Hollister
– In a report released this month, the San Benito County Civil
Grand Jury reaffirmed the need for the county to move forward with
plans to expand the local jail.
Hollister – In a report released this month, the San Benito County Civil Grand Jury reaffirmed the need for the county to move forward with plans to expand the local jail.
The jail, which can hold up to 142 inmates, is often overcrowded, according to jail officials. For the past year San Benito County Sheriff Curtis Hill has been working with Facility Design Group, Inc. to craft an expansion plan for the jail. It includes an additional 96 beds housed in a new 27,000 square-foot facility to be located adjacent to the current jail site on Flynn Road.
Following its annual inspection of the 14-year-old jail – which included visiting the facility and interviewing jail staff – the Grand Jury recommended that the county follow through with Hill’s proposed $3.5 million expansion.
“With the local population continuing to go up, more space will be a necessity,” the Grand Jury report stated.
Hill said he is happy that the Grand Jury supports his position that the county needs a larger jail.
“This is just one more voice, one more viewpoint,” Hill said after reading the Grand Jury report. “It will help us on this project.”
Hill said he continues to work with Facility Design Group to finalize cost estimates for the proposed expansion.
County Supervisor Anthony Botelho said expanding the jail has been a “top priority” for the Board of Supervisors. The Grand Jury’s input was welcome, he added.
“It’s always constructive to have another set of eyes looking at these types of issues,” he said. “It justifies the need to the community.”
Last year supervisors voiced support for the idea of expanding the jail and looked toward bonds and state grants as possible funding sources for the project.
Aside from the overcrowding issue, the Grand Jury found the jail to be in “very good condition.” It had no complaints about the jail’s staffing levels or how it is being run.
Hill said he was pleased to see that the Grand Jury recognized the hard work of jail personnel to keep the facility in good order.
“It was nice to see that they recognized that it’s a facility that works to ensure the care and custody of all inmates,” he said.
Expanding the jail is just one part of Hill’s plan to improve all of county’s criminal justice facilities. Facilities Design Group has also recommended:
n Construction of a new 30,000 square-foot sheriff’s office to be connected to the jail on Flynn Road at an estimated cost of $6.1 million.
n A nearly 18,000 square-foot expansion of Juvenile Hall, located adjacent to the jail, at an estimated cost of $6.1 million.
n Construction of a new 7,000 square-foot probation department connected to Juvenile Hall, with an estimated cost of $3.5 million.
The Grand Jury’s recommendation was based on its inspection of the jail and does not consider any of the other parts of Hill’s expansion plan.
Brett Rowland covers public safety for the Free Lance. He can be reached at 831-637-5566 ext. 330 or [email protected].
