The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office and the William James Association (WJA) Prison Arts Project unveiled a mural designed under 
the direction of local Santa Cruz County muralist Arturo Thomae and painted by inmates incarcerated in the Santa Cruz Rountree Jail Facility.
The mural program is an extension of the WJA Prison Arts Project, which began in state prisons in 1977. This project is dedicated to providing art instruction to incarcerated individuals in the belief that participation in the artistic process significantly and positively affects their view of themselves and of the world around them.
The 28-foot mural covers one wall inside the Rountree dining hall and features the Monterey Bay coastline, sea life and lighthouses. It was dedicated to Lieutenant Shea Johnson to honor her many years of service to the local law enforcement community. Lieutenant Johnson was previously assigned as the Rountree Medium Facility Jail Commander before her recent transfer to another assignment. The mural was unveiled at a closed event on August 8 at 1:30 pm at the Rountree Medium Facility in Watsonville.
Sheriff-Elect Jim Hart stated “These types of programs play an integral role in our overall recidivism reduction strategies throughout our jail system. Building self esteem in our incarcerated population, developing job skills and working on treatment and education benefits our community by reducing the 
number of inmates returning to custody each year.”
Press Release Prepared by: Sergeant Kelly Kent