County breaks ground on new jail

August 29, 2012

Artist drawing of the new adult detention facility under construction.

Patience, timing, courage, and perseverance were all words used to describe the process that led to a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, Aug. 28 for new adult detention facility near the existing Claybank Adult Detention Facility in Fairfield.

The county in partnership with the California Board of State and Community Corrections are building a 127,800-square-foot detention facility with 362 beds to house adult offenders.

"The new adult detention facility is coming online just when we need it," said Sheriff Gary Stanton.

Solano County is one of 11 California counties to receive Phase 1 funding under Assembly Bill 900, which accounts for approximately two-thirds of the funding for the $89.3 million project. Public facility fees will be used for the bulk of the remaining project costs.

The need for the facility increased when Public Safety Realignment legislation (AB 109) redirected many offenders who previously served their sentences in state facilities to serve in local jail facilities. The new Claybank facility will give the County the capacity to meet future demands for incarceration.

As of Aug. 21, a total of 373 inmates were housed in the county's detention facilities as a result of Public Safety Realignment, representing 39 percent of the total jail population. The State Department of Finance and State Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation had projected that Solano County would need 331 additional beds by October 2015. The number of inmates currently housed by the county as result of Public Safely Realignment exceeds that projection by 13.5 percent.

The facility will consist of podular maximum security housing units operated by a central control. The facility will utilize electronic security systems that optimize security while minimizing staffing requirements. The facility will offer more convenience to the public, as well as the inmates, through the use of video visitation and up-to-date telecommunication systems. The facility includes all ancillary support systems, including laundry facilities, an administrative services area, and a secure sally port with an intake and processing area.

The project is designed to achieve silver certification under the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program, which measures environmental responsibility in a project's design, construction and operations.

HO+K of San Francisco designed the project, URS of Sacramento will serve as the construction manager and Roebbelen Contracting, Inc. of El Dorado Hills will serve as the general contractor.