California set to award $500 million to jails in 15 counties

California is set to award $500 million to 15 counties for jail projects to help rehabilitate prisoners.

County sheriffs say they need the money to provide programs in jails that were never designed to hold the type of inmate they house today.

The Board of State and Community Corrections is meeting Thursday to consider the projects recommended by a committee.

They include projects in Alameda, Amador, Butte, Colusa, Humboldt, Merced, Napa, Placer, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Sonoma, Trinity, Ventura, Yolo and Yuba counties.

Some critics say the state should not be spending money on jails at the same time there is a national movement to reduce mass incarceration.

Others say at least the money will help reduce the cycle of crime.