Our Inside California Jails Series Continues…

The renovations being made at the Burbank Police Department, Jail and Fire Headquarters are fast approaching completion. This is good news for Burbank law enforcement officials, who have been forced to transport arrestees to the Glendale Jail for booking due to the construction.  The estimated $9.5 million project is scheduled to be complete in March 2012 and includes upgraded concrete flooring as well as reinstillation of jail security measures such as electronic-locks and doors.

Greg Rynerson Bail Bonds continues with our eleventh series in our California Jails: Inside the Burbank Jail.

Here, we’ll fill you in on:

• Reasons The Renovations Were Needed
• Where The Funding Came From
• The Lawsuit That Started It All

Is there a jail you’d like to learn more about ? Let us know- we’ll get you “inside” (or, if you need, we’ll get you out!).

The finishing touches on the Burbank Police and Fire Headquarters may be completed early next year, according to a city official. Renovations began nearly three years ago on the facility.

Bonnie Teaford, Public Works Director, is optimistic that the final phase of the renovation will be wrapping up in March 2012, with a total estimated cost of $9.5 million.

Repairs to the facility took place in 2000, nearly two years after it opened, due to water damage. Water leaks were discovered in the firefighter locker area, as well as the parking garage, front stairs, and other areas. The floors in various areas were also found to be too thin and in need of repair. This necessitated removing and replacing the limestone flooring.

The original contractor for the facility, Kajima Construction Services, had a suit filed against it by the City of Burbank, which alleged that the company did substandard work. Kajima settled with the city in August 2008 for $3.16 million, along with $475,000 from WLC Architects.

Burbank Bail Bonds at Glendale Police Department

The current project also included removing the concrete from the floor of the Burbank Jail. This made it necessary for the Burbank police to take suspects to the Glendale jail for booking. Having to travel such a distance eats into officers’ call response times.

Additionally, Burbank jail staff work at the Glendale Police Department. When a bondsman arrives to post bail, the bondsman needs to inform staff if it is for Burbank bail bonds or Glendale bail bonds and the appropriate jailer accepts the bail bond. It seems this could be done more efficiently, but for whatever reason, this is the system in place.

Deputy Police Chief Tom Angel said that most of the invasive tasks have been completed at the Burbank facility. The new floor was poured during the last few weeks. Inmates will not be booked at the new facility until the police ensure that the jail’s electrical system is in complete working order.

Teaford said, “Jails are interesting things- all the doors, locks and security are controlled electrically, and it all had to be torn out and be put back in. It’s a very, very complicated project. There were not very good design drawings to document where things actually went. It was very, very, very challenging. But that’s all behind us now. The wiring is all back in.”

Officials state this new fine will help the city recover thousands in administrative costs. According to a Police report, the court will impose the fine as part of the civil judgement, and as a condition of their probation. The city reports that the money can help with purchasing fingerprint equipment, storage, photographs and other administrative costs.

Glendale has been charging this fee to those convicted of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) since 1997 and has collected about $31,000 in fees. With the expanded fee, the city could re-claim as much as $157,000 per year if just 15% of those arrested pay the fee.

Sounds reasonable: “You play, you pay.“

The Glendale Police Department arrested three women on Friday and took them to the Glendale Jail where they are each being held on $20,000 bail. According to a witness, the women knocked on a residential door. When noone answered, they forced themselves in. The three were arrested as they drove away from the scene thanks to the fast acting witness.

The three, Sukari Joiffron, Valeria Acosta and Ziara Cannady, are suspected of other area burgleries. Those with additional information are asked to contact the Glendale Police Department at (818) 548-4911.