James A Musick Facility

Captain Davis Nighswonger
Captain Davis Nighswonger
The James A. Musick Facility provides custodial and rehabilitative programs for 1,250 adult male and female inmates. Educational programs are available which enable the inmates to receive a G.E.D. while incarcerated. Training in agricultural skills is offered as part of a plan and balanced agricultural program. Special emphasis is placed on the production of vegetables and eggs which are used within the department's Food Services Unit. A laundry facility is also set up to service the other jail facilities as well as Juvenile Hall and the Orangewood Children's Home.

History

The James A. Musick Facility is a one hundred acre minimum security facility known as "The Farm." The facility is located in an unincorporated area of the county near the cities of Irvine and Lake Forest. Captain Deana Bergquist manages the daily operations of the 1,250 bed facility. The facility was originally opened in 1963 and was named in honor of James A. Musick, who was the Sheriff of Orange County from 1947 to 1975. Originally the facility held a maximum of 200 male minimum-security inmates and was referred to as the "County Industrial Farm" or the "Honor Farm." Since 1986, the inmate housing capacity has increased to 1,250, and includes both men and women. The inmates housed at the facility are considered to be a low security risk and most are in jail for crimes such as driving under the influence, minor drug possession, burglary, failure to pay child support, and or prostitution. Inmates who have committed violent crimes, sex crimes or mayhem are not eligible for transfer to the facility.