The State of California has taken a big step toward compliance with federal court orders to improve medical and mental care for prison inmates.
The new California Health Care Facility in Stockton will provide medical and mental health care for the state's prison inmates.
California Department of Corrections Secretary Jeffrey Beard says the facility will treat its first patients by mid-July.
"The California Health Care Facility will provide more than one million square feet of housing and treatment space for inmates, eventually more than 1,700 of the state's sickest will be treated here,” said Beard.
The new facility will bring economic benefits to Stockton. There will be 2,700 permanent jobs for nurses, doctors, and correctional staff with an annual payroll of one billion dollars.
Stockton City Councilmember Kathy Miller says there also will be a ripple effect.
“It goes into vendors that will have the opportunity to provide products that will be used at this facility so it's got a very positive impact,” said Miller
The facility was built at a cost of $839 million.
Follow us for more stories like this
CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you. As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.
Donate Today
