2 Supervisors Clash Over Plan for Musick Jail : Politics: Thomas F. Riley criticizes Roger R. Stanton’s proposal to close facility, build new one at El Toro base.

Board Chairman Thomas F. Riley lashed out Wednesday against a proposal by Supervisor Roger R. Stanton to close and sell James A. Musick Branch Jail in Irvine to pay for the construction of a new facility at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.

“I was very surprised,” said Riley, whose 5th District includes the Musick facility. “I would think (Stanton) would have shared the idea with the supervisor who’s involved. I don’t think it’s a good proposal.”

Riley said that if there is going to be any new jail, it should be in Santa Ana, which is in Stanton’s district. “That’s where the courts are. It makes sense to put them there.”

Stanton, who said his proposal is in the preliminary stages, responded to Riley’s criticism Wednesday by saying he thinks a supervisor should have the freedom to suggest ideas without checking with every board member first. “I don’t think that the discussion of proposals ought to be prohibited or bound by protocol,” Stanton said.

He also dismissed Riley’s suggestion that future jail expansions occur in Santa Ana, which is already home to the county’s main jails for men and women.

“Santa Ana has done its part,” Stanton said, pointing out that the jail system in Santa Ana was expanded about seven years ago by about 850 beds for the Intake/Release Center.

Riley’s comments marked the second time in less than a month that he has publicly tangled with Stanton over a county issue. Several weeks ago, Riley criticized Stanton’s opposition to a county work plan that closed most county offices every other Friday.

Earlier this week, Stanton said he and his staff were working on a proposal that essentially would shut down the Musick facility, a minimum security jail, and relocate it to a remote part of the El Toro base.

He said the county could sell the current jail site, which is located on 100 acres of prime land in Irvine, and use the proceeds to build a new facility.

Over the past 15 years, Orange County has been plagued by overcrowded jails. County officials have complained no money is available to build a new facility or expand old ones. Nor could supervisors agree on where to build a new jail even if the money were available.

Recently, however, the debate has been renewed because of the demands of the state’s new “three strikes and you’re out” legislation--which mandates stiff sentences for third-time felony offenders--the future closure of the El Toro Marine base and a recent Orange County Grand Jury report calling for 3,000 additional jail beds at the Musick and Santa Ana facilities. The jail debate has also been rekindled by the tentative agreement reached last week between the county and city of Orange that paves the way for an expansion of 1,660 beds at the Theo Lacy Branch Jail in Orange.

Supervisor William G. Steiner, who negotiated the deal, said one of the “critical” aspects of the agreement was that other communities in the county would share the burden of new jail construction.

Under the sketchy framework of Stanton’s proposal, a new facility at the El Toro base could be expanded in the future when county funds become available. He said the new jail could “sit in a place that is remote and away from children, schools and churches.”

Steiner said he was interested in Stanton’s idea because it helps spread the impact of jails throughout the county. Supervisor Gaddi H. Vasquez has said he would need to study the proposal before taking a position. Supervisor Harriett M. Wieder could not be reached for comment Wednesday.

Stanton said Wednesday he is still working on the proposal and is not sure when he might present it to the board.

He is not the only one suggesting that a jail be built at the El Toro base. The federal Bureau of Prisons submitted a letter to the Department of Defense requesting about 200 acres for a minimum security facility. That request is still pending.

The base is scheduled to close by 1999. Although the development of the land is ultimately up to the federal government, local communities are included in the decision-making process. County voters on Nov. 8 passed a proposition that requires to the county to set aside part of the base for a commercial airport. Stanton said his proposal would not conflict with the development of an airport.