LA County Officials OK $2 Billion Jail Plan
LOS ANGELES (AP) — County supervisors have approved a nearly $2 billion plan to tear down and rebuild the Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles and also build a new women's facility.
City News Service says the Board of Supervisors approved the idea Tuesday. Staff was told to return in two months with a cost review and design specifications.
The plan calls for replacing the aging men's jail with a new facility by 2024 and building a campus-like women's jail at a now-vacant facility in Lancaster.
Supervisors said a modern facility would improve conditions for some of the estimated 3,000 mentally ill inmates in the jail system. Federal officials are investigating treatment of the jailed mentally ill.
Supervisors also directed staff to study alternatives to jail for some inmates, such as diversion programs.
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