The Northern California Women's Facility in Stockton will become a re-entry facility for inmates from Amador, Calaveras, and San Joaquin counties under this legislation which took the first step of signing over the facility for the tricounty usage. “This is a critical step in making the reentry facility a reality” says Amador County Sheriff Martin Ryan. Ryan goes on to say that the tri-county reentry facility will be the first of its kind in the state -- as well as being the first facility to be built and operated under a regional approach. The tri-county facility would have a set percentage of beds reserved for inmates from each county that are in the final phases of their incarceration period, nearing their parole terms. Those inmates would then be paroled to their county of incarceration -- for example, inmates convicted in Amador would be paroled, in accordance with law, to Amador County. The tri- county facility does not provide for inmates to parole to a different county than that of their origin.

According to Sheriff Martin Ryan the facility would provide these inmates with the benefit of a full year of transition services, including preparation for re-entry into society with the development of skills and advice. California's re-offense rate is the highest in the nation. In addition to halting the revolving door of repeat offenders. Another benefit, explains the Sheriff, is that this type of joint reentry facility is a primary requirement for Amador County to move up on the priority list to receive state funding for the construction of a new local jail. The Sheriff is hopeful that this move will help Amador County in its quest for the precious AB 900 monies that will pay for 75 percent of a new jail facility for the County. Sheriff Ryan says he is “pleased with the Governor’s actions and is looking forward to Amador County’s participation” in the Tri-County approach to a reentry facility for state CDCR inmates.