2011 California Code
Penal Code
PART 3. OF IMPRISONMENT AND THE DEATH PENALTY [2000 - 10007]
CHAPTER 1. Findings and Declarations
Section 4401

It is found and declared that:

(a) Numerous county jails throughout California are dilapidated and overcrowded.

(b) Capital improvements are necessary to protect life and safety of the persons confined or employed in jail facilities and to upgrade the health and sanitary conditions of such facilities.

(c) County jails are threatened with closure or the imposition of court supervision if health and safety deficiencies are not corrected immediately.

(d) Due to fiscal constraints associated with the loss of local property tax revenues, counties are unable to finance the construction of adequate jail facilities.

(e) A 1980 survey authorized by the State Board of Corrections concluded that more than two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000) would be necessary merely to bring county and city jails up to the standards in effect when they were built. Subsequent hearings by the Senate Judiciary Committee s Subcommittee on Corrections concluded that at least five hundred million dollars ($500,000,000) would be necessary to bring such facilities up to present standards, without allowing for inflationary increases in construction costs in ensuing years.

(f) Imposition of limits on taxing powers of local agencies, imposed by Proposition 13 and other measures, has severely limited ability of local jurisdictions to raise funds for jail construction or renovation, though the need for such facilities is increasing.

(Added by Stats. 1982, Ch. 34, Sec. 1. Approved November 2, 1982, by adoption of Proposition 2.)