Ground-breaking construction has begun on a new medical facility in Stockton designed to deliver improved services to California prisoners who are aging or have mental health issues, says prison officials.
The California Health Care Facility is designed to help meet the mandates of last year’s federal court order to upgrade state prison medical care to constitutional standards, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
The 1.2-million square-foot, 1,722-bed facility comes at a time when the city of Stockton is on the verge of bankruptcy.
Construction costs of $900 million are expected to create up to 9,200 jobs, and generate an economic impact of about $1 billion for the city, according to prison officials.
Completion is projected by the summer of 2013. At full-capacity operations, the facility is expected to support nearly 2,800 jobs in the regional economy and generate an annual income of about $220 million.
Key features of the medical facility complex include:
• High security correctional perimeter
• 13-foot tall lethal electrified fence surrounding the facility
• Vehicle inspection point incorporated into the fencing
• 24-hour patrol
• 11 45-foot tall guard towers
• A central utilities plant
• Diagnostic and treatment centers
• Central kitchen, warehousing and support facilities
•Significant economic impact aspects:
• More than $3 million to roadway improvements
• More than $690,000 direct contribution to schools
• More than $690,000 direct contribution to government
• Estimated $1 million in sales taxes to San Joaquin County from purchase of construction materials
• CDCR is scheduled to make financial contributions to local and regional transportation systems through payments of traffic mitigation fees.
• CDCR intends to pay $679,794 to San Joaquin County and $1,229,196 to the San Joaquin Council of Governments.