San Mateo County To Look At Shutting Down Juvenile Hall

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA -- This fall, the County Board of Supervisors is expected to consider whether to close juvenile hall due to the increasing costs associated with running the facility.

San Francisco’s decision to shut down it's juvenile last month hall has led to similar efforts in San Mateo County, according to a new report in the San Francisco Chronicle. SMC officials have said that it’s time to reconsider the cost and consequences of jailing children, according to the Chronicle report.

Last month, the county’s Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention Commission sent the Board of Supervisors a letter requesting formation of a task force to look at the various alternatives, including closure of the facility.

Out of 170 cell beds at SMC juvenile hall, 115 were empty on an average day last year, according to county data. Additionally, the cost of incarcerating each youth costs San Mateo County taxpayers an average of $320,105 per child each year, up 40% in seven years, according to Board of State and Community Corrections figures.

Official formation of a task force to look at the issue is expected be made by the Board of Supervisors this fall, but a timeline has yet to be established regarding how long it could take the task force to examine the issue and to issue a report with its recommendations.