Keep Bailing

REDWOOD CITY — The County Board of Supervisors are in talks for a new jail in Redwood City which has a price tag of $18.7 annually – just to staff and operate. This is on top of the $150 million to merely construct the new facility.

The need for such a large project stems from the overcrowded conditions at the current, Maguire Correctional and Maple Street Jail Facilities.  These two facilities are currently housing 1,092 male and female inmates.

According to San Mateo County Sheriff, Greg Munks, the County currently spends approximately $56 million each year to run the older facilities. The new facility would add an additional $74.8 million to that cost.

To relieve the congestion now, there would have to be an additional 472 beds installed at these jails.  The new facility would help to alleviate the problem by adding 296 extra beds, along with the 472 bed quota. The new facility would also house transitional inmates and offer programs and vocational training such as culinary classes; all which help to reduce recidivism.

Further, the older Maple street jail would be decommissioned and the staff would be transferred to the new facility. They would also hire an additional 70 staffers.

With all of these discussions in the arena, the subject of where the new facility will be built still stands. Redwood City is opposing placing the site on county-owned land, suggesting it will hurt any revitalization efforts of the downtown area. Further, the Board of Supervisors won’t budge until the site has been established, before it accepts construction and cost plans.

Munks, along with the city will report whether or not they have located a possible new site within 60 days.