Sacramento residents oppose $2 billion jail expansion, demand focus on mental health and housing

A powerful wave of community voices rose against the proposed $2 billion jail expansion during the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors meeting on February 26, 2025. Residents, mental health professionals, and advocates united to challenge the notion that building more jails is a solution to the intertwined issues of homelessness and incarceration.

Alexandria Wilson, an organizer with Decarcerate Sacramento, highlighted the urgent need for mental health care and affordable housing, arguing that incarceration exacerbates the struggles of those already facing housing insecurity. "A new facility will not solve these problems; it will merely change their address," she stated, emphasizing that the focus should be on community-based solutions rather than expanding jail facilities.

Trevor Jeltema, a licensed marriage and family therapist, echoed these sentiments, pointing out that locking people up does not reduce crime or recidivism. "If we are planning on spending billions on expanding a facility that won't solve the problem, why not invest that money in preventing the problem in the first place?" he asked, urging the board to prioritize resources that support community health and safety.

Adrianna Lucero, a concerned resident and educator, expressed fear for the future of vulnerable populations in Sacramento. She called for strategic investments in community support rather than perpetuating a cycle of incarceration. "Mortgaging our future to a system that reacts to social problems instead of preventing them isn't working," she warned.

The meeting also saw contributions from healthcare professionals like Alana Marcucci Morris, who stressed that real community safety comes from investments in healthcare and affordable housing, not jails. "If jails worked to rehabilitate and create safer communities, we would have already solved the simultaneous housing and behavioral health crisis," she asserted.

As the board weighs the implications of the proposed jail expansion, community members are calling for a shift in focus towards sustainable solutions that address the root causes of crime and homelessness. The overwhelming message from the public is clear: investing in community health and support systems is the path forward for a safer Sacramento.