In a 4-1 vote, the Board of Supervisors approved the recommendations made by CGL Companies, Inc. (CGL), to suspend the proposed Intake and Health Services Facility (IHSF) until systemwide planning measures have been put in place.
Plans for the IHSF, at one time referred to as the Main Jail Annex, are a result of a court order the County entered into in January 2020 known as the Mays Consent Decree. The decree requires the County to provide constitutionally adequate care and conditions of confinement to Sacramento County jail inmates.
The new Intake and Health Services facility project is specific to space and operational issues, particularly those related to Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) medical privacy requirements; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements; and the need for additional medical facilities, mental health space and programming space. These requirements are not able to be accommodated in the existing Main Jail facility due to limitations in square footage.
At its Aug. 8, 2023 meeting, the Board received a presentation summarizing the work that had been performed, an overview of what to expect in the Design Build process for the IHSF and a summary of estimated project costs. During the meeting, the Board raised concerns about the cost of the proposed IHSF project. Subsequently, County leadership requested that the Department of General Services place all IHSF planning on hold while a third-party firm performs a peer review of the project planning work that had been completed.
The County awarded the contract to CGL on April 9, 2024, and the group began work encompassing the evaluation of all IHSF project-related deliverables, including the draft architectural program and conceptual floor plans. Additionally, it involved providing expert opinion on the project's potential for achieving Mays Consent Decree compliance
CGL’s review, addressing six County questions, resulted in key recommendations, including project suspension and systemwide planning:
- Suspend the current IHSF project until all recommendations are completed.
- Establish a Jail System Planning/Compliance Oversight Committee with representation from all criminal justice system stakeholder agencies in Sacramento County. This committee should have a charter outlining its members, roles, decision-making process, reporting structure, and goals.
- Conduct a comprehensive jail system Master Plan that includes:
- Facility Conditions Assessments
- Population Analysis of Future Criminal Justice Populations
- Operational Analysis of the Current Jail System
- Space Program
The Master Plan should provide a range of options and high-level cost estimates, including:
- Remodeling current facilities
- Expanding existing facilities
- New construction options with site selection analysis
- Project timelines and impact on current operations
- Financing options
4. Require Jail Planning Committee to study options and provide recommendations to the County Board of Supervisors in ranking order.
5. County Board of Supervisors to select the best option and determine financing options.
6. Develop and/or modify Requests For Proposals (RFP) for the following services:
- Construction/Project Management
- Space Program Staffing Impact Analysis
- Detailed Cost Modeling
- Design/Design Compliance
- Construction
- Transition/Activation
During the suspension of the conceptual plan, the County is continuing work in Adult Correctional Health (ACH) policy and process improvements. Notable improvements include:
ACH Policy Consultant: A policy consultant is currently reviewing key ACH policies and will assist with the development and/or revision of Standardized Nursing Procedures, including health service requests and emergency medical response.
Medical Observation Cell: ACH began a new process in November 2024 called “Intake Medical Observation Cell.” This new process affects patients that are fit for incarceration, are intoxicated, and require a protective environment for their safety, or the safety of others.
Court Medication Administration: Effective November 2024, there is a new court medications process at the Main Jail. Through close collaboration between custody, pharmacy and nursing staff, a new method was developed for daily court notification, medication preparation and administration prior to patients leaving for court in the morning.
Critical Needs Assessment Program (CNAP): CNAP has been implemented and provides intensive services to patients who have reported suicidal ideation and/or engaged in chronic self-injurious behaviors but do not meet criteria for inpatient treatment on the Acute Psychiatric Unit (APU) for danger to self-pursuant to W&I Code 5150. The goal of the program is patient stabilization and return to assigned housing/program or a higher level of care.