Corrections Connections

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of March 16th.

This episode is brought to you by Cortech, a family-owned, American-made manufacturer of molded furnishings for correctional environments. Contact them at 1-800-571-0770 or visit cortechusa.com.

Let's get into it with project updates:

1. The newly completed $514 million Tani G. Cantil-Sakauye Sacramento Superior Courthouse will open in phases starting at the end of this month.
2. Commissioners in Oklahoma County, Okla., have voted to move forward with the next phase of its new jail project, unlocking approximately $260 million of already approved funding.
3. The Madison County Commission in Alabama has selected Goodwin Mills Cawood to serve as the Architect of Record for the county's upcoming $100 million new courthouse project.
4. Officials in Island County, Wash., began hosting a series of meetings to discuss potential sites for a new adult and juvenile detention facility, with options ranging from $88.8 million to $100.7 million.
5. Commissioners in Penobscot County, Maine, have released initial floor plans for a proposed new jail that would cost between $70 million and $75 million.
6. The Camden County Board of Commissioners in New Jersey celebrated the opening of the new Camden County Department of Corrections Reentry Release Center.

Up next in legislation and funding:

1. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has proposed a $523 million budget for the Alaska Department of Corrections for the next fiscal year.
2. Legislation advanced by Iowa House lawmakers last week would create a new account within the Iowa Prison Infrastructure Fund for future correctional facility needs.

Moving on to people news:

1. Guy Mellozzi has joined HOK's Civic and Justice team as the new Director of Business Development.

Next, in construction reports:

1. Shelby County, Ala., is seeking bids from vendors to provide a new jail management system at the Shelby County Juvenile Detention Facility, with bids due March 24.
2. The Hawaii Department of Accounting and General Services is seeking bids for the construction of a new floor of housing and a consolidated healthcare unit at the Halawa Correctional Facility, with bids due April 2.
3. The Town of Estes Park, Colo., has issued an RFP to architecture and engineering firms for a new public safety facility, with proposals due April 8.

And finishing up with events:

1. The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association's 2026 Conference and Expo opened in St. Louis on Monday and will run through Saturday.
2. Next week, the Correctional Leaders Association heads to Hilton Head, S.C., for its annual Spring Deputy Directors and Probation and Parole Conference from March 24–27.

For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of March 9.

This episode is brought to you by Cortech, a family-owned, American-made manufacturer of molded furnishings for correctional environments. Contact them at 1-800-571-0770 or visit cortechusa.com.

Let's get started with project updates:

1. This month, a new 32-bed secure residential juvenile correctional center is set to open in Milwaukee County, Wis.
2. Demolition of the former Teton County Courthouse in Wyoming began this week, clearing the way for construction of a new $88 million Justice Center.
3. The Grayson County Jail Expansion Project in Texas is nearing the final phases of construction and is expected to be completed in September or October.
4. Officials in Fort Bend County, Texas broke ground on a new juvenile vocational training center, with the $2 million project expected to be completed by early 2027.
5. The Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities has added 30 new beds at the West Central Georgia Regional Hospital for people with severe mental health issues.

Moving on to legislation and funding:

1. In Minnesota, Sherburne County will push forward a new sales tax and take out a 20-year bond to raise $45.5 million to replace a portion of the Sherburne County Jail.

Next, in people news:

1. Betsy Fox Tolentino has been appointed as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Juvenile Services.
2. Wyoming Department of Corrections Director Daniel Shannon has appointed Shawn Hobson as Warden of the Wyoming State Penitentiary.

Up next in construction reports:

1. Cochise County, Ariz., has issued an RFQ for firms to provide design-build criteria architect services for a new county jail, with bids due April 2.
2. Rockingham County, N.C., is seeking proposals for security system upgrades at the Rockingham County Justice Center, with proposals due April 6.
3. San Diego County, Calif., is seeking proposals from CMAR firms for the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility upgrade project, with bids due April 14.

And finishing this week with events:

1. There's still time to register for "The Facility Factor: How Your Building is Driving Turnover and Liability," a free live webinar from Correctional News this Thursday, March 12 at 1 p.m. Eastern.
2. Next week, the International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association's 2026 Conference and Expo will open in St. Louis from March 16–21.
3. Later this month, the Correctional Leaders Association Spring Deputy Directors and Probation and Parole Conference will be held in Hilton Head, S.C., from March 24–27.

For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of March 2.

