New Santa Clara County Jail Up For Review Again

SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CA — A plan for the construction of a new jail replacement facility for the existing Main Jail South in San Jose will be presented to the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, county officials said. The board last approved a proposed plan on Feb. 23, 2016, which included a seven-story, 219,000-square-foot facility located at West Hedding and North San Pedro streets in San Jose.

Since then, the board approved a number of jail diversion and bail reform initiatives that led to a reduction in the current number of inmates, county officials said.

Because of this, the County Executive's Office commissioned a study to revalidate the number of beds necessary for the new facility. The plan that is being offered Tuesday will include 535 beds instead of the original 815 that the 2016 plans proposed.

Overall, the modified proposal includes demolishing the existing Main Jail South and building the new jail on the same site, reducing the number of beds by 212 system-wide, increasing the square footage by 24,000 square feet and replacing office space that exists in the current jail but will be lost when the building is demolished, county officials said.

The recommended changes made to the original proposal mean that the county would have to invest 6 percent more, or $14 million, to provide fewer beds and more square footage.

Santa Clara County Deputy Executive Martha Wapenski said in a statement that the facility would be safer for staff and inmates and is designed on best practices.

"These best practices include more single cells for the mentally ill population, larger dayrooms for classes and programs, and larger recreation yards," Wapenski said.

Santa Clara County received $80 million in a 2014 state Senate bill, SB 863, which is meant to fund the new jail. The estimated net cost to the county to build the facility is projected at $257 million, according to a memo on the proposal.

Overall, the new jail is said to include mental health treatment housing as well as clinic space for dental, optometry, physical therapy, pre- and post- operative treatment and kidney dialysis services. All of those resources would be under one roof.

The new jail facility plan also includes community classrooms on all floors and a floor strictly for reentry services for men and women who have 90 days or less remaining in custody.

Residents seeking more information on the proposal and what the project would entail are encouraged to attend the Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday. Discussion on the item is scheduled to begin at 10:30 a.m. in the board chambers at 70 W. Hedding St. in San Jose.

By Bay City News Service

Image via Sccgov.org