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Sheriff, DA and health leaders outline public‑safety pressures; county weighs homelessness strategies
Summary
A public safety panel detailed rising costs for homicide investigations and jail operations, mixed results from diversion programs and pretrial monitoring, and differing views about whether enforcement or expanded treatment yields better outcomes; the board asked staff to develop trend charts showing public‑safety cost growth.
Mendocino County’s sheriff, district attorney, probation and health leaders outlined growing public‑safety costs, staffing shortages and mixed outcomes from diversion programs during a safety panel at the board’s workshop.
Sheriff Tom Kendall told supervisors that homicide responses and follow‑up investigations can cost roughly $100,000–$150,000 per case when overtime, forensic work and courtroom time are added. Kendall said the department is understaffed — about 33% down in patrol positions — and overtime…
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