A spokesperson for the Humboldt County Jail said they are considering a $20 million project that involves increasing inmate capacity.

Many jails throughout California have been dealing with the brunt of the state's prisoner realignment program.

The realignment was implemented in Oct. 2011 as a means of helping reducing state prisoner populations to Supreme Court-ordered capacity levels.

In order to comply, California began shifting certain detainees to county jails to serve out their sentences. This has led to mass crowding at the local level.

Many of the state's jails have broken ground on expansions.  The Humboldt County Jail, though, is considering a brand new facility.  There is a large gravel parking lot next to the current detention center, they said, and the idea is to use that space to construct a multi-story minimum security jail.

The plans still need to be approved by the County Board of Supervisors and the CA Board  of State and Community Corrections.  If the latter approval is gained, Humboldt could receive as much as $19 million in state grant funding for the project.

The proposal needs to be turned in by October 24.  At the current time, the sheriff's department, probation department, department of health and human services and the current Humboldt County Jail are working on putting that together.

The sheriff has admitted the plans are still in their infancy but he is confident the kinks will be worked through.

The collective vision involves a structure that will hold up to 80 minimum security detainees.  It will also have space to house the Community Corrections Resource Center.  That center is currently located on H Street.

The plan will also free up bed space for more serious offenders.

The county recognizes it will still need to pick up between $1 million and $2 million in construction costs.  Many feel this will be money that is well spent.   Others point out that a new facility will bring ongoing costs that include staffing, utilities and inmate medical expenses, to name a few.

County officials say they are evaluating these expenses and trying to determine a fiscally responsible way to address them.   The sheriff, though, points out that getting bad guys off the street and rehabilitating them is a good priority.

Only five of the state's 30 small counties will receive $20 million grants.  It is unclear when the state will make their final determination.  Humboldt County Jail officials say they are optimistic.