COUNTY PLANS EYE CASTAIC FOR JAILS.

Byline: SUE DOYLE Staff Writer

CASTAIC -- Open land surrounding Pitchess Detention Center makes the area prime pickings for Los Angeles County officials looking to build more jails.

But some residents living near the complex say there's no room in town for any more inmates.

``I paid too much for this home to be safe,'' said Castaic resident Marim Habis. ``Why don't they go further north? It's not as built up as it is here.''

Looking for ways to change the county's overcrowded jails, Sheriff Lee Baca this past week brought six proposals to the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, who asked for the review after a series of race riots in February at Pitchess and the Men's Central Jail downtown. Fighting left two dead and more than 100 injured.

Brawling broke out again Thursday at two of the four jails at the Pitchess compound. Hundreds of men were involved and scores were injured.

County discussions last week focused on two of Baca's proposals. Both include expansions at the Pitchess complex, where 9,000 of the county's 19,000 inmates reside today.

One of those plans calls for constructing a new ranch-type facility to house about 1,000 low-risk women inmates and to re-open Sybil Brand Detention Center in east Los Angeles for another 1,000.

The second plan includes those concepts and also looks to build a medium-security facility for 1,000 men and a high-security wing for 400 more at Pitchess.

The sprawling complex just off Interstate 5 and Hasley Canyon Road has the county's attention for potential jail expansion because it offers more room to build than other areas.

Discussions will continue in August among county officials who will review the two plans at length. Talk will include costs.

The expansion topic is also on Wednesday's Castaic Town Council agenda, where Pitchess Cmdr. Don Rodriguez is expected to speak.

``There's always concern when there are changes at Pitchess,'' said Bob Lewis, town council member.

But at this point, nobody knows what those changes will be. If a plan is chosen, the county will then have to look for ways to finance it.

County officials said current conditions inside jails contribute to rioting, because there isn't enough room to separate violent inmates.

Castaic residents have watched the facility grow over time. It began as a dairy farm where drunks slept off their liquor in minimum-security surroundings. Over time, the cows left the pasture, which eventually was developed into four buildings with maximum-security housing.

If 2,400 more inmates do come to the complex, Castaic resident Raul Santana wondered what it would mean for the town's reputation.

As a real estate agent, Satana sees how the jail turns buyers away.

A growing inmate population would serve as more of a deterrent to move in, he said.

``It's a wonderful area, but escapes from the jail have some people concerned,'' he said.

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