Keep Bailing

SAN FRANCISCO — The venerable Hall of Justice is a landmark, but its pre-earthquake code architecture has also made it a target for earthquake damage.  This news has prompted the local government to put a bond measure on the ballot that seeks funding for building upgrades, which voters have to approve. If the bond passes, design on a new Sixth Street jail could begin this year as part of a larger effort to replace the Hall.

As reported in the San Francisco Examiner, the measure will be on a June 8 ballot, and according to a draft of The City’s capital plan, will take 10 years to build. The remainder of the $435 million project would be funded with certificates of participation.

The two jails slated for replacement house high-security prisoners like murder suspects and flight risks, as well as people awaiting trial and who are actively in court. But a big earthquake could force the Sheriff’s Department to evacuate 800 of these prisoners along with  the staff. “While plans to safely evacuate the jail are in place, the costs to temporarily house the prisoners until a new facility is built are likely to be in the tens of millions of dollars,” the city planning report says.

Funding the construction of a jail is always easier when you don’t have to go to voters, Sheriff’s Department spokeswoman Eileen Hirst admits.  Hirst once worked on the campaign to build San Francisco’s state-of-the-art jail in San Bruno.

So far, two previous jail bond measures have already failed. “You have this problem with, ‘Why are we building a nice jail for prisoners when my child’s grammar school looks so horrible?’” Hirst explained.

The city’s planning group is eyeing a spot next to the current Hall of Justice at 850 Bryant St. and their plan is expected to be finalized in late spring. The $652 million bond proposal would also help to fund repairs for firehouses and improve the  water system that helps them battle flames, and would go toward building a new police station.

Additional San Francisco jail information: a complete look at San Francisco’s jails as the sytem currently stands and San Francicso bail bonds.