Sheriff's Department defends proposed expansion of Santa Rita

For the first time, the Alameda County Sheriff's Department explained publicly why it is looking to expand the Santa Rita County Jail for inmates with mental health problems.

Santa Rita opened in 1989.

"It was not designed to treat the mentally ill or house them," Alameda County Sheriff's Lt. Jason Arbuckle told members of the county Board of Supervisors Public Protection Committee.

The sheriff's department says its proposed construction project would make providing mental health services more efficient.

"Clinical staff is scattered about the facility. It is not at a centralized location," said Arbuckle.

But some community based organizations say they oppose the plan, calling it a waste of money that could be better spent on mental health programs outside jail throughout the county.

"It doesn't change conditions or the type of mental health treatment people receive inside<" said Tash Nguyen, a member of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights.

The jail expansion is far from a done deal. Earlier this year, the sheriff's department applied for a $54.3 million state grant.  But it  won't be until next month before it learns whether it will receive the money.

If it gets the grant, the Board of Supervisors have the final decision on whether the project gets built.

"If Alameda County does get the funding we want the Board of Supervisors to reject it," said Nguyen,

The proposal calls for the renovation of two housing units, and the construction of a new mental health clinic.

"The new clinic will reduce wait times for mental health services and added classroom space will increase opportunities for re-entry programs," said Arbuckle.

If Alameda County receives the money, and the supervisors approve the plan, construction would be completed by 2018.