FOUNTAIN VALLEY : City Prisoners to Go to Huntington Beach

In an effort to save time and money, Fountain Valley plans to book its prisoners in the Huntington Beach City Jail.

The City Council on Tuesday approved an agreement with Huntington Beach that would allow Fountain Valley prisoners awaiting arraignment to be held in that city’s jail.

Fountain Valley officials said the arrangement would reduce jail booking fees and save officers time in transporting a person in custody and waiting through the booking process.

Fountain Valley, which does not have a jail, is paying $158 for each prisoner booked into County Jail in Santa Ana.

City officials said booking prisoners in Huntington Beach would cost about $84 per booking. For each day a prisoner must stay in custody, the city will pay an additional $41. As a result, the city could save as much as $16,000 a year, based on last year’s 484 bookings.

“When income is not there, this is one way the city has been creative in trying to cut costs for the citizens,” Councilman John Collins said.

The city budgeted $50,000 for the 1992-93 fiscal year for prisoner transportation, care and booking fees. As of Feb. 8, the city had spent $26,292, or about 53% of that money.

Police Chief Elvin G. Miali said that as much as two hours are needed for an officer to take a prisoner to County Jail and wait as the prisoner goes through the process. By comparison, it takes less than an hour to book a prisoner in Huntington Beach, he said.

“We estimate a dramatic improvement in the recouping of the officers’ available time due to the fact that the Huntington Beach facility is located just a few minutes’ drive from the city,” the police chief said.

The agreement creates an alternative for Fountain Valley, and the Police Department may still choose to book prisoners at County Jail, Miali said.