HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - February 15, 1989 (54)CITY COUNCIL MEETING
FEBRUARY 15, 1589
IZESOLUMN NO.
89-22 ADOPTED -
F50LLT1ION OF
SUPPORT FOR MEASURE
ONE-HALF CENT
PqC REASE IN SALES
TAX FOR TWENTY YEARS
TO BE USED FCR
OF JAIL
AND RELATE@ FACILITIES,
JAIL OPERATIONS, AND
PRLUNNII PROGRAMS the City Council was reminded
CC -7(b)
CC -18
CC -?9
construction ballot measure
voters in a special election
topic of pubLi c discussion for
that the County's
(Measure A) goes
March 7, 1989. I
many months.
The following information regarding the matter were
presented to the City Council:
JAIL PROBLEMS AND PUBLIC SAFETY IN
SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY
.:r
The Problem: Overcrowding
San Joaquin County has a worn-out, old Jail;, which lacks
roan to house all the people who should beJai Ted. :The f
overall jail population is nearly two-thirds;'m,�re ahan ,the
state allows. The men's jail, designed.. for 39,6'1rmatei,
operates at almost double that number.' This oyercrowfing
is a serious threat to the safety of stiff: and ;:.inmates
Because our jail does not meet state ` and °national
standards, federal courts could intervene. lh :'other
counties, federal courts have ordered ' the'release of
inmates or have seized contro! of money from other `County
programs such as libraries and parks to pay for a new jail;:.
The Solution: Jai 1 Master Plan
A Citizens Jail Advisory Committee worked eighteen months .
to complete the policy framework for a Jail Master Flan,
which includes housing 2,240 inmates by the year 1995. The
Committee included 45 local community members, law
enforcement and criminal justice professionals, and
professional staff from San Joaquin County. In July 1987,
the Jail Master Plan was adopted by the County Board of
Supervisors. The plan triples the present number of beds
approved by the state, builds a new jail, centralizes the
Sheriffs headquarters and updates its technology, and
remodels the honc,r farm where sentenced inmates are
housed. Construction of the $121 million project is
planned to start in September 1989 and to finish in 1992.
Our County's estimated cost per bed is about S201,000 less
than similar facilities recently built in Sacramento, Santa
Clara, and Contra Costa Counties.