SACRAMENTO - San Joaquin County is poised to receive the full $80 million it requested from the state to expand its overcrowded jail by 1,280 beds.

The county was one of 14 mid- to large-sized counties competing for $650 million, and news that the county was set to receive everything it asked for pleased local officials working to get the funds.

The money, awarded through prison-reform legislation, will be used to expand a jail system so overcrowded inmates are frequently released early.

Counties were judged on a point system based on criteria ranging from expansion needs to local commitment for re-entry facilities.

"I'm extremely happy," said San Joaquin County Sheriff-Coroner Steve Moore. "I believe the citizens understand there's a direct connection between the number of jail beds and crime in San Joaquin County."

The ranking and recommended funding was released by the Corrections Standards Authority on Thursday, but the list will not be final until its scheduled approval by a state panel in September. That would follow a 90-day validation period for prison officials to determine the viability of plans for counties to house re-entry facilities.

Re-entry facilities and programs for released inmates figured highly in AB900, the reform legislation enacted last year that authorized the jail-expansion funding. The legislation focuses on overcrowding and recidivism in the state, and provides $1.2 billion in two phases to counties for jail expansion.

"It's critical to the intent of AB900 to deliver re-entry facilities," James Tilton, chairman of the Corrections Standards Authority, said before the agency released the tentative list of funding during the first phase.

The authority stopped short of awarding the funds recommended by a steering committee, but the board voted to approve only proposals that included a re-entry facility, even if it went against the ranking system recommended by the committee.

The committee was expected to release the tentative list sometime last week. Before the results were released, some local officials were concerned about the delay.

And on Monday, state Sens. Michael Machado, D-Linden, and Dave Cox, R-Fair Oaks, sent a letter to Tilton that noted the scoring system weighs all counties the same, whether they have a re-entry facility site or have only done limited planning. The letter asked the state agency to hold off releasing the recommendations until July.

But the authority did respond, Machado said.

"They responded by establishing due diligence - everybody has to demonstrate their commitment to the intent of the legislation," Machado said. Now it's up to San Joaquin County and the other counties to make sure they cross their "t's" and dot their "i's" to nail down the offered cash.

With Thursday's news, county officials said they can now do more to figure out how to afford the projected $40 million a year needed to operate an expanded jail.

"This was the first hurdle we needed to overcome before we decide to move forward," San Joaquin County Supervisor Victor Mow said.

And now it's time to work with cities and citizens on coming up with that money, Chairman Ken Vogel said.

"I'm hoping there is the political will here in San Joaquin County to do it," he said.

IStaff writer Hank Shaw contributed to this report.

Contact reporter Zachary K. Johnson at (209) 546-8258 or zjohnson@recordnet.com.

Reader reactions have moved These discussions and our forums are not moderated. We rely on users to police themselves, and flag inappropriate comments and behavior. You need not be registered to report abuse. In accordance with our Terms of Service, we reserve the right to remove any post at any time for any reason, and will restrict access of registered users who repeatedly violate our terms.