Urge the County BOS to NOT Vote on Adding New Jail Beds Until First Examining Alternative Community Investments

Written by
March 28, 2025

Join SBCAN and allies in urging the County Board of Supervisors to PAUSE, NOT vote on adding new jail beds until first examining alternative community investments on Tuesday, April 1 at 9 AM.

See the message from CLUE Santa Barbara below.



County Board of Supervisors will be asked to decide whether to invest $120 to $216 million in expanding our jail system or prioritize more effective, less expensive community-based alternatives. Ask the Board to PAUSE, NOT vote on adding new jail beds until first examining alternative community investments. Planning  mental health and other infrastructure support could enable approximately 200-400 low-level, non-violent offenders with diagnosed mental health or addiction problems to receive treatment instead of jail. Community-based services would provide better outcomes at far less cost for the individuals, their families, neighbors and communities. This approach could significantly reduce or eliminate the need for building additional jail housing units.

 

We recommend appointment of a Task Force of department and community stakeholders to study the jail data  and alternatives, and to make recommendations for the Board when deciding whether new jail housing units are needed. The decision will have long-term consequences for public safety, mental health care, and county resources. Click here to see 5 key questions that the task force needs to answer, along with others, before a vote on jail housing units  is taken.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS MEETING
  1. IN PERSON: Testify in person at the hearing on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, 9AM, at the County of Santa Barbara, County Administration Building Board Hearing Room, Fourth Floor, 123 E. Anapamu Street, Santa Barbara
  2. VIRTUALLY: Testify virtually by Zoom. (Registration required. Link to be released with the Agenda here.)
  3. EMAIL COMMENTS: by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, March 31 to [email protected] Comments cannot exceed one page.
TELL YOUR STORY: Briefly say who you are and why it matters to you to increase community resources and  help people stay out of jail.

ASK THE BOARD TO:
  • Form a high level Task Force that includes community stakeholders, to make a detailed plan and schedule for reducing the jail population. This needs to occur before deciding on any jail addition.

  • Create a plan to invest in community mental health and housing that will treat medical and mental health, address substance use addiction, and provide alternatives to keep people out of jail.

  • Identify the need for, and resources required, to provide more low-cost and supportive housing for justice involved individuals.

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See the Fund for Santa Barbara's public comment letter here.