Work to Shore Up Security at Pitchess Jail Facility Begins

In the wake of the biggest jailbreak in county history, workers began shoring up security at Peter J. Pitchess Honor Rancho in Castaic on Monday, adding a second set of razor wire to the fence and metal bars to areas that could provide access to the roof.

Further security measures will be installed soon, according to jail officials, who have been meeting with residents to assure them that precautions are being taken to curb escape attempts.

Fourteen prisoners broke out of the maximum security facility April 30 by crawling through a ventilation duct and scaling a nearby fence. Two inmates, including one convicted of manslaughter, remain at large.

Since the escape, $200,000 was approved by the County Board of Supervisors for improvements, Sheriff’s Lt. Errol Van Horne said.

A deputy now patrols the outside of the building on foot 24 hours a day and three deputies, compared to one before the escape, constantly patrol the entire 2,800-acre Pitchess facility in cars, Van Horne said.

“What we are doing is reinforcing the area they got through,” he said.

Van Horne said that additional improvements are being discussed, including security cameras and a second perimeter fence that would have motion detectors.

The high-tech fence, which would cost about $300,000, has been “approved in spirit,” Van Horne said. He said Pitchess officials are determining exactly how much construction would cost before submitting a proposal to the Board of Supervisors.