SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors have will accept a grant from the state to build the long awaited North County Jail Facility.
The Sheriff's Department sent out the following release:
Today in a historic vote the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors unanimously accepted an $80 million dollar state grant to construct a new north county jail facility. This decision comes on the heels of AB 109, the state's criminal justice realignment law that shifts responsibility for housing and supervising certain criminal offenders, who were previously the responsibility of the state, to county sheriffs and probation departments.
"I commend the Board of Supervisors for their bold action today," said Sheriff Bill Brown. "Inadequate jail capacity in our county continues to be a worsening problem that has been in search of a solution with 8 previous Boards. Today's decision paves the way - once and for all - for a much needed North County Jail to be built. This was a true team accomplishment. I am grateful for the support of the Board, the determined efforts of my 3 predecessors, the perseverance and hard work of those currently in my office, and the collaboration of our colleagues within the County family, whose collective efforts got us to where we are today."
The total projected cost estimate of the 376 bed facility is $96.1 million dollars. The jail, which is estimated to take 5 years to design and construct, will be built on a 50 acre parcel at Black Road and Betteravia Road near Santa Maria.
