Placer County broke ground Monday on a nearly 200,000 square foot Adult Correctional Facility at the Bill Santucci Justice Center in Roseville.

The Placer County Board of Supervisors joined the Sheriff, the Chief Probation Officer and the Assistant District Attorney in a ceremony to commemorate beginning Phase 1construction, a $98 million project.

While Placer’s population growth has currently slowed with the recession, the County’s population is expected to grow in the future, increasing the need for jail beds. Additionally, the current economic condition has resulted in a significant decrease in construction costs. Also, the Conditional Use Permit granted by the City of Roseville requires that Phase 1 of the project be completed by 2013.

“Construction of this facility is possible because of the wisdom of past Boards of Supervisors, who recognized the need for future facilities, required developers to pay impact fees, and set aside funding over the years to pay for this necessary infrastructure,” said F. C. “Rocky” Rockholm, Board of Supervisors Chairman. “Our communities will be safer as a result of these wise decisions.”

McCarthy Building Companies, Inc., the general contractor for the facility, has partnered with HDR Architects for the design-build construction model, and will seek Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification. Phase 1 of the facility will have 390 beds, including 120 minimum security beds, a medical unit, administration, and intake/booking/transportation, as well as a correctional kitchen and other support functions. The facility is planned to allow expansion of up to 980 beds, as well as the possible future addition of a state-funded courtroom. There will also be a subterranean connection to allow direct access to an inmate holding center in the new South Placer Courthouse. Vanir is the construction management firm working on behalf Placer County.

“We look forward to delivering a new, modernized facility to meet the correctional needs of South Placer County and the overall community,” said Mark Radell, McCarthy’s project director. “We understand the intricacies of building these types of projects, and take into account a number of elements important to the community, including quality, aesthetics and environmental issues. We plan to undertake a fast track timeline so the facility can be utilized as quickly as possible.”

Placer County’s Adult Correctional Facility in Auburn, which was opened in 1985, was expanded and upgraded most recently in 2003, and will continue to operate. The post-World War II facilities that now house minimum security inmates at the Placer County Government Center in Auburn will be closed as new facilities become available.

“The new jail will not only allow us to house more inmates, but it will enhance public safety by decreasing the time our police officers, deputies and other law enforcement officers spend transporting and booking arrestees into the facility. This will allow our public safety partners to quickly return to their assigned beats and continue to protect the community,” said Sheriff Ed Bonner.

“We want our county to be one which holds consequences to criminals for their misconduct. The construction of this new jail allows us to continue to work with the District Attorney and Probation Department to insure that is the case. Construction of this new jail gives public protection officials a necessary tool in combating those criminals who would do harm to our families. Our board of supervisors and prior board members are to be commended for their vision and commitment to keeping our communities safe.”

Chief Probation Officer Stephen Pecor and Assistant District Attorney Scott Owens reinforced the need to hold individuals accountable for crime and praised long-term planning efforts to make the new facility possible.