An Inmate-Confinement Alternative

In reference to the Jan. 29 article, “Battle Lines Drawn in Orange Jail Expansion,” please be advised of the following: In the highlighted summary, “County’s New Jail Plan,” the potential expansion of electronic home confinement and community work furlough by 300 slots should be over a three-year, not one-year, time frame.

Assuming sufficient, appropriate inmates exist in the jail system who qualify for voluntary participation in either program and adequate funding and resources exist, attempts would be made to incrementally expand each program by 50 slots per year. Any effort to expand these forms of alternative inmate confinement will continue to take into account protection of the public.

Inmates participating in this program are actively supervised by probation officers and held accountable to strict terms and conditions associated with program participation. Inmates in violation of program conditions are quickly returned to jail. Due to the screening process and seven-day-a-week supervision, the majority of inmates historically have completed the program successfully.

In work-furlough cases where restitution or fines are outstanding, the Probation Department is able to immediately begin collecting those obligations and disbursing reparation to victims.

Additionally, both programs charge participating inmates for supervision to reduce the cost to the taxpayer.

JOHN B. ROBINSON. John Robinson is chief deputy probation officer, field services, for Orange County.