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Wed, 15 Oct 2008 16:45
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SAN MATEO CO.: SERIES OF PUBLIC MEETINGS ON JAIL PLANNING BEGIN TONIGHT
A series of public meetings this month will allow San Mateo County residents to become a part of the county's process in looking at ways to relieve jail overcrowding and address various issues involving the county's detention facilities, including the possible construction of a new jail.
The San Mateo County Sheriff's Office operates the Maguire and Maple Street correctional facilities, both in Redwood City, and the county's probation department operates the three youth facilities. Two of the county's jails are out of use.
The remaining jail facilities within county limits are operated by the county of San Francisco, according to the sheriff's office.
The adult jail capacity for the county suggested by the state was 834 inmates, but daily inmate population last year averaged 1,200, the sheriff's office reported.
County officials looking to address the issue of overcrowding in February released the Detention Facilities Needs Assessment & Master Plan.
The needs assessment, available for viewing online, was compiled with participation from the Board of Supervisors, the County Manager's Office, the sheriff's office and its jail planning unit, and a needs assessment project team.
The 143-page report makes recommendations to deal with overcrowding as well as recidivism and other issues. One such recommendation is the construction of a new 648-bed jail facility for inmates who are awaiting trial as well as those who are serving court-imposed sentences, according to the sheriff's office.
The source of funding as well as the location for the proposed $140 million jail remain undetermined, with possible locations suggested in Redwood City, Menlo Park, San Mateo and unincorporated areas of the county, according to the sheriff's office.
The public meetings beginning tonight will provide county residents, community groups and city council members from throughout the county to hear from county officials who participated in the needs assessment and ask questions, organizers said.
Additional outreach efforts for jail planning include a video about jail overcrowding available online at www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/jailplanning. County residents are also invited to arrange a speaker from the sheriff's jail planning unit to attend a city or neighborhood meeting and offer a presentation, county officials said.
The first of three meetings will be held tonight from 7 to 9 p.m. at the San Mateo Senior Center, 2645 Alameda de las Pulgas, organizers said.
Another meeting will be held in San Carlos on Thursday from 7 to 9 p.m. at Central Middle School, 828 Chestnut St. The third meeting will be held in South San Francisco at El Camino High School, 1320 Mission Road, Oct. 23 from 7 to 9 p.m.
Additional information about the meetings along with an overview of the county's jail planning process are available online at www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/jailplanning or by calling (650) 363-4153.
Questions about jail planning can also be made to sheriff's Lt. Deborah Bazan, who heads the jail planning unit, at (650) 508-6721.