Let's get started with project updates:

1. Maryland Gov. Wes Moore and other state officials broke ground on the new $147 million Maryland Supreme Court building, with project completion expected in early 2029. Governor Moore Highlights Generational Investment in Maryland's Judicial System at State-of-the-Art Supreme Court Groundbreaking
2. The Lee County Board of Supervisors in Mississippi has approved design plans for a new adult detention center, with a project cost starting at $97.8 million. Lee County Officials Take Next Step in Adult Detention Center Construction
3. Construction is progressing on the new $62.5 million Pender County Law Enforcement Center project in North Carolina, with completion expected later this year. Pender County Building 103,000-Square-Foot Law Enforcement Center With 232-bed Jail
4. The DeKalb County Commission in Tennessee voted to approve $35 million in funding to build a new 182-bed jail in Smithville. Commission Votes on $35 Million Jail Funding
5. In Bucks County, Pa., a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the new $19.8 million Diversion, Assessment, Restoration and Treatment (DART) Center. Bucks County Unveils Completed DART Mental Health Center
6. Later this month, a new 72,000-square-foot expansion of the Wayne County, Ohio Jail will open, increasing the county's capacity from 80 to 200 beds. Wayne County Marks Opening of New Jail

Up next in legislation and funding:

1. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry is seeking an additional $82 million in funding for the state's corrections department in the next fiscal-year budget. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry Proposes $82 Million Increase for Prisons
2. Officials in Monroe County, Ind., are debating the budget for a new county jail facility, with proposals ranging from $118 million to $170 million. Monroe County Jail Project Focus Shifts to Site, Amid Disagreement on Financing Outlook

Moving on to people news:

1. John Murad has been named commissioner of the Vermont Department of Corrections. Jon Murad Named Vermont DOC Commissioner

Next, in construction reports:

1. Washington County in Oregon has issued an RFP for architecture and engineering firms to conduct a jail expansion feasibility and visioning study, with proposals due March 13. Questions must be submitted electronically via the OpenGov Procurement Portal. Jail Expansion Feasibility and Visioning Study
2. Gadsden County, Fla., is requesting qualified general contractors to provide CMAR services on the new $17.6 million Gadsden County Public Safety Complex project, with bids due March 24. Direct questions to Brian Yarbrough with Clemons, Rutherford & Associates at 850-385-6153 or [email protected]. Gadsden County Board of County Commissioners
3. The LaFourche Parish Sheriff's Office in Louisiana has issued an RFQ for preconstruction and CMAR services for the new 64-bed River Parishes Regional Juvenile Detention Center, with bids due March 26. Direct question to Bill Petersen with Grace Design Studios at 337-513-0760 or [email protected]. River Parishes Regional Juvenile Detention Center

And finishing up with events:

1. Correctional News is hosting a free live webinar, "The Facility Factor: How Your Building is Driving Turnover and Liability," featuring Felice Upton of Felice Upton Consulting LLC, on March 12. The Facility Factor: How Your Building is Driving Turnover and Liability
2. The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association's 2026 Conference and Expo will take place March 16–21 in St. Louis. 2026 ILEETA Conference and Expo
3. The Correctional Leaders Association's Spring Deputy Directors and Probation and Parole Conference will take place March 24–27 in Hilton Head, S.C. CLA 2026 Events
4. The premiere episode of Correctional News's new Corrections Connections docuseries, showcasing New York state's Bedford Hills Correctional Facility, is now available. Corrections Connections Docuseries/Podcast

For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.

The debut episode of the Corrections Connections docuseries goes inside Bedford Hills Correctional Facility — New York’s only maximum-security prison for women — for a rare, behind-the-scenes look at the nation’s oldest prison nursery program and the innovative initiatives supporting motherhood, education and successful reentry. In the episode:

1. New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Commissioner Daniel F. Martuscello III provides an overview of the nursery program’s history services (1:12)
2. Dr. Althea Taylor, executive director of New York-based nonprofit Hour Children, talks about operating the nursery in partnership with the Department (3:36)
3. Nursery manager Lindsey Daniel and clinical social worker and therapist Lisi Robinson describe how the mothers within the nursery support each other (5:37)
4. Incarcerated mothers share their own views on how the program has impacted them (8:54) and outline the doula training offered within the nursery (10:46)
5. Hudson Link for Higher Education in Prison President Sean Pica describes how the educational programs enable incarcerated students to earn degrees and serve as ambassadors to others (15:58)
6. Some of those student ambassadors share their own stories about the fulfillment they get from helping others reach their goals (18:39)
7. Bedford Hills staff and incarcerated women attest to the feelings of hope, pride and accomplishment these programs give them (22:46)

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Feb. 23.

