Jones told the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors in a budget hearing today, he's unsure why the trend is so popular.
"It's hard to say why," Jones said. "The qualifications are you need a job, you need a source of income. Perhaps the economy is putting a damper on people's ability to seek employment. And I think many people that might not have robust opportunities out of prison might just choose to finish their incarceration in prison."
Jones says the trend is especially troublesome because of the
governor's plans for realignment. Sacramento County jails are
currently at-capacity and understaffed. Jones says
realignment will lead to an increase in county jail
populations.
The sheriff's department is currently facing a 27 million
dollar budget shortfall this year.