By Susan Meeker
Colusa County Sun-Herald
COLUSA COUNTY, Calif. — Colusa County was awarded a $20 million grant to build a new facility to replace the 63-year-old jail on Bridge Street.
Colusa, Yuba and 13 other counties were awarded the competitive grant from a $500 million pot of state public funds made available for new jail facilities and expansion projects, with an emphasis on providing evidence-based treatment programs for inmates, including mental heath, substance abuse disorders and educational programming.
Funding awards were announced at the Board of State and Community Corrections meeting last week but were made official on Monday, Colusa County Sheriff’s officials said.
The new jail will be named the Colusa County Detention and Treatment Facility and will be built on the existing Sheriff’s Office property in Colusa, said Assistant Sheriff Jim Saso.
The proposed project will construct a new facility that will provide adequate programming, mental health treatment and recreation space, Saso said.
Colusa County’s current jail dates back to the original 98-bed facility constructed in 1962, which officials say is antiquated and was built when open-bar front cells and dormitories were the norm.
The new jail will replace the substandard housing with podular housing units and will also feature a medical and dental clinic and exam space.
“This will allow safety and respiratory isolation cells and expand work areas with support space for medical, mental health treatment, and jail staff,” Saso said Monday in a news release.
The new jail is being funded and was authorized by Senate Bill 863.
The Sheriff’s Office received the maximum dollar amount allowed based on Colusa County’s population, Saso said.
Yuba County was also awarded $20 million to build a two-story facility in front of the current Yuba County Jail.
Officials said development for the new jails will begin immediately, with occupancy planned for summer or fall of 2019.