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$84M Jail To Open In Downtown Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The $84 million downtown Los Angeles jail, mothballed for 18 months because of city budget woes, is ready for 512 inmates.

More than 80 police officers are being taken off street patrol to serve as temporary jailers. The Police Department says officers will be transferred back to the streets when finances improve.

The jailhouse, opening late Tuesday or early Wednesday, replaces the more than half-century-old jail next door at the former Parker Center police headquarters.

City News Service says the 172,000-square-foot jail was built with Proposition Q bond funds approved by city voters nine years ago. Although construction was completed in May 2009, the jail has never been fully operational because of budget cutbacks.

(© Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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