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Inside Santa Cruz County’s New Rountree Rehabilitation & Re-Entry Facility

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WATSONVILLE, Calif. – Construction is complete at Santa Cruz County’s new Rountree Rehabilitation and Reentry Facility. On Friday, City and county officials and members of the public got the chance to tour the new minimum-security jail, which will begin taking inmates in July.

 

Rountree Rehabilitation Reentry Facility

The Santa Cruz County Sheriff’s Office hosted a ribbon-cutting and opening ceremony for the new facility on Friday, May 11. Construction crews broke ground back in September 2016.

 

Preparing Inmates for Success

Located at 100 Rountree Lane, the $25 million facility has 64 beds and will house prison realignment inmates currently serving time for low level felonies in the crowded Santa Cruz County Main Jail. The facility features semi-private living areas, providing inmates a sense of autonomy while still allowing for direct supervision.

 

rountree reentry facility central housing

The new facility includes 64 beds surrounding a central common area

 

 

 

But majority of inmates’ time will be spent outside their bunks, in classrooms and workshops in preparation for their successful re-entry. The 16,000-square-foot facility is designed to break the cycle of violence and equip inmates with the tools they need to succeed upon release, dedicating ample space for educational programs and workshops, and resources such as training and counseling.

 

rountree reentry facility classroom cgl companies

 Inmates have access to counseling, classes, and workshops including a computer lab as well as culinary arts and construction labs. Hospitality, landscaping, agriculture, parenting, writing, computer literacy and domestic-violence prevention also will be taught.

 

Additionally, instead of seeing their loved ones from behind a glass divider, inmates will be able to have one-on-one visitations with their families.  Research has shown the impact family support and visitation can have on improving inmate morale and reducing recidivism.

 

rountree reentry visitation

Inmates at the new Rountree Rehabilitation and Re-entry Facility will be able to have one-on-one visitations with their families.

 

CGL served as the Owner’s Representative, criteria architect, and construction manager for the project. Click on the news articles below to read more about the facility and see how Santa Cruz County is leading the way in criminal justice reform:

 

 

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