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#LASD Inmates Give an Inspiring Meaning to Jail-House Rock @LASDHQ @EBILASD @JailsLASD (Photos)

     The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department not only provides security and care for the incarcerated, we also offer inmates scores of services and programs including: high school academic courses, vocational training from wood-shop to welding, and life-skills education on parenting or anger management. 

     We understand the importance of investing resources into each individual under our care.  Each person can take their skills and a sense of accomplishment with them when they return back to their communities and family-life.  One of our programs, which especially enhances participants' inner creativity, is the The Los Angeles County inmate rock band, “Contraband.”

     Established in 2006, as part of the MERIT Program (Maximizing Education Reaching Individual Transformation), at Pitchess Detention Center-South Facility, it's brought many talented inmates together to make great music.  Over the years “Contraband” has performed for thousands of inmates as well as for California Attorney General Kamala Harris and her staff, Sheriff Jim McDonnell, and many high-ranking Sheriff’s Department personnel.

     The inmate musicians bring sound engineering, or music backgrounds to the band, with styles ranging from Jazz to Classic Rock to Metal.  In fact, the band’s goal is to study and blend a gamut of musical motifs by dissecting different songs and comparing “live” and “studio” versions.  By watching live performances and lessons online, the players learn how to place certain notes within the songs to perfect them.

     The performances provide inmates with a sense of the “freedom” that comes from music, and the joy of creating music in a wholesome group setting.  One guitar player explained, “I now realize that I can enjoy making music in a sober environment and can appreciate it more.” Another inmate band member revealed that “being part of a group and being able to perform gives us the opportunity to forget about being in jail and enjoy a live concert with some of our favorite songs.”

     Deputy Paul Palumbo, of the Sheriff’s Department’s Inmate Services Bureau, Education Based Incarceration Unit (EBI), has willingly taken on the tuneful collateral duty of supervising and guiding inmate band members during their practices and performances. As a group, "Contraband" collectively decides which songs to learn and compose their set list. Deputy Palumbo then acquires all the chord and lyric sheets for them to follow as they learn each song. 

     When requested, he also organizes performances at other custody facilities.  “These inmates are hidden rock stars that have just, unfortunately, not gotten the big break that some of the huge names in music have gotten,” Deputy Palumbo declared.

     Just before a band member is released from our custody, we hold auditions to replace the player of the specific instrument.  New band members are selected on the basis of their instrumental talent, skill at reading music, and ability to interact with other band members.

     The EBI Unit provides programs which can assist all interested incarcerated men and women in reaching their full potential through education, empowerment, self-esteem, creativity, and self-respect, in order to make them better parents, spouses, and productive citizens in their communities.  

     Educating and providing life skills to the incarcerated population enables them to enhance their quality of life and become architects of their future by presenting opportunities for spiritual, educational, and economic transformation.

Written By:  

Deputy Paul Palumbo

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department

Pitchess Detention Center- South Facility

29300 The Old Road,

Castaic, CA 91384

https://www.facebook/EBILASD

Forwarded by:

Sheriff’s Information Bureau – Newsroom

Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department 

Hall of Justice - First floor  

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