LOS ANGELES COUNTY : 13,000 New Jail Cells Needed Under ‘3 Strikes,’ Block Says
Sheriff Sherman Block said Wednesday that 13,000 more jail spaces would be needed in Los Angeles County to contend with the increased numbers of suspects awaiting trial under the “three-strikes-and-you’re-out law” as well as to provide enough space to keep misdemeanor violators from being released early.
The sheriff estimated that the increased annual cost of keeping that many additional inmates would be $200 million. That figure does not include the costs of building prisons.
Block said that he supports the “three strikes” initiative on the November ballot, but believes that the Legislature may have to modify some details to reduce costs.
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