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Pima County taking another step in lowering jail population, saving taxpayer dollars

Plans for new pretrial services building unveiled
Pima County bars
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TUCSON, Ariz. — Pima County's years-long effort to reduce the jail population continues.

Officials unveiled plans for a first of its kind new pretrial services screening and reentry building on Friday.

County officials started working on ways to lower the inmate count to avoid building a new jail. They say people with lower level misdemeanors -- like failure to appear, or shoplifting -- will be released with the needed resources, including temporary housing.

RELATED: Pima County tracking results of jail population reduction efforts

The building will be located on the east side of the Pima County Adult Detention Center. The cost is approximately $5.5 million.

Construction will begin in 2021 and is expected to be complete in 2022.

RELATED: Pima County Jail hires new person to reduce jail population

A temporary screening space will open mid-June.