Published: March 8, 2012 Updated: 9:15 p.m.

State gives $602 million to help build 11 county jails

SACRAMENTO (AP) — Eleven California counties will be getting millions of dollars from the state to help pay for expanding their jail facilities as responsibility for lower-level criminals shifts from state prisons to county lockups.

State prison officials say $602 million will be handed out for county jail construction or expansion projects.

The awards include $100 million each to Los Angeles, Riverside and Orange counties.

Stanislaus County will be getting $80 million, while Tulare and Santa Barbara counties will be getting $60 million each.

Kings and Shasta counties will be receiving $33 million.

Imperial County will be getting nearly $24 million, Sutter County more than $10 million and Madera County $3 million.

The money was awarded Thursday by the Corrections Standards Authority.

The grants will help cover the cost of incarcerating tens of thousands of criminals who are now the responsibility of counties under a law that took effect in October.

State gives $602 million to help build 11 county jails | million, county, counties - News - The Orange County Register