Envisioning the Future of our Jails We Continue to “Kick The Can”

In a perfect world, the Sheriff’s Office would have sufficient funding to raise Correctional Officers’ pay sufficient to hire all the officers they need, and build the new jail they want. But in that perfect world, there would also be sufficient resources to give all inmates the mental health care they need and to provide adequate continuing care after they are released, including supportive housing as appropriate. This report asks the question “In the real world, with the funding constraints in this County, what is the best solution to both the aging Main Jail and to the distressingly high recidivism rate?” The Santa Cruz County Grand Jury believes that funding for the Sheriff’s Office to hire and retain more Correctional Officers should be increased. Funding for the Public Defender’s Office and County Behavioral Health should also be increased so their anti recidivism efforts can reduce the current horrifying 60 percent recidivism rate.

C1. The Probation Office and the Public Defender’s Office are doing an excellent job of diverting low level offenders away from the criminal justice system. C2. The Probation Office is providing their Juvenile Hall youngsters a more physically and emotionally healthy environment that most of them ever had at home.