Loads and Loads

09/04/2013

Most of us do our own laundry, and having clean clothes to wear is something we frequently take for granted. But when people are housed inside a jail, the issue of how we get clean clothes to everyone becomes very important. It is important to the inmates who live inside the jails, because their cleanliness reflects their dignity, and is a basic need. It is important to the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department , who recognize that clean clothes and bed linens become an important weapon to fight against spreading germs.



In order to accomplish this tall task of keeping all inmates in the LA County jail properly clothed, the Sheriff's Department maintains a designated laundry center, and small laundry areas in each jail.



The Laundry Services Facility at Pitchess Detention Center was built between 1972 and 1976. The facility provides laundry services for all of the Los Angeles County jail facilities and patrol stations.



The laundry operation consists of a main laundry facility and an adjacent warehouse. There are approximately 24 security staff and 40 civilian staff employed at the location. They are supported by up to 240 inmate workers who are housed at PDC South. The operation runs two shifts per day, five days a week.



The laundry facility regularly produces over 100,000 pounds of laundry each day. It is one of the largest correctional laundry facilities in the world.



In addition to cleaning the clothes we already have, we purchase and manufacture new clothing. North County Correctional Facility has a sewing shop, which manufactures the jump suits the inmates wear.



But we can't give everyone brand new clothes every time an article gets dirty. So, we have a systematic method for exchanging the clothes in order for us to wash them and return them into circulation.



Clothing is exchanged every week to try and keep germs down and cleanliness up. Jumpsuits and linen are exchanged once a week, and towels, socks, t-shirts, and underwear are exchanged twice a week.



Custody Assistant Martirosyan said that "Teamwork and cooperation between custody staff and inmates working together are what allow us to avoid disease, germs, etc. It's a safety first thing, and everyone is involved. Ultimately it's the custody staff's responsibility, but we couldn't accomplish this very important task without the help from all the inmate workers."



It's quite obvious this issue of clean clothes is more frequently thought of inside jail than in most people's homes. But only with dedication and teamwork is this great challenge met.



Pitchess Detention Center, South Facility

Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department

29330 The Old Road

Castaic, CA 91384

(661) 295-8805

Inmate Info: (213) 473-6100