Corrections Connections

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Nov. 10.

Let's get into it with project updates:

• Officials in Waller County, Texas celebrated the grand opening of the new $44 million Waller County Courthouse.
• In San Patricio County, Texas, construction of a new $63 million judicial building is approximately 65% complete and is expected to open by June 2026.
• The San Joaquin Sheriff's Office in California celebrated the ribbon cutting of the new Dorothy J. Heisler Detention and Programs Facility, a $38 million, 268-bed project.
• The City of Gulf Shores, Ala., recently gave a progress update on its new justice center project, which is on track for completion in the summer of 2026.
• The Illinois Department of Corrections announced that the joint venture of Vanir Construction Services and Milhouse Engineering and Construction will serve as the construction manager and owner's advisor for the renovation of the Stateville and Logan Correctional Centers.
• The Lorain County, Ohio Board of Commissioners approved an agreement with Granger Construction to provide preconstruction services for a new jail project estimated at more than $100 million.

Moving on to Legislation and Funding:

• In Flathead County, Mont., voters approved a $105 million bond measure to construct a new public safety facility.
• Voters in Parker County, Texas rejected a $286.3 million bond proposal that included a jail expansion and a new justice center.
• Cochise County, Ariz., voters have approved a new sales tax that will fund the construction of a new jail facility.
• Two bond measures to fund justice projects were rejected in Iowa: a $12.5 million jail proposal in Sac County and a $60 million courthouse proposal in Dallas County.

Moving on to construction reports:

• Orange County, N.C., has issued an RFQ for construction manager at-risk services for two sheriff's office projects, with submittals due Dec. 2.
• Ontario County, N.Y., is seeking a general contractor for the construction of a new intake and nurse’s station at the Ontario County Jail, with bids due Dec. 2.
• The Oregon Department of Corrections has issued an RFP for architecture and engineering firms to conduct a feasibility study for the replacement of the Oregon State Penitentiary, with bids due Dec. 17.

And finishing off with this week's events:

• The Correctional News annual Corrections Summit will take place in Southern Pines, N.C., from Nov.16–19.
• 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 Nov. 3.

Let's get into it with project updates:

• In Boulder County, Colo., a ribbon cutting ceremony was held for the opening of the Joe Pelle Center, a new 252-bed alternative sentencing facility.
• Officials in Barren County, Ky., broke ground on the new $50 million Barren County Judicial Center project in downtown Glasgow.
• Plans for a new regional justice center in Springfield, Mass., which could cost up to $600 million, were recently unveiled by developer Monarch Enterprises.
• Construction is underway on a 60-bed behavioral healthcare center at the site of the new Oklahoma County jail.
• Montana Department of Corrections Director Brian Gootkin announced that water service has been restored to all buildings at the Montana State Prison after a service loss on Oct. 10.

Moving on to legislation and funding:

• The Wisconsin State Building Commission recently awarded $743 million for construction projects, including $15 million to begin upgrades at six state correctional facilities.
• Commissioners in Lancaster County, Pa., are looking to add a financial advisor to the consulting team for their new over $400 million county prison project.
• Officials in Sedgwick County, Kan., are applauding the Kansas Department of Corrections' decision to freeze the funding formula of the 1978 Community Corrections Act.

Next in people news:

• ModCorr recently named Hugh Lester as the company's new Senior Director of Special Projects.
• Last week, the Illinois State Senate voted to confirm Latoya Hughes as Director of the Illinois Department of Corrections.
• The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has named Damon Andrews as its new Facilities Division Director.

Moving on to construction reports:

• Construction manager J.E. Dunn is seeking bids from trade contractors for work on the remodeling of the Dunn County, N.D., Courthouse and Public Safety Center, with bids due Nov. 13.
• King County, Wash., has issued an RFP for architecture and engineering services for camera and intercom upgrades at the Maleng Regional Justice Center, with bids due Nov. 17.
• Contra Costa County in California is accepting bids for the construction of the Brookside Mental Health Rehabilitation Center, with bids due Dec. 17.

Finishing it off with this week's events:

• The Correctional Leaders Association is holding its 2025 Deputy Directors and Probation and Parole Conference in Oceanside, Calif., through Nov. 6.
• The Correctional News Annual Corrections Summit will take place in Southern Pines, N.C., from Nov. 16-19.

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 Oct. 27.

