Local News in Brief : Santa Ana : Jail Addition Finished but Not Yet Inhabitable
Orange County’s new $66-million jail addition in Santa Ana has received its occupancy permit, meaning that construction of the building is complete and the fire alarm system is operational.
The county is still working on a list of jobs that need to be completed before the building can be inhabited. But Burdette M. Pulver, the county’s project manager for the new jail Intake and Release Center, said the building could be turned over to the Sheriff’s Department next week.
The Sheriff’s Department has said it needs at least 30 days to train personnel in the facility and make final security checks before the cells can house inmates.
But Sheriff’s Lt. Richard Olson said Friday that timetable might not be accurate. He said there is no way to tell when the facility will be occupied by prisoners.
The opening of the jail is already seven months behind schedule. Delays have upset county officials because they are under a federal court order to relieve overcrowding in the main men’s jail.
The Intake and Release Center will have about 480 new beds.
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