New Honor Farm Facility Replaces Unit Destroyed in 2010 Fire

STANISLAUS COUNTY (CBS13) — A new place for prisoners to serves out their term is opening in Stanislaus County.

The new jail replaces the outdated Honor Farm facility that was badly damaged in a fire in 2010. Insurance money paid for the $12 million project.

"At the Honor Farm, it was a full, open, army-style barracks of 86 beds," said Lt. Jim Jacobs.

Now the brand-new unit at the Stanislaus County Jail will house almost 200 inmates with four secure dorms, and additional security features.

"We are much more confident with our fence line, exterior walls, that we are going to be able to manage the population much better in this building."

The old facility had its fair share of problems. Inmates set a fire before Christmas last year in hopes of being released early.

Also, some inmates has managed to escape.

Jail overcrowding and inmate transfers due to state-prison realignment placed higher-level offender in the minimum-security facility.

"That population at the Honor Farm was housed in a facility that wasn't designed for the classification, level of inmate, types of charges."

That all changes with the new unit. In addition to providing more room for inmates, the 28,000 square-foot facility includes a pair of program classrooms.

"We are going to hold people acceptable who commit crimes but we are also going to provide opportunities to break cycles of addiction and violence," said Stanislaus County Sheriff Adam Christianson.

The new unit will start housing inmates in a few weeks.