Jail expansion: Counties seek millions from state

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/24/MNV11LKAOD.DTL

California counties are lining up to secure millions of dollars in state funds to expand jails now that Gov. Jerry Brown's plan is under way to shift the incarceration of some felons from prisons to jails.

But while many county officials cheer the availability of $600 million in state funds to add more jail beds, opponents of prison expansion say building more incarceration space will discourage prosecutors, police and other public safety officials from seeking alternatives to lockups.