The Corrections Standards Authority of the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation has awarded $602 million to 11 counties for the expansion or construction of county jails. 

The award is in adherence to Gov. Jerry Brown’s public safety realignment program, which, as Assembly Bill 109 passed and signed last April, seeks to keep lower-level offenders and parole violators from revolving through the state prison system and places them in local facilities. County facilities that need to increase jail capacity were required to apply for the funds. 

Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange counties were awarded $100 million each. Stanislaus will receive $80 million, and Tulare and Santa Barbara $60 million each. The CSA also awarded $33 million to both Kings and Shasta counties; $23.626 million to Imperial County; $10.255 million to Sutter County; and $3 million to Madera County.

The CSA also recommended Kern and San Benito counties receive $100 million and $15 million, respectively, after legislation is enacted to shift more funds from an earlier allocation into the current round.

To date, the CSA has awarded approximately $1.2 billion to 22 counties for jail construction. The bonds were first authorized by Assembly Bill 900 in 2007.