Sheriff Lee Baca introduced Terri McDonald as the new Assistant Sheriff of Custody Division on Monday at the Sheriff’s Headquarters Bureau. She will have the responsibility of overseeing the largest jail system in the nation with nine custody and correctional facilities and over 18,000 inmates. In addition, Assistant Sheriff McDonald will supervise the Education Based Incarceration Bureau, which is an important component within the Custody Division that focuses on deterring crime by investing in inmates through education and rehabilitation. There are currently 67 inmate programs in the jails through Education Based Incarceration.

Assistant Sheriff McDonald has been with the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation for 24 years and most recently held the position of Undersecretary, Operations since 2011. She was responsible for Adult Institutions, Adult Parole, Division of Juvenile Justice, Office of Correctional Safety, Division of Rehabilitative Programs, Victims Services and the Office of the Ombudsman. She has a degree in Public Administration from the University of San Francisco and has risen through the ranks at the CDCR from a correctional officer to executive level positions.

As Chief Deputy Secretary, appointed by Governor Schwarzenegger, she oversaw and coordinated the implementation of Public Safety Realignment (AB109) within CDCR and lead collaborative efforts with state and local entities. She has managed many statewide operations in her professional tenure as well as receiving gubernatorial appointments to the position of Associate Director, Reception Centers and Chief Deputy Secretary, Operations. Assistant Sheriff McDonald is very seasoned and an innovative correctional leader with expansive experience working with mentally ill and approximately 300,000 convicted felons in California’s adult prisons, juvenile justice facilities and on state parole supervision. “I am both humbled and honored to be chosen as Assistant Sheriff for Los Angeles County. My work over the last 24 years at the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has been extremely challenging and fulfilling, and I look forward to working with Sheriff Baca and his team tackling some of the challenges facing the jail system in Los Angeles County,” said Assistant Sheriff McDonald. “Assistant Sheriff McDonald is a dedicated professional who brings wisdom into the custody system with deep knowledge in training, policy and management. She will be a pillar within the Department and I look forward to working with her,” said Sheriff Baca.

Sheriff Baca also took the opportunity to introduce the new Chief of Homeland Security Division, Ted Sexton. Chief Sexton has served in various law enforcement positions and six terms as Tuscaloosa County Sheriff. He will be responsible for overseeing approximately 1,100 sworn and civilian personnel within the Homeland Security Division which includes the Special Enforcement Bureau, Transit Services Bureau, Reserve Forces Bureau, Emergency Operations Bureau, Aero Bureau, Community College Bureau and County Services Bureau. This Division has the unique responsibility of preventing, mitigating, and providing specialized response capabilities to Homeland Security threats and acts of terrorism. “He brings vast insight into counter terrorism and advances in Homeland Security technology. “Both will have extraordinary opportunities to improve the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and I welcome both of them,” said Sheriff Baca.