San Francisco Juvenile Facility Behind Schedule, Over Budget

SAN FRANCISCO — A juvenile hall facility here that was scheduled to open last November probably won’t open until May and it will likely carry a price tag of $45.6 million, about $9 million over budget, according to city officials.

The city has about $3 million in a contingency fund that can be used to pay for the extra costs, but officials are still scrambling to find the remaining $6 million.

Construction was slowed by additional security measures that were added to the facility after construction began in 2003. Addition cell lights that will allow officers to easily check on juveniles at night were added to plans and a 14-foot wall at the facility’s outdoor recreation area was deemed to be too short.

Environmental factors, such as rain and soil conditions also caused delays. Extra steps had to be taken after planners realized that soil at the construction site was a combination of dirt and fill that was not stable enough to support the building’s foundation.

The facility is replacing the juvenile facility in operation adjacent to the new site. The 50-year-old facility has suffered from overcrowding, it has no central cafeteria, schoolrooms or visiting areas.

The facility was particularly problematic for the city in the 1990s when the chief juvenile probation officer resigned after several escapes, one suicide and several attempted suicides.

The new juvenile hall will hold 150 beds, 50 more than the facility in operation now.