Let's get started with project updates:

1. California Gov. Gavin Newsom and other officials opened the new $239 million Learning Center at the San Quentin Rehabilitation Center.
2. Officials in Camden County, N.J., will search for a new location for a potential $1 billion regional justice complex after Winslow Township opposed the facility being built there.
3. Commissioners in Aroostook County, Maine have entered contract negotiations with SMRT Architects and Engineers for design and architectural services for a new jail.
4. Supervisors in Fond du Lac County, Wis., have reached an agreement with Venture Architects LLC to provide schematic designs for a potential new jail and justice center project.

Moving on to legislation and funding:

1. The Georgia Senate passed a $409 million budget line item last week to build a 300-bed forensic psychiatric hospital.
2. The Florida House of Representatives Justice Appropriations Subcommittee approved a measure to allocate approximately $250 million to the state's Department of Corrections for prison development.
3. Louisiana's Office of Juvenile Justice has requested an additional $28 million in state funding during the next budget cycle to provide additional beds across the system.

Next, in people news:

1. Professional services firm Dewberry has announced that David J. Mahoney has been named Chief Executive Officer, effective April 1.
2. HDR has announced three promotions within its Civic sector: Jim Aalders to Western Canada Civic Director, Tommy Sinclair to U.S. East Region Civic Director, and Swapnil Ukey to Justice Principal.
3. Correctional News extends its condolences to the family and colleagues of 30-year Utah Department of Corrections employee Sgt. Robert Hill, who died on Feb. 15.

Up next in construction reports:

1. The County of San Diego in California has issued an RFP for CMAR services for the Las Colinas Detention and Reentry Facility Upgrades Project, with bids due April 6.
2. The Pennsylvania Department of General Services is seeking proposals for control room, security camera, and other facility upgrades at the State Correctional Institution Pine Grove, with bids due April 7.

And finishing off this week with events:

1. Correctional News will host a free live webinar, "The Facility Factor: How Your Building Is Driving Turnover and Liability," on March 12.
2. The International Corrections and Prisons Association's International Research and Corrections Conference will be held March 2–5 in Auckland, New Zealand.
3. The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association's 2026 Conference and Expo will take place March 16-21 in St. Louis.
4. The Correctional Leaders Association Spring Deputy Directors and Probation and Parole Conference will take place in Hilton Head, South Carolina from March 24–27.

For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Feb. 16.

Let's get started with project updates:

1. Bradbury Stamm Construction has been selected to build the new $167 million Eddy County Detention Facility in Carlsbad, N.M., with construction expected to start in April.
2. Renovation and expansion plans at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center in Horry County, S.C., could cost more than $130 million, according to preliminary designs from Moseley.
3. Construction of a new jail in Twin Falls County, Idaho, is underway and is expected to be complete by mid-2027, adding 160 beds at a cost between $20 million and $24 million.
4. An $18.8 million renovation project at the Suffolk County Correctional Facility in Riverhead, N.Y., will start soon, with most of the budget dedicated to overhauling the facility's kitchen.

Moving on to legislation and funding:

1. Kansas lawmakers are discussing whether to renovate the aging Hutchinson Correctional Facility or replace it with new construction, which could cost up to $750 million.
2. Trustees from the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority voted to advance a proposal for a sales tax increase to fund the rest of the new Oklahoma County Jail project.
3. Utah lawmakers are requesting $130 million in funding to add 768 new beds to expand the state's prison capacity.

Next, in people news:

1. The Delaware County Jail Oversight Board in Pennsylvania has appointed Willie Bonds as the warden of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.

Moving on to construction reports:

1. Iredell County, N.C., has issued an RFQ to architecture and engineering firms for expansion and renovation work at the county's Hall of Justice, with bids due Feb. 27.
2. The New York State Office of General Services is seeking bids for perimeter detection and camera system replacements at the Wende Correctional Facility, with bids due March 4.
3. Runnels County, Texas has issued an RFQ for a construction manager at risk for upgrades at the county jail, with bids due March 10.

