Title
Notification of Sheriff’s Office intent to apply for State lease-revenue bond financing under SB 863 for mental health and programming space at the jail.
Report
RECOMMENDATION:
It is recommended that the Budget Committee supports a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors for the Sheriff’s Office to apply for SB 863 financing for construction of a stand-alone new mental health and vocational/program space adjacent to the existing jail. It is further recommended the Budget Committee support a recommendation to the full Board of Supervisors in support of adopting a resolution at their August 25, 2015 meeting supporting the proposed project, (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.
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. The Sheriff’s Office is currently working with its consultants to come up with a more accurate estimated cost of this project and the details required for the cash match. The Sheriff’s Office is also working with the CAO to identify potential sources of financing for the County’s cash match.
Prepared by: Jim Bass, Sheriff’s Commander
Approved by: Stephen Bernal, Sheriff-Coroner