Orient Road Jail

After reading multiple news stories defaming Orient Road Jail, I was less than optimistic about their standards and regulations. Before going on a tour of the jail, I envisioned a chaotic and dangerous environment. Much to my surprise, Orient Road Jail was more like a progressive rehabilitation center than an unruly penitentiary. Sheriff Robert Lucas was kind enough to enlighten our class about Direct Supervision and its revolutionary role in jails. According to Lucas, behavioral management is proven to be much more affective in preventing crime. By rehabilitating inmates, Orient Road Jail is less likely to see inmates return, and more likely to see them pursue education and job training.

Direct supervision, along with strategic layout of the jail, makes Orient Road one of the first facilities to offer such great care of inmates. The safety of the inmates and the employees is greatly elevated due to Orient Road’s “modern way of running things”. Inmates are encouraged to spend time out of their cells and are free to walk safely around their housing pods.

Housing pods include recreation like basketball and television. Inmates also have access to a library, a computer lab and GED prep courses. Orient Road Jail commonly offers referrals to schools and jobs in attempts to reintegrate inmates to their community after they are released. In order to help improve the quality of their lives, Orient Road Jail also offers substance-abuse programs. One of the major reasons for the jail’s success is their emphasis on relapse prevention.

Orient Road Jail is also home to the Work Release Center; a program that allows inmates to work during the day and then return to the jail at night. The Work Release Center teaches inmates how to function in the real world by entrusting them with responsibilities. In 2007, there was a daily average of 118 participants involved with the program.

Though Orient Road Jail is currently facing challenges and is in the process of fixing many problems that occurred within the past year, Orient Road is still one of the best jails in the country. Their commitment to improving the lives of their inmates is reassuring and gives me hope for the future of Hillsborough County.