New Kings County Jail may reduce inmate capacity

HANFORD, Calif. (KFSN) -- Construction has already begun on a brand new jail facility in Kings County. Officials had to reopen an old jail, in order to stop releasing so many inmantes. Now, they are preparing for a new facility to help keep inmates in custody longer.

For years Kings County grappled with an aging facility, and in 2006, built a brand new jail to better serve the community. Now that facility is overcrowded because they have to accommodate AB109 inmates among other changes.

Monday, Kings County leaders broke ground on phase two of the jail expansion, a project that will add 252 more inmate beds. "Just trying to make an impact on our citizens and the citizens of Kings County and try to make it a safer place for everyone to live," said Rebecca Campbell, Kings County Administrative Officer.

The Kings County Jail became so overcrowded that Sheriff David Robinson said they released more than 1,000 inmates early in the 2012 - 2013 fiscal year. "In the best of both worlds we wouldn't have to release anybody but under the circumstances. we just don't have enough room to house all the inmates."

The jail was so jam-packed that the sheriff requested loaned bunk beds from Avenal State Prison and re-opened the branch jail. The move drastically reduced the number of early-release inmates down to 119.

Sheriff Robinson is excited about the new jail facility, but the new project means taking down the bunk beds and re-closing down the branch jail. Robinson says this actually reduces the total number of inmate beds, instead of adding to it. He's hoping to keep the branch jail open.

"If we don't, we technically would have a net loss of beds when the new facility opens because of overcrowding and so we're trying to avoid that at all costs, we'd rather see a gain with the expansion," said Sheriff Robinson.

Keeping it open would mean hiring 29 more deputies -- something the county doesn't have the money for. Either way, the sheriff's office is thrilled with the new facility which will have tunnels from the new jail facility to the brand new courthouse that's being built next door. The tunnels will make it less risky to bring violent offenders to their court hearings.

"The tunnels allow us to make sure we transport them to and from court in a safe and secure manner not only for our staff and inmates but also the public," said Sheriff Robinson.

The new jail is expected to open in March of 2016 -- around the same time the new courthouse will open.