Supervisors Approve Juvenile Facility
Sonora, CA– The Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors voted Tuesday to continue a plan to construct a juvenile detention facility in Sonora.
Construction at the proposed Law and Justice Center site was approved 4-1, with District Three Supervisor Evan Royce in opposition.
“I can’t support it at this time and I don’t think it’s the end of the world and our last opportunity to ever be able to do this,” said Royce. “I cannot financially commit to this right now and I think it’s a risk. I do understand the social benefits and the emotional challenges for kids, but now is not the time.”
Tuolumne County is the largest of the 9 counties remaining in California that does not have a juvenile detention facility. It spends approximately $405,000 annually to transport and place youth to other facilities across the state.
The $20 million juvenile detention facility in Tuolumne County is expected to be completed by 2015.
Written by tina.falco@mlode.com
