Mariposa County looks to prefabricated building for jail expansion

MARIPOSA COUNTY, Calif. (KFSN) -- Mariposa County prides itself on being a safe community, but violent inmates who once served time in prison are now being held in the local jail because of AB 109.

"We're dealing with prison gang and street gang issues we have not had to deal with before," said Mariposa County Sheriff Doug Binnewies.

Sheriff Binnewies says it's difficult to separate those serious criminals from people who are booked on minor offenses. That's why he's looking to add a prefabricated building with 16 beds for minimum security inmates. It would also offer classroom space for treatment and education programs, so the project can be paid for through state realignment funding. The estimated price tag for the 1,800 square foot custom built facility is $500,000.

"Quite frankly the main catalyst of that is cost," said Sheriff Binnewies. "It appears with research that the prefab route is about half the cost of a standard brick and mortar building."

The sheriff says his lieutenant recently visited one in Canada and was impressed by its durability and efficiency.

Sheriff Binnewies added, "While the temperature was 20 below zero, the air conditioning unit actually tried to kick on solely from the inmate heat inside."

County Supervisor Kevin Cann says he was skeptical of having modular jail space at first, but now believes it is a good, safe option for the immediate future. He also points out it will have to meet both state and county guidelines.

Cann explained, "We don't allow boxes to be built, we will demand the same of ourselves as we do of any private contractor that would be building."

The board of supervisors approved about $20,000 for the site and project planning phase on Tuesday. If this project continues to get the approvals it needs, it could be up and running in a year.