Authorities are facing rising tensions, violence and the need for additional resources in Orange County jails, as more inmates with lengthier criminal histories serve their sentences at the local facilities as a result of California's prison realignment program. The Orange County Register reported as inmate populations have gone up in the year since the program took effect, violence and surging inmate numbers have created new challenges for authorities.

"The added pressure just kind of keeps that kettle boiling a little bit hotter than it was before," Orange County Sheriff Department Commander Steve Kea told the Register.

Because jail populations have increased, Orange County jails require additional long-term medical services and mental health services, which Kea said has put a strain on medical staff. Medical professionals at the jail are now treating inmates for such ailments as hernias and hepatitis and are administering dialysis - none of which were previously done in the county jail, but are now "common place," the Register reported. More than 800 inmates are now on psychotropic medications and more than 2,000 mental health cases were open at the end of September.

A jail fight between Latino and black inmates in early October, which caused inmates to take sides along racial lines, is an example of tensions growing in the county facilities and the rise of violence, according to the Register. A black inmate reportedly offered a Latino inmate some food, which the Latino inmate took as an insult. The Latino man allegedly began shoving the black inmate, the article stated.

Another Orange County Register article detailed the changes that have occurred as a result of the state realignment program. For one, the Orange County Sheriff's Department was forced to reopen sections of jails and make plans to expand minimum security facilities. Growing inmate populations also gave officials reason to explore contingency plans if the jails run out of beds. The Register reported the county has been renting about 800 beds to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, but if inmate numbers continue to increase,  the jails may need those beds back. If that happens, the county could lose about $30 million in revenue - money that is keeping the county jails "afloat," Kea said.

Violence has been a concern specifically at the Santa Ana jail, according to the Register. Violent crime and homicide rates in Santa Ana decreased 13 percent in 2011, but officials warned the realignment program could bring jail crime back up.

The California realignment program was put into place to alleviate the severe overcrowding occurring at state prisons. However, according to Kea, unless additional measures are taken, Orange County could end up facing the same challenge the state did.

"We don't have the bed space to be warehousing bodies," Kea said, according to the Register. "The state made an effort at reducing recidivism, but it was ultimately the warehousing of bodies that created (realignment). If we don't come up with alternatives, then we will be in the same boat."

Expanding the use of bail bonds is one effective way to keep people out of jail and maintain viable population levels at correctional facilities. Arrested individuals who are in need of bail bond information can contact a California bail bondsman to learn about the bail process and methods of payment.