Let's get into it with project updates:

• Alabama Department of Corrections Commissioner John Hamm recently updated state officials that the $1.25 billion Governor Kay Ivey Correctional Complex project is 75% complete and should be fully completed next year.
• New Jersey officials recently broke ground on a new $310 million, 420-bed women's prison in Burlington County to replace the former Edna Mahan Correctional Facility.
• Design plans for the $60 million Grant County Jail expansion project in Indiana were recently introduced, with completion targeted for April 2028.
• Supervisors in Adams County, Miss., recently reviewed preliminary design plans for a new 119-bed, 42,000-square-foot jail, with cost estimates ranging from $35 million to $40 million.

Moving on to legislation and funding:

• Officials with the Louisiana Criminal Justice Priority Commission increased the construction budget to $3.5 million to convert the Concordia Correctional Facility into an 80-bed facility for 17-year-olds.
• Commissioners in Bryan County, Ga., recently voted to spend $120,000 on a jail survey to determine the needs for a new county jail.
• The Beltrami County Board in Minnesota recently voted to demolish its existing jail in downtown Bemidji for about $6 million once the new replacement jail is complete.
• The Giles County Commission in Tennessee voted to approve $8.5 million in funding for renovations to the Giles County Courthouse.

Next in People news:

• South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden announced that Nick Lamb will serve as the new secretary of the state Department of Corrections.
• Montana Department of Corrections Director Brian Gootkin has been nominated by the Office of the President to serve as U.S. Marshal for the District of Montana.
• Texas Governor Greg Abbott recently named Kelly Rowe the new chair of the Texas Commission on Jail Standards and appointed four other members to the commission.

Moving on to construction reports:

• The Alabama Department of Corrections has issued an RFQ for CMAR firms to design and build a new 4,000-bed men's prison in Escambia County, budgeted at over $500 million, with submittals due Nov. 26.
• Wake County in North Carolina is seeking a CMAR for phase three of the Wake County Detention Center project, a $130 million effort, with proposals due Nov. 19.
• The Walworth County Commissioners in South Dakota are seeking proposals from CMAR firms for the construction of a new 48-bed adult detention center, with proposals due Nov. 3.

And finishing with events this week:

• The International Corrections and Prisons Association's annual conference opened Sunday and continues through Oct. 31 in Istanbul, Turkey.
• Chicago Beyond's 2025 National Justice Convening will be held from Oct. 29-30.
• The National Conference on Correctional Health Care will be held Nov. 1-5 in Baltimore.
• The Correctional Leaders Association will hold its 2025 Deputy Directors and Probation and Parole Conference in Oceanside, Calif., from Nov. 3-6.
• 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 Oct. 20. 

Starting with project updates: 

• The Arkansas Department of Corrections released an informational resource to address concerns over its proposed 3,000-bed Franklin County Prison project. Arkansas Agency Issues ‘Guide to Help Explain’ Proposed Franklin County Prison 

• The new $59 million Bernie McCabe Second District Court of Appeals courthouse in St. Petersburg, Fla., is set to open in December. $59 Million Second District Court of Appeal Courthouse Set to Open in December in Downtown St. Pete 

• Officials in Perry County, Mo., gathered last week to cut the ribbon at the new Perry County Joint Justice Center, which doubles the county jail's capacity to 80 beds. After Delays, Disasters, County Dedicates Joint Justice Center 

• Commissioners in Kansas City have approved design and construction plans for a new $22 million, 100-bed temporary jail. Kansas City Approves First Jail Since 2009: $22 Million Facility Sparks Community Concern 

• Work on the Kingsport Justice Center expansion project in Tennessee is progressing on schedule, with Phase I set to be completed in the spring. Kingsport BMA Hears Update on Justice Center Expansion Project 

Moving over to legislation and funding: 

• Florida Department of Corrections Secretary Ricky Dixon recently asked the state for more than $512 million in funding to maintain the prison system. Corrections Secretary Asks for ‘Staggering’ $500+ Million to Maintain Operations 

• Commissioners in Clark County, Ohio, recently heard public feedback about a proposed $100 million jail and public safety building, with a sales tax increase to fund it on the ballot in November. ‘These Decisions Are Not Taken Lightly’: County Leaders, Public Discuss New Jail 

• The Kalispell, Mont., Planning Commission held a public hearing last week on a proposed Flathead County safety facility, with a $105 million bond to fund the project on the ballot this November. Public Invited to Weigh In on Proposal to Annex Land into Kalispell for New County Jail 

• A two-day town hall was held last week to discuss a proposal to build a new jail in Nacogdoches County, Texas, with a $75 million bond on the ballot this November. Sheriff: New Jail Is Vital for Safety of Inmates, Staff 

Now covering People News: 

