Inside Pasadena’s Jail, Officers Work Around the Clock

Most Pasadena residents have never been inside the city jail at 207 North Garfield Avenue. This week, the city brought the jail to them — posting photographs of detention officers at their surveillance monitors, in holding areas, and behind booking desks in a public recognition of the people who keep the facility running 24 hours a day. 

The Pasadena Police Department is marking National Correctional Officers Appreciation Week, observed May 3 through 9, by spotlighting the officers who staff the city’s 140-bed jail. The facility operates around the clock, processing individuals arrested in Pasadena and several surrounding cities — including Sierra Madre, San Marino, South Pasadena, and Altadena — before they are released, arraigned, or transferred to Los Angeles County custody. It is a part of the city’s public safety operation that most people never see.

The national observance dates to 1984, when President Ronald Reagan signed Proclamation 5187 designating the first full week of May for recognizing correctional officers. Congress expanded the scope in 1996 to include all correctional employees. The observance is now in its fifth decade. 

Pasadena’s jail is classified as a Type I facility, meaning it serves as temporary holding rather than long-term detention. Arrestees are typically held until their first court appearance — generally within 48 to 96 hours — or until they post bail or are released on their own recognizance. Those who remain in custody are transferred to larger Los Angeles County facilities. 

The department’s statement, posted to the City of Pasadena’s official Facebook page, described the officers as “dedicated professionals who help keep our jail facility safe, secure, and running 24/7,” according to the city’s social media post. 

“While much of their work happens behind the scenes, their impact on safety, order, and our community is essential,” the post stated. 

The photographs — a departure from the typically closed nature of jail facilities — showed officers at their posts. One image showed an officer at a bank of surveillance monitors displaying feeds from throughout the facility. Another showed two detention officers, R. Juarez and B. Jones, standing in front of a holding area. 

The Pasadena City Jail falls under the department’s Special Operations Division, led by Commander William Grisafe. Robert Guillen serves as Jail Administrator.