Title
Authorize and support the Sheriff’s Office application for up to $40 million of SB 863 funding for mental health and programming space.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Board of Supervisors support the Sheriff’s Office in applying for SB 863 financing for construction of a stand-alone new mental health and vocational/program space adjacent to the existing jail. Should the application for funds be approved, the Sheriff’s Office will return to the Board of Supervisors to request approval to accept the funding (Project xxxx).
SUMMARY/DISCUSSION:
The Sheriff’s Office is applying to the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) for up to $40,000,000 to construct a facility dedicated to inmates in need of advanced mental health care and for improved education/programming space.
Due to a number of factors including but not limited to prison realignment actions, an increase in inmates needing advanced mental health care and a growing community and law enforcement desire to reduce recidivism within the inmate population the Sheriff’s Office finds itself needing additional and updated facilities.
Over the years the Sheriff’s Office has relied on the Behavioral Health Division of the Health Department and the Mental Health Unit (MHU) at Natividad Medical Center (NMC) to provide advanced mental health services to those inmates in need. Over the past year, however, the MHU at NMC has become increasingly more occupied treating patients not in jail custody. This has affected the ability of inmates in the Sheriff’s Office care to receive treatment at the MHU. Due to this change there is an increasing need for a facility on the jail’s grounds that can provide an advanced level of mental health care. The Sheriff’s Office is proposing to build a facility with twenty-two (22) single cells and two (2) safety cells that would be designed for inmates suffering from acute mental illness and those who would benefit from advanced mental health care. The facility would provide numerous other spaces including an outdoor recreation area, group therapy rooms, individual interview/consult rooms, a family/community intervention room, and numerous spaces for staff and supplies. There would be dedicated Sheriff’s Office and medical staff on site around the clock, seven (7) days a week.
With the State of California prison realignment actions of recent years and the increasing desire to reduce recidivism levels the Sheriff’s Office needs to increase its programming/education space. The Sheriff’s Office has a limited number of programs that offer vocational training that may lead to jobs once an inmate is released from custody. The Sheriff’s Office is proposing to build a vocational training/program space with enough room to provide multiple programs at one time and maximize the number of inmates who attend. These program spaces would be equipped to provide the most up to date training. The Sheriff’s Office would look to partner with community based providers to aide in the success of an inmate’s reintegration to their community.
This report is a preliminary advisement of the Sheriff’s Office plans to apply for SB 863 funding. The Sheriff’s Office will be returning to the Board of Supervisor’s meeting August 25, 2015 for adoption of a resolution in support of said application.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
RMA - Public Works, the CAO’s Office, and the Sheriff’s Office will work together to meet all State requirements for the SB 863 Request For Proposal.
FINANCING:
Total estimated project cost is $44,500,000. $40,000,000 requested from SB 863 Adult Local Criminal Justice Facilities Construction and a 10% cash match of $4,500,000 by the County.
Prepared by: Jim Bass, Sheriff’s Commander
Approved by: Stephen Bernal, Sheriff-Coroner