County Jail Awarded over $50,000,000 for Upgrades

SAN BERNARDINO –  In order to assist the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department is their effort in providing the programs needed to assist inmates in reintegration back into the community the Board of State and Community Corrections (BSCC) has authorized a $50,013,000 award for jail upgrades.

The San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department initiated the request for funding planned to go toward the costs of modernizing two of the Glen Helen Rehabilitation Center housing facilities. This project is expected to reduce recidivism by providing the educational, vocational and behavior therapy programs.

The project will modernize antiquated units, that have not undergone any significant upgrades since they were built in 1960. The project is expected to make these units fully accessible to inmates with disabilities and “expand and improve” the ability to serve inmates within those units with the same programs available to other inmates.

The programs offered to inmates are offered in order to provide the opportunity for inmates to be rehabilitated and successfully re-enter the community as productive citizens upon release minimizing the chances of them reoffending.

“Programs currently offered by the Sheriff’s Department include, but are not limited to, an individually customized high school diploma program, parenting classes, culinary and bakery arts, anger management, Alcoholics Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, construction basics, custodial arts, and computer skills,” SB County Sheriff’s officials said in a June 10, 2016 press release.

A July 2015  NPR.com article stated that only 16 percent of prisoners enter with a high school diploma, supporting the premise that education is a key factor in reducing recidivism. Funding for the project will come from SB 863 funding.

For late-breaking news, join 24/7 Headline News on our Facebook Newsgroups for Los Angeles County News, Riverside County News, Adelanto News, Coachella Valley News, U.S./World News, Victor Valley/Inland Empire News. If you like what we are doing and want regular updates on your Facebook stream like our Facebook Fan Page. You may also follow 24/7 Headline News on Twitter and Instagram!