Contra Costa Supervisor Calls For More Prisoner Funding
MARTINEZ (KCBS) – A Contra Costa County supervisor is calling for the state to provide adequate funding for its prisoner realignment program, which he claims is costing the county millions of dollars.
Supervisor Federal Glover said that his county has the bed space in local jails, but is still lacking in funding to take care of the new inmates.
To save money, California has begun a program to send low-level inmates back to be housed in jails in their respective counties around California. But Glover said counties are paying more than their share to implement the program.
"I'm not confident at all that California officials will come through with the money," said Glover. "I'm very concerned about where that funding will come from."
KCBS' Dave Padilla Reports:
Glover said that the County Supervisors Association of California has drawn up a ballot initiative that calls for a constitutional amendment that would call guarantee that realignment is fully funded.
"The counties don't have the resources to fund these types of activities," said Glover.
He said Contra Costa has received $4.5 million from the state to house and rehabilitate low-level inmates. Glover contends that the city could really use something on the order of $12 million.
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