Washington – In response to steadily decreasing revenue and budgets, states across the nation are seeking new, alternative ways to cut costs. Proposed solutions: Squeeze savings out of the state prisons.

In Washington, state prisons will go on lock-down one day per month, confining inmates to cells and adjacent living areas. This solution allows prisons to cut back on resources and allows wardens to send some staff members home without pay. Trial tests of the lock-downs/furloughs were executed in November with success, prompting the full implementation of the program one day per month from January to June 2011. Projected savings equal approximately $1 million.

“It’s working as designed,” said Dan Pacholke, deputy director of prisons at the Washington State Department of Corrections in Olympia.

http://in.reuters.com/article/idINIndia-54286020110120

For many unfamiliar with the California prison and jail system, the classification of jails can be confusing. The following are the definitions for the various classifications of jails found within the state of California:

TYPE I FACILITY
A local detention facility used for the detention of persons for not more than 96 hours, excluding holidays, after booking. Such a Type I facility may also detain persons on court order either for their own safekeeping or sentenced to a city jail as an inmate worker, and may house inmate workers sentenced to the county jail provided such placement in the facility is made on a voluntary basis on the part of the inmate. As used in this section, an inmate worker is defined as a person assigned to perform designated tasks outside of his/her cell or dormitory, pursuant to the written policy of the facility, for a minimum of four hours each day on a five-day scheduled work week.

TYPE II FACILITY
A local detention facility used for the detention of persons pending arraignment, during trial and upon a sentence of commitment.

TYPE III FACILITY
A local detention facility used only for the detention of convicted and sentenced persons.

TYPE IV FACILITY
A local detention facility or portion thereof designated for the housing of inmates eligible under Penal Code Section 1208 for work/education furlough and/or other programs involving inmate access into the community.

For more information, visit http://www.cdcr.ca.gov/.

Have you or a loved one been arraigned at the Vista Detention Facility? The following is a step-by-step guide which outlines the basics about the Vista Detention Facility as well as what to expect regarding visitation hours:

Location:
325 S. Melrose Dr., Ste. 200
Vista, CA 92081
(760) 940-4473

About:
The Vista Detention Facility, also known as the VDF, is utilized as the primary point of intake for both male and female inmates in north San Diego County. Classified as a Type II Facility by the California Corrections Standards Authority, VDF receives pre-trial arrestees on both felony and misdemeanor charges, with the bulk of the prisoners consisting of people waiting for North County case court proceedings. The facility has a CSA-rated capacity of 820 beds and was opened in 1978.

Visiting Hours:
Vista Detention Facility inmates are allowed two social visits per week, with the weekly calendar beginning on Sundays and ending on Saturdays. Social visits are without contact, made through a visit window using telephone handsets. All inmate visiting hours can be scheduled one day in advance by calling Tuesday through Saturday from 7:30 – 11:30 a.m. To schedule an appointment, call one of the following numbers within your area code: 619-531-3200 or 858-694-3200 or 760-940-4473. When calling for a visit reservation, be sure to have the following information handy: 1) Full name, 2) Date of birth, 3) Home address and 4) Telephone number.