Inmates at the Los Angeles County Men’s Central Jail are not the only ones itching to get out. There are many jail deputies who do not enjoy their time working inside the LA County lockups. Officials for the Sheriff’s Department are hoping that proposed changes, which will speed up promotions, will get deputies more enthusiastic about their time inside the jails.
As of now, deputies have to go on street patrol in order to become supervisors. The new plan will allow deputies to move up in rank while staying on duty in county jails. Sheriff Lee Baca hopes that the two-track career system will allow for a core of experienced jailers who actually want to work in the corrections system.
LASD has resisted having two sets of deputies for years. With recent scrutiny of the LA jails following the allegations of deputy misconduct and inmate abuse, however, officials are now ready to make changes.
There is some resistance expected if these changes do take place. A survey found that over 80% of jail supervisors would rather not be working inside the jails and that, even with the changes, that opinion would not change. It is believed that many of the new deputies will choose to work inside the jail because the environment is more predictable than working on patrol. Right now, new academy recruits have to take their first rotations in the corrections sector. Under the new plan, this won’t be the case.
Several California counties have implemented the dual-track approach in their Sheriff’s Departments. No matter what career path recruits choose, they will all attend the same academy for training.
