Orange County bail bondsman Ronald Lee Brockway owner of Respect Bail Bonds was convicted for soliciting attorney referrals and drumming up bail business from inmates inside jails. He was sentenced last week to one year in jail and three years of formal probation for the illegal bail bond scheme.

Brockway plead guilty to two counts in violation of bail license regulations. According to California bail law, bail bondsmen may not solicit any business directly from someone in jail. They also cannot recommend attorneys to bail bond clients, whether or not there is any money involved.

Brockway delivered several emails to Orange County attorneys asking them to participate in the scheme with his company. He suggested they refer business to his agency in exchange for referring clientele to them.  It is illegal for a bondsman to refer clients to an attorney.

He was so egregious as to Read more »

Huntington Beach P.D. May Post Names of Those Arrested For DUI Online

Sunny, breezy, easy Surf City may not be such a free and easy place to imbibe and drive. The Huntington Beach Police may arm themselves with new tools to keep the drunk drivers of off of the streets. 

Aggressive new strategies are in the works, which include posting the names of those arrested on DUI on their website. The new plan will also see that letters are sent directly to the restaurants they think are responsible for fueling those who drink and drive. City officials began distributing those letters in the spring. Lt. Russell Reinhart of the Huntington Beach Police Department stated the DUI program is the most aggressive in the county.

According to a 16 page report handed out at the City Council this month, they needed to do something to curb the serious problem in the city. According to statistics, it shows Huntington Beach has third most DUI Read more »

What to Look for When Choosing a Bail Bondsman

Bail bondsmen are an important asset to a defendant in a criminal proceeding.  The experience a bail bondsman possesses can greatly work  in your favor. Alternatively, inexperience could cost you dearly. It is important to know the facts and have a clear understanding when it comes to the different options and situations you may experience.

Bondsman Licensing

By law, all bail bonds companies must be fully licensed by the state they are operating under. For instance, if you are arrested in Los Angeles, and are in need of a bail bondsman, then the company you inquire about should be licensed by the State of California Department of Insurance. 

Experience is Paramount

Like most industries, quality in a bondsman comes from experience.  Operating under the perplexing environment of a court room or jail system, a bail agent needs to be familiar and knowledgeable in the specific court or jail where you need assistance. From state to state and county to county, each jail system is set up differently, and only through experience, can a bondsman properly operate the laws in the defendant’s best interest.

Additionally, a bondsman with experience will Read more »