O.C. Supervisors Approve More Jail Cameras

In the wake of a scathing grand jury report about a deadly inmate beating, Orange County Supervisors are bumping up jail security. They unanimously voted Tuesday to install more surveillance cameras in Theo Lacy Jail in Orange. KPCC's Susan Valot says the supervisors declared it an emergency measure so the cameras can go in right away.

Susan Valot: The grand jury report released last week describes guards at Theo Lacy watching TV as inmates took fellow detainee John Chamberlain to an out-of-sight part of the jail and beat him to death. The grand jury says guards regularly watched TV, played video games, and sent text messages while so-called inmate "shot callers" enforced the rules. Supervisor Chair John Moorlach says the jail needs more surveillance cameras.

John Moorlach: We have inmates that are in jeopardy. We have deputy sheriffs that I think are in jeopardy. I think we have a management tool here that certainly needs to be expedited because even after the release of the transcripts on Monday, we had two deputies, or three, watching another DVD movie on Tuesday. So something needs to be done.

Valot: Supervisor Chris Norby questioned whether the grand jury report constituted something "sudden and unexpected" enough to trigger an emergency measure. There have been rumblings about problems in Orange County jails for years. But in the end, he and the other supervisors agreed to spend $370,000 to install surveillance cameras. They'll monitor blind spots in the jail, and keep a constant eye on places where the guards are supposed to be on duty. It'll be the first time the guard areas will be monitored in Theo Lacy Jail.