History of Santa Cruz County Jails  

1854 Jail               

1864 Jail               

1890 Jail               

1937 Jail                

1981 Jail               

1854 Mission Hill Jail

Figure 1 Courtesy of Bancroft Library, UC Berkeley

The first County Jail was built in 1854 and was located at the east end of High Street, on a lot fronting Mission Plaza that was previously the Mission graveyard. John B. Perry and William Nickerson built a wooden structure of timbers a foot thick, lined all around with sheet iron 3/8” thick and attached to the timbers with 6” spikes. Prisoners had no opportunity for exercise, and food was brought in from a nearby hotel. At night, prisoners were left unattended and escapes were common. In 1865, the jail caught fire and was damaged beyond repair. The building was torn down during the late 19^th century.

1864 Mission Hill Jail

Figure 2 Courtesy of UCSC, McHenry Library, Special Collections

In 1864 the Mission Hill jail was built on the same lot as the former jail. It stood at the southeast corner of Holy Cross Church, which today is a parking lot. The County Board of Supervisors awarded the contract to the lowest bidder, Frederick Clinkerfuss, for $3600, who abandoned the job before it was completed, causing the county to finish the project. The jail was constructed of granite blocks that were 30 in. long, 12 in. thick, and 16 in. wide. The building measured 25 feet 8 in. by 16 ft. 8 in., had a five-foot interior hallway running through, and contained four cells.

In 1888 a local reporter toured the jail and described it as a “…terrible dungeon…tomb-like…dismal, dreary, dark.” The jail was no longer used after 1889. In 1906 the building was demolished and its granite sold. In 2006, several granite blocks from the jail were discovered buried in a lot on North Pacific Avenue, the former site of a tombstone maker. 

Figure 3 1905 Sanborn Fire Insurance Map

1890 Front Street Jail

Figure 4 Courtesy of UCSC, McHenry Library, Special Collections

On October 23, 1890 a jail designed by J.M. Curtis and built by A.J. Meany at a cost of $30,000 dollars opened at 104 Front Street. The jail was two stories, constructed of brick and iron, and had an ornamental tower made of redwood and tin. Inside there were 18 cells: two rooms with six cells each downstairs, four cells upstairs, and two in the basement. The jail had the capacity to hold 24 inmates.

Figure 5 Cartoon of Jail Drawn by Inmate circa 1898

By 1935 the County looked to the Works Progress Administration for financial assistance to build a larger jail. The jail was demolished in 1937. Forty prisoners were moved in a furniture van to the Sisson Building on Pacific Avenue where they were held until a new jail was built on Front Street.

1937 Front Street Jail

1981 Water Street Jail

Figure 9 Current Main Jail

The jail located at 259 Water Street opened on May 1, 1981, and is currently the County Main Jail. It was designed by Kaplan, McLaughlin, and Diaz, and built by Carl Swenson Co. Inc.  The jail is constructed of reinforced concrete, contains 70,000 square feet, and cost $14.5 million dollars to build  (primary contributors were the County, Federal LEAA funds, and State SB90 funds.

The facility was built in two phases. Phase I opened in May 1981 with 47,000 square feet at a cost of $8.5 million dollars. Two housing units, North and South, contain eight housing modules with a capacity to hold 92 inmates. A kitchen, infirmary, booking area, administrative offices, and attached courtroom were included.

Figure 10 Phase I Completed, Pending Phase II Construction

Phase II opened in April 1986, adding 23,000 square feet at a cost of $6 million dollars. One housing unit, West, contains seven housing modules with a capacity to hold 138 inmates. Mental Health Services and a laundry facility were added to the facility as well.

Figure 11 West Housing Jail Cell

This jail is currently rated by the Corrections Standard Authority to hold 311 inmates.