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Sheriff tells supervisors San Diego’s jail system needs hundreds of millions in repairs and a Vista replacement plan
Summary
Sheriff Martinez told the Board of Supervisors the county’s seven jails are aging and increasingly costly to operate, citing $289M in major maintenance needs and an estimated up‑to‑$1B cost to replace the Vista Jail; she urged completing a master plan, adding maintenance staff and exploring funding options including phased financing.
Sheriff Martinez presented a detailed assessment of the county’s detention‑facility infrastructure, calling the system "at a critical juncture" and urging timely capital investments to meet safety, care and legal standards. Martinez said the seven jails serve the entire San Diego region and handle roughly 50,000 bookings annually, with an average daily population of about 4,200–4,300 — an increase of roughly 400–500 compared to last year tied in part to Proposition 36 changes in state law.
The sheriff highlighted that most facilities exceed their useful life (average age >30 years), that some systems are original to older buildings and lack replacement parts, and that deferred maintenance has grown into larger liabilities. She…
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