• Bicycle Health has appointed Steve Tomlin as its first-ever Senior Vice President of Business Development for Criminal Justice. Bicycle Health Names First Senior VP of Business Development for Criminal Justice 

• Shat·R·Shield Lighting Inc. has promoted Kevin Ruzicka to Vice President of Sales, Marketing and Product Development. Kevin Ruzicka Promoted to Vice President of Sales, Marketing, and Product Development 

Moving over to construction reports: 

• Union County, Fla., is seeking bids from contractors to construct a new county jail, with bids due Nov. 5. Union County Public Notices and Advertisements 

• The Campbell County Fiscal Court in Kentucky is seeking a construction manager at-risk for the development of its new public safety building, with bids due Nov. 6. Campbell County Fiscal Court 

• The Sweetwater County Board of Commissioners in Wyoming has issued an RFP for architecture and engineering firms to perform a feasibility study for a crisis shelter addition, with proposals due Nov. 6. Sweetwater County, Wyoming 

Closing it out with event updates: 

• The International Corrections and Prisons Association's annual conference will take place Oct. 26-31 in Istanbul, Turkey. ICPA Annual Conference 2025  

• Chicago Beyond's 2025 National Justice Convening will be held Oct. 29-30. Chicago Beyond  

• The National Commission on Correctional Health Care will host the National Conference on Correctional Health Care Nov. 1-5 in Baltimore. National Conference on Correctional Health Care 

• The Correctional Leaders Association will hold its 2025 Deputy Directors and Probation and Parole Conference in Oceanside, Calif., from Nov. 3-6. CLA 2025 Events 

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 Oct. 13.

Starting with project updates:

• Officials in Henderson County, N.C., broke ground on a $173 million expansion of the county courthouse and detention center. The jail expansion is expected to be completed in 2026.
• The Placer County Sheriff's Office in California held a ribbon cutting for two new facilities at the Bill Santucci Justice Center: a 120-bed vocational center and a 45-bed mental health facility totaling $66 million.
• The first structural steel beam has been placed at the site of the Vanderburgh County Jail expansion project in Indiana. The $30 million project will add about 170 beds.
• The new Minnehaha County Juvenile Justice Center in Sioux Falls, S.D., will open later this month as Phase I of a $50 million project wraps up.
• Also in South Dakota, construction of the new $19.8 million Turner County Courthouse is proceeding on schedule and is expected to be completed as early as next fall.

Moving over to legislation and funding:

• The Board of Oklahoma County Commissioners voted to issue the remaining $215 million of a recently approved $260 million bond to build a new county jail.
• A proposal for a new juvenile correctional center in Dane County, Wis., is closer to achieving state approval after positive findings from an environmental assessment.
• Commissioners in Penobscot County, Maine recently met to discuss budgeting and plans for a new county jail that would include between 250 and 300 beds.
• Mesa County, Colo., recently awarded a $3.7 million contract to FCI Constructors Incorporated to serve as the CMAR for the county's new justice center expansion project.
• The Randolph County Council in Indiana authorized more than $500,000 in bonds to renovate HVAC, water and wastewater infrastructure at the Randolph County Jail.

Moving on to People News:

• The Wyoming Department of Corrections announced the appointment of Walter "Brick" Tripp as warden of the Wyoming State Penitentiary, effective Oct. 27.

Now diving into construction reports:

• The City of Urbandale, Iowa has issued an RFP for architecture and engineering firms to design a new $50 million police department headquarters, with proposals due Oct. 24.
• The Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission is seeking a CMAR for the Macon County Youth Development Campus expansion project, with bids due Oct. 29.
• Clallam County, Wash., is accepting bids for the construction of a new joint public safety facility, with bids due Oct. 29.
• The county of Ingham, Mich., is seeking an owner's representative during the construction of a new youth detention facility, with proposals due Nov. 10.

Closing it out with events for the week:

• The International Corrections and Prisons Association's annual conference will take place Oct. 26–31 in Istanbul, Turkey.
• Chicago Beyond's 2025 National Justice Convening will be held from Oct. 29–30.
• Next month, the National Conference on Correctional Healthcare will be held in Baltimore from Nov. 1–5.

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

Welcome to Weekly Connections, brought to you by NVT Phybridge! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Oct. 6.

Starting with project updates:

• A ribbon cutting will be held this week at the new $42 million Clay County Jail and Law Enforcement center in Vermillion, S. D. The project was designed by JLG Architects and built by Beckenhauer Construction.
• An open house will be held this week at the recently completed Cape Girardeau County, Mo., jail addition and renovated 1908 courthouse. The project was designed by Treanor with Penzel Construction Co. as the contractor.
• Officials in Grayson County, Texas provided an update on its ongoing $34 million jail expansion project, which is expected to take four years to complete.
• Commissioners in Walsh County, N.D., have selected Elevatus Architecture to design a new county jail, expanding its capacity from 16 to 46 inmates.

