South OC Times

Santa Ana, CA (September 9, 2024): At a ceremony in Washington D.C. on September 4, 2024, the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) recognized the Orange County Sheriff’s Department (OCSD) as a “center of innovation.”

OCSD was acknowledged for its collaboration and behavioral health care practices. The NIC regarded the Orange County Jails as a model for improving reentry outcomes.

Sheriff Don Barnes received the NIC recognition, applauding OCSD’s commitment to advancing behavioral health initiatives and collaborating with various agencies and community service providers to promote recovery, rehabilitation, and continuity of care for incarcerated persons upon release.

OCSD will partner with NIC to enhance correctional policies and practices across jurisdictions nationwide.

“This honor is the result of the trailblazing efforts of OCSD’s Custody Operations and Executive Command Staff to identify systemic opportunities to improve public safety,” said Orange County Sheriff Don Barnes. “Our goal is to connect inmates within our jails, and upon release, with appropriate foundational tools for success with the intention to reduce recidivism. The revolving door between the jails and community needs to end, and I am proud to play a significant role in this endeavor.”

In 2019, Sheriff Barnes pledged to address challenges facing the jails and operate one of the nation’s best jail systems. Since then, numerous efforts have been made to bring collaborative partners such as Orange County Health Care Agency, the Orange County Criminal Justice Coordinating Council, OC Probation, OC Social Services, Cal Optima, Kaiser Permanente, Project Kinship, and other community service providers together to enhance the well-being of incarcerated individuals.

As part of the recognition letter, Holly Busby, Acting Director of NIC acknowledged OCSD's solutions-oriented approach.

“The outcomes you have achieved speak to the power of collaboration and the importance of working together to address shared goals and objectives in service of public safety,” she said.

“I am very proud of this recognition but it does not mean our work is done,” said Sheriff Barnes. “This is the beginning of our commitment and partnership with NIC to assist other jurisdictions across the country by sharing OCSD’s innovative and promising practices in corrections.”