Two local jails get new names

SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted
unanimously Tuesday to approve name changes for two county-run jails.

The Las Colinas Women's Detention Facility in Santee, which is
undergoing renovations, will be renamed the “San Diego County Women's
Detention and Reentry Facility.” The East Mesa Detention Facility will be
dubbed the “East Mesa Reentry Facility.”

According to a letter to the supervisors from Sheriff Bill Gore, the
revised facility names reflect “the programs and services offered to inmates
and reaffirm the county's commitment to reentry and rehabilitation services to
help reduce recidivism.”

The supervisors also directed staff to enter into negotiations with the
state Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to provide jail inmates for
state fire camps. County officials said the state prison realignment plan that
redirects many offenders to county jails has lowered the number of prisoners
who can assist Cal Fire with firefighting efforts.

“Keeping the camps open is critical to public safety because they
provide much-needed boots on the ground when wildfire hits,” Supervisor Dianne
Jacob said. “Inmate crews put added muscle into our efforts to manage
overgrown brush and to fight major blazes.”

Both items were passed unanimously on the consent calendar.