The Nevada County Civil Grand Jury has
released its third report this year, on the Washington Ridge Conservation Camp
— a fire camp run by Cal Fire and the state department of Corrections.
According to the report, the grand jury must
inquire annually into any public prisons within the county, and it considers
Washington Ridge a public prison.
Washington Ridge Conservation Camp, located
approximately 10 miles east of Nevada City, provides Nevada County and
neighboring counties with tens of thousands of hours of community service
annually, including fire prevention/suppression and ground maintenance.
The camp houses a minimum of 106
minimum-custody male felon convicts. This allows for five fire crews with as
many as 17 inmates per crew.
Most of the inmates are serving convictions
for alcohol or drug offenses, or property crimes.
During the past year, according to the
report, fire suppression by fire camp inmates saved the state an estimated $80
million.
The grand jury concluded that the camp
provides fire services at a significant cost savings to Nevada County, is a
cost-effective way to house inmates and appears to be well-maintained.
June 17, 2015
The
Union of Grass Valley
By
the Union Staff
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