Monterey Co. Sheriff’s Office pushes to hire extra jail staff

The Monterey County Sheriff’s Office says they need extra staff for securing the new jail that is expected to open summer this year.

The law enforcement agency that runs the county jail is adding over 570 new beds with the jail expansion. But housing an average 940 inmates every day means they still need to use the older part of the jail.

“So we still have to staff the parts of the older jail,” said Steve Bernal, the Monterey County sheriff.

Bernal is looking to hire six new sheriff’s deputies and 14 support staff members, all amounting to about $2.2 million, to help staff the new jail while also maintaining the old parts.

“We’ve worked with the budget department and explained to them why we need the extra personnel,” said Bernal.

“They said the new designs were going to be more efficient, it was going to require less staff,” said Luis Alejo, a Monterey County supervisor.

Alejo says he understands the old jail still needs to be used, but wonders whether staffing can be more spread out to avoid new hires.

“There’s currently 198 inmates. It’s expected to drop to 58, but the staffing in that old wing will remain the same,” said Alejo. “And that’s where we’re not finding the efficiencies.”

Alejo says the extra $2.2 million is tough to swallow, given a budget that is expected to see expenses pile on in the next few years.

“Huge increase in costs in worker’s comp, pensions, healthcare, pay raises,” said Alejo.

Monterey County faced a $36 million budget deficit last year, resulting in cutback and layoffs. But Sheriff Bernal argues he is already asking for fewer staff than what is recommended and hopes the board of supervisors will listen.

“To do things right, to make it safe, to reduce our liability in the jail, we need this extra personnel,” said Bernal.

The board of supervisors will discuss the issue in Salinas on Tuesday.