Nicole Jones
By Nicole Jones
As realignment is becoming a reality in California, counties are scrambling to put together plans to deal with thousands of new offenders who will become their responsibility. Fundamentally, counties face a choice: Invest in more jail space to lock people up, or figure out other ways to handle those who commit crimes.
KALW’s Nicole Jones went to San Mateo county to see how it’s dealing with this difficult choice. (Transcript after the jump.)
By Nicole Jones
With the reality of realignment just weeks away, California county officials are scrambling to make decisions on how to deal with thousands of new level low-level offenders and parole violators previously handled by the state.
All and all, county jails and probation departments are expected to absorb as many as 40,000 new offenders.
The San Mateo County courthouse in Redwood City.
By Nicole Jones
The San Mateo Board of Supervisors plan to discuss possible construction and expansion of jail facilities on Tuesday afternoon. The conservation, sparked by Sheriff Greg Munks’ recent proposal to build a combined men’s and women’s maximum security facility, plans to address how to manage a growing jail population, especially with implementation of realignment right around the corner.
According to a document from the county manager’s office, Munks’ alternatives to building a maximum security prison, includes a “full build” containing 680-744 secure beds plus 88 transitional beds, and a “phased/partial build” with 488-552 secure beds and 88 transitional beds.
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