The San Diego County Sheriff's Department is hiring deputies in preparation for the opening this summer of the San Diego County Women's Detention Facility.
The $270-million, 45-acre jail will replace overcrowded Las Colinas, located next door.
The current Las Colinas inmate population is more than two-times over capacity, housing 840 inmates, said John Ingrassia, commander with the San Diego County Sheriff's.
Ingrassia said the number of inmates swelled with the state’s prison realignment program.
"We have about 200 more inmates since October 2011 when realignment went into place," Ingrassia said.
Phase one of the project, located in the heart of Santee on Riverview Parkway, includes eight housing units -- each with 56 beds, a shower room, classroom and outside courtyard. Inmates are scheduled to transfer to the new units in August.
Construction on phase two will begin after the transfer, as will the demolition of old buildings at Las Colinas. The second phase will provide 400 additional beds, classrooms and a religious services building.
Ingrassia said low-level offenders will have minimal security at the new facility.
"Most will lock down at 10 at night," Ingrassia said. "And then they’ll come out in the morning after breakfast, and after that we envision that they would be out with free access to the day room and hopefully keeping them busy in classrooms all day long."
The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department plans to hire 800 deputies over the next four years, with more than 100 assigned to the new women's jail.
The application process is open from Feb. 3-12 and includes a written exam, background check and four- to six-month training academy.
Qualified applicants will have "a clean background, exceptional moral character, no felony convictions and applicants are required to pass a comprehensive background check, medical and psychological testing," Capt. Mike Barnett said.
For more information, visit www.joinsdsheriff.net.