And wrapping up this week with events:

1. The International Corrections and Prisons Association's International Research in Corrections Conference will be held March 2–5 in Auckland, New Zealand.
2. The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association's annual conference and expo will take place March 16–21 in St. Louis.
3. The Correctional Leaders Association Spring Deputy Directors and Probation and Parole Conference is scheduled for March 24–27, in Hilton Head, S.C..

For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Feb. 9.

Let's get started with project updates:

1. Commissioners in Flathead County, Mont., have hired In2itive Architecture to serve as the owner's representative on the Flathead County Jail project, with groundbreaking tentatively planned for late May or early June.
2. A new Career Technology Center offering educational and vocational opportunities has opened at the Ralph C. Starkey High School on the campus of the Circleville Juvenile Correctional Facility in Ohio.
3. Construction is progressing on a new jail for the Choctaw County Sheriff's Department in Mississippi, with completion expected in the fall.

Next, in legislation and funding:

1. A jail committee has been formed in Greenlee County, Ariz., to consider options for building a new county jail, with costs estimated up to $30 million.
2. The County Corrections Professional Standards Council in Maine is recommending that the state increase its annual share of funding for county jails by $8 million.
3. Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy has requested $1.1 billion in emergency funding, including $24.1 million for the state's Department of Corrections.

Next, in people news:

1. Architecture and engineering firm DLZ Corporation has announced that Ram Rajadhyaksha has been named the company's president.
2. Virginia Gove. Abigail Spanberger has appointed Jermiah "Jerry" Fitz as the Chief Deputy Director of the Virginia Department of Corrections.
3. The National Sheriffs’ Association has named Montgomery County, Ala., Sheriff Derrick Cunningham as the 2026 Sheriff of the Year.
4. The Sheriff's Office in Bibb County, Ga., has appointed Brannon Grace as Major, where he will oversee day-to-day jail operations.

Moving on to construction reports:

1. Victoria County, Texas is seeking subcontractors and suppliers for the Victoria County Mental and Behavioral Health Facility Project, with bids due Feb. 17.
2. The City of Balch Springs, Texas has issued an RFP for firms to provide integrated security solutions across city facilities, with bids due Feb. 26.
3. The City of Lock Haven, Pennsylvania is accepting bids for the construction of a new two-story building for the Lock Haven City Police Department, with bids due Feb. 19.

And finishing up with events:

1. The International Corrections and Prisons Association will host its International Research in Corrections Conference in Auckland, New Zealand from March 2–5.
2. The International Law Enforcement Educators and Trainers Association will hold its annual conference in St. Louis from March 16–21.
3. The Correctional Leaders Association will hold its Spring Deputy Directors and Probation and Parole Conference in Hilton Head, S.C., from March 24–27.

For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Feb. 2.

Let's get started with project updates:

1. A change order for a geothermal system has pushed the price tag for the new Cuyahoga County, Ohio jail project to $962 million. Construction is expected to begin this spring.
2. Construction is progressing on the new Warrick County, Ind., Sheriff's Office and Security Center project, with completion and opening slated for the spring.
3. A $21 million renovation project at the Benton County Juvenile Justice Center in Washington state is nearing completion.
4. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the recently completed $70 million expansion at the Baldwin County Sheriff's Corrections Center in Alabama.

Next in Legislation and Funding:

1. Colorado lawmakers approved $2.4 million in mid-year funding for 788 additional state prison beds after initially blocking the request.
2. Commissioners in Comal County, Texas are considering expansion plans for its jail, with costs ranging from $75 million to $174 million.
3. Voters in Clinton County, Mo., will weigh in on a proposal to build a new detention center and renovate the county's courtrooms, which will appear on the April ballot.

Moving on to People News:

1. A federal judge has appointed Correctional News Editorial Advisory Board member Nicholas Deml to assume control over major decisions at the Rikers Island jail complex.
2. New York Mayor Zoran Mamdani has appointed Stanley Richards as Commissioner of the New York City Department of Correction.
3. Bicycle Health has announced that Rick Dean has joined the company as its new Chief Executive Officer.

Next in Construction Reports:

1. Liberty County, Texas is seeking a CMAR to build a new 600-bed county jail with a $100 million budget, with bids due Feb. 20.
2. Santa Barbara County, Calif., is seeking bids from contractors to remodel three housing units at the Santa Maria Juvenile Justice Center, with bids due Feb. 17.
3. Augusta-Richmond County, Ga., has issued an RFP for CMAR services for the county's Juvenile Justice Center project, with bids due Feb. 24.

