Tour: Fresno County to open new jail in West Annex, replacing senior prison

The West Annex jail, a new 300-bed jail in downtown Fresno, is scheduled to open before the end of the year, replacing the aging South Annex jail built in 1944.

Once the West Annex opens, the Fresno County Sheriff’s Office plans to transfer inmates from the 500-bed South Annex jail. A sheriff’s office spokesman said efforts are underway to relocate 200 inmates who will not fit in the new facility.

“It will take some time for our inmates to get here, depending on how they are classified and where they are going to be housed,” Sheriff John Zanoni said. “It’s not going to be like one day we’re just going to bring everyone in and fill this facility and then close it down… because we have a lot of support staff and offices there and things that will be moved here. So this will happen in stages over a period of time.”

The total number of inmate beds at the Fresno County Main Jail, North Annex Jail and West Annex Jail will be 3,092.

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The construction budget for the West Annex was $101.8 million, according to the sheriff’s office. The two-story building is designed with the possibility of adding two additional residential floors.

“This project has obviously been going on for over five years. A lot of time has passed. It was supposed to open several years ago, but due to unexpected delays and things like that, I’m very proud to be able to open this facility,” Zanoni said.

There is a private visiting area in the prison lobby. For those who prefer not to wait, virtual meetings can be arranged. Additionally, visitors can communicate with inmates from home using personal devices for a fee through GTL, as detailed on the sheriff’s website.

The prison annex features 18 ADA-compliant cells and 10 separate exercise yards, giving inmates time for exercise and fresh air. Each courtyard will be used by only one residential block at a time.

“What really stands out is that, as you can see with the areas that they have for fitness and exercise, they are located on different floors of the prison,” Zanoni said.

When asked about housing inmates in Fresno during the hot summer, the sheriff’s office said it will work with inmates to determine the best time to get outdoor exercise.

To better accommodate inmates, some housing units in the West Annex are designed differently than others. Four of the six cell blocks have separate upper and lower floors, allowing the prison to separate people who cannot get along with each other. These separate units also provide expanded programming, education and therapy opportunities.

A tunnel in the basement connects the western annex to the main jail and courthouse, where 200 to 300 inmates are typically transported daily. The basement also houses a new laundry room staffed by a team of 10 to 12 women under the supervision of a corrections officer.

Zanoni stressed that the rooms, designed for both single and double occupancy, were built with the safety of prisoners in mind. Although there are no cameras inside the rooms, security measures include curved furniture, mesh screens and unbreakable mirrors.

What will happen to the prison in the South Annex?

The South Annex jail will remain empty for now, and the sheriff’s office plans to use it for storage. The county was considering renting it out to filmmakers, since the old prison cells with barred doors are now rarely seen.

“At some point there was talk of building a new Supreme Court here in Fresno County,” Zanoni said. “The location they are looking for for this facility is the current sheriff’s headquarters and part of the jail in the South Annex. So, as I said, if this happens, then this facility, the South Annex jail, will be demolished.”