The Monterey County Jail has spent the past six years trying to get an expansion project approved.   The county has finally given the nearly $89 million project the final green light.

The jail said the extra bed space has been long needed, and that overcrowded conditions have been worsened since the state implemented its prisoner realignment program in 2011.   The county public works department has said the expansion will be the largest project the department has managed in quite some time.

Most of the project will be funded through state grant funding.  This is due in part to legislation that was passed several years back that allows the state to grant 90% of jail expansion construction funds to overcrowded facilities- provided the county agrees to pick up the rest of the tab.

Those close to the project said that up until a few weeks ago, they had concerns the budget committee might not push the proposal through.  Once it happened, they said, there was an audible sigh of relief.

The primary hurdle was convincing the board of supervisors that additional monies needed to be allocated to detaining inmates.  The ACLU and community activists stood fought strong against adding more beds.  They felt the funds would be better spent on rehabilitation programs.

They said the county has long had a policy of tossing offenders behind bars without providing them the treatment and educational programs that would allow them to reintegrate into society.

The supervisors eventually disagreed, and has said construction of the 576-bed expansion can now proceed.

Representatives within the Monterey County Sheriff's Department say they are pleased with the decision.  Not only will it allow them to hold more inmates in far less crowded conditions, the expansion will also provide additional classroom space.

They are also hopeful the added beds will help offset anticipated inmate population growth that is forecast over the next two decades.

The initial plans for the jail expansion were drawn up in 2007.  At first, the Monterey County Jail was hopeful to construct a brand new facility.  Those plans were quickly scratched after it officials learned the project would interfere with their annual air show.

County officials decided to take a second look at the plans earlier this year after the state said it would provide twice the initially pledged $40 million.

This is not the only construction the Monterey County Jail officials hope to move forward on.  A spokesperson for the Juvenile Hall has said they too will seek state funding to build a new facility.  The current building is antiquated and out of date, they said, to the point that upgrading it just doesn't make sense.

They are currently in the process of evaluating construction sites and will narrow that list down in the upcoming months.  Once this is done, they said, they will be able to make a pitch to the state.

Juvenile Hall officials reportedly said they don't have an exact timeline for groundbreaking, but they are hopeful this will be sooner than later.