And wrapping it up with events:

1. The American Correctional Association's Winter Conference and the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators Winter Meeting will take place in Long Beach, Calif., from Feb. 5–8.

1. Also, a correction was issued for the Jan. 19 episode: J.E. Dunn is the builder on the Pueblo County, Colo., jail project, not Layton Construction.

1. For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Jan. 26.

Let's get started with project updates:

1. The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners in Michigan recently proposed a new facilities master plan, including a $150 million upgrade of the county's jail and sheriff's office.
2. Construction of a new $85 million courthouse expansion in Morris County, N.J., is underway and is expected to take 24 months to complete.
3. A new $21 million jail is nearing completion in Evangeline Parish, La., with an official ribbon cutting planned for the spring.
4. In Island County, Wash., commissioners are gathering public input on plans for a new county jail, with three options ranging in cost from $88.8 million to $100.7 million.

Moving on to legislation and funding:

1. Funding to rebuild or renovate the Hutchinson Correctional Facility in Kansas has been left out of the latest budget proposed by Gov. Laura Kelly.
2. Colorado's Joint Budget Committee rejected a request from the Colorado Department of Corrections for an additional $2.4 million in funding to add 788 prison beds.
3. Commissioners in Stevens County, Wash., are scaling back on plans to build a new jail and courtroom facility, saying the project is too costly to proceed.

Next In People news:

1. Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger has appointed Joseph Walters to serve as director of the Virginia Department of Corrections.
2. CGL Companies announced that Diane Bruining has returned to the company as Vice President, Business Development.

And now for construction reports:

1. Orange County, Calif., is seeking Progressive Design-Build services for Phase two of its Juvenile Rehabilitation Campus Redevelopment project, with bids due Feb. 25.
2. Hood County, Texas has issued an RFQ for a construction management and owner's agent for a $24 million jail expansion project, with bids due Feb. 9.
3. The South Carolina Department of Juvenile Justice has issued an RFP for security renovations to two evaluation and development center facilities, with bids due Feb. 12.

And wrapping up this week with events:

1. The American Correctional Association's Winter Conference and the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators Winter Meeting will take place Feb. 5–8 in Long Beach, Calif.

For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Jan. 19.

Let's get started with project updates:

1. The new $150 million Pueblo County, Colo., detention center project is on track for completion and opening in April.
2. Construction on a new temporary jail in Kansas City, Mo., is officially underway, with the now $25 million project expected to be completed by June 1.
3. Work on the new $176 million Chambers County, Texas Justice Center Complex project is halfway complete and is expected to be finished by the end of this year.
4. A ribbon cutting ceremony was held last week at the new $44 million Butte County, Calif., jail expansion, concluding a 16-year process.
5. The intake center at the Santa Barbara County, Calif., Main Jail will be renovated after officials approved $6.3 million in project funding last week.

Moving on to Legislation and Funding:

1. Officials in Ohio authorized $130 million in funding last week to build a total of four new 36-bed youth detention facilities.
2. The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction received $2 million in grant funding to support education, job training and reentry services for incarcerated individuals.

Next in people news:

1. Dr. Mariel A. Marlow has joined the American Correctional Association as its Director of Correctional Health.
2. Diane Bruining has rejoined CGL Companies as Vice President of Business Development.
3. The Federal Bureau of Prisons named Patrick Mirandy as the new Director of the National Institute of Corrections.
4. Brant Smith has been named Vice President and General Manager of Tindall Building Systems -Mississippi.

Now for Construction Reports:

1. Finney County, Kan., is seeking proposals from construction management firms to build a new county jail, with bids due Jan. 30.
2. The Liberty County Board of Commissioners and Sheriff's Office in Georgia has issued an RFQ for CMAR firms to build a new public safety center, with bids due Feb. 13.
3. Hardee County, Fla., has issued an RFQ for architecture and engineering services for a new jail and multipurpose government facility, with bids due Feb. 27.

And finishing up with events:

1. The American Correctional Association's Winter Conference and the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators’ Winter Meeting will take place Feb. 5–8 in Long Beach, Calif.
2. Proposals for the National Commission on Correctional Health Care's Mental Health Care conference are due Feb. 13, and proposals for its National Conference are due March 6.
3. Early bird registration is still available for the International Corrections and Prisons Association's Prison Design and Technology Conference from April 21–24 in Rabat, Morocco.

1. For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.