A spokesperson for the Contra Costa Sheriff's Department has confirmed the county is seeking $80 million in state funding which would allow them to expand the Richmond.

If approved, the grant would increase the jail's square footage and will be used to construct a new wing.  Re-entry services would also be added.

Sheriff David Livingston told the County Board of Supervisors that the plan is all about maximizing public safety.   Being able to hold more inmates, he said, means safer streets and neighborhoods.  He's also hopeful to add programs focused on reducing recidivism rates.

Opponents of the plan feel that adding 240 beds is not the best way to prevent offenders from committing new crimes. Some say the West County Detention Facility should add fewer beds, and divert the rest of the funds to programs that provide alternatives to incarceration.

Contra Costa Jails have reportedly seen a mass influx of inmates since the state's inmate realignment program took effect in October 2011. Since that time certain offenders who would have otherwise served time in state prisons are now being shifted to county jails.  Not only has this caused local jail populations to skyrocket, it is also making them far less safe.

The Richmond Jail and Martinez Jail were never designed to hold people for more than 12 months at a time, and jail staff are still trying to manage inmates who have been sentenced for more serious crimes.

Since August, there have been more than 20 assaults that have taken place inside local detention centers.  Employees said that up until recently, they could not recall the last time an staff member was attacked.

This is not the first time the sheriff has petitioned to expand the Richmond Jail.  A June request came and went after it was met with waves of community opposition.

Now, he said the expansion is needed in order to deal with operational concerns and safety issues.

If approved, the $80 million grant will be used to provide areas that focus on educational and vocational opportunities.  It will also increase capacity.  He has underscored the fact that this is not being done in order to hold more inmates.  Instead, it will allow more serious inmates at the Martinez Jail to be held in a facility that is better able to meet their needs.

Those who are at the greatest risk of reoffending will also have better access to programs aimed at helping them reenter society.

Others are dismissing the idea, saying the county should focus on alternatives to incarceration, such as the utilization of GPS monitoring devices.  More than 80% of the people being held in Contra Costa County are awaiting trial, they said, and there is no reason these people should be stuck behind bars.

This idea is strongly supported by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), who says this is the best way to go about freeing up bed space.

Inmate advocates also say that if the new $80 million Richmond Jail expansion is approved that the taxpayers will be responsible for covering increased operating costs.

The sheriff's department, though, believes that this added expense could be cold be covered by state realignment funding.  He points out that the county has one of the leading alternatives to incarceration programs in the state.

The final application will need to be submitted by the end of October.  It is unclear how long it will take the state to make a final decision.