Moving over to legislation and funding:

• Last week, the Federal Communications Committee voted to advance a rulemaking that would allow local and state correctional facilities to jam signals from contraband cellphones.
• Officials in Spokane County, Wash., have convened a task force to consider a new tax proposal to fund the construction of a new jail after a previous bond was rejected by voters.
• Maryland Governor Wes Moore announced that the state will close the Maryland Correctional Institution at Jessup by June 2026, saving around $21 million in annual operating costs.

Moving over to People News:

• Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver announced the promotion of David Jones to Director of Engineering and Construction Services.
• Correctional healthcare provider Armor Health recently appointed JC Rogers as its new Vice President of Business Development.

Now diving into construction reports:

• Faulkner County in Arkansas is seeking trade contractors for the construction of a new jail pod, with bids due Oct. 21.
• Gaston County, N.C., has issued an RFQ for architectural firms to perform a condition needs assessment at the Gaston County Jail, with bids due Oct. 23.
• Gwinnett County, Ga., is seeking proposals for a construction manager at risk for the construction of a new county police headquarters, with bids due Oct. 23.
• Aroostook County in Maine has issued an RFP to A&E firms for the design and construction of a new county correctional facility, with bids due by Nov. 3.

Closing it out with events for the week:

• The Correctional Leaders Association's Midwest Regional Meeting in Omaha, Neb., kicked off Monday and will run through Thursday, Oct. 9.
• Later this month, the International Corrections and Prisons Association will hold its annual conference from Oct. 26–31 in Istanbul, Turkey.
• Correctional administrators are set to attend Chicago Beyond's 2025 National Justice Convening from Oct. 29–30.
• The 2026 Correctional News Media Kit is now available for viewing.

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 Sept. 29.

We'll start off with project updates:

• A topping out ceremony was held at the new Nashville Campus for Youth Empowerment. The project, designed by DLR Group and Smith Gee Studio with Bell Construction as the builder, is expected to be complete in 2027.
• In Wisconsin, the joint venture of Gilbane and J.P. Cullen have been selected as the CMAR for the new $490 million Milwaukee County Public Safety Building project, designed by AECOM. Work is expected to begin in 2027.
• Officials in Allen County, Ind., gathered for a topping out ceremony at the new county jail construction site. The $300 million, 1,300-bed facility is led by Weigand Construction and should be finished in 2027.
• The Macon-Bibb County Commission in Georgia approved the hire of Jericho Design Group as architects for the expansion and renovation of the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center, a project estimated between $28.5 million and $31 million.
• Construction of a new behavioral health unit at the Montgomery County Jail in Dayton, Ohio will begin in October. Granger Construction Company is the CMAR for the $20 million project designed by HDR and Levin Porter Architects.

Moving over to legislation and funding:

• South Dakota legislators approved a bill to construct a new $650 million, 1,500-bed men's prison in Sioux Falls. The joint venture of JE Dunn Construction and Henry Carlson Company will work on the project.
• Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed two emergency regulations requiring the state's Department of Juvenile Justice to perform more frequent medical and mental health checks on children in restrictive housing.
• Commissioners in Miami County, Ohio are exploring funding options for a new county jail, after a report from HDR recommended a new $100 million, 200-bed facility.
• The Joint Budget Committee in Colorado approved a $2.8 million supplemental budget request to add 153 more private prison beds statewide.

Now covering people news:

• The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has appointed Ron Hudson as its next Chief Operations Officer.
• The National Black Sheriffs’ Association announced that Sheriff Garry L. McFadden of Mecklenburg County, N.C., has been named the association's first national president.

Moving over to construction reports:

• Reeves County, Texas is qualifying architecture and engineering firms for the design and construction of a new law enforcement complex, with submissions due Oct. 16.
• Santa Barbara County in California has issued an RFP for design services for its Sheriff's Annex Relocation Project, with proposals due Oct. 17.
• Santa Barbara County is also qualifying design-build firms for a $165 million expansion project at its North Branch Jail, with submissions due Oct. 30.
• Delta County, Texas, has issued an RFQ for architecture and engineering firms for the expansion and renovation of its existing jail, with submissions due Oct. 28.
• The City of Douglasville, Georgia is seeking proposals from architectural firms to develop a concept plan for a new municipal court facility, with proposals due Oct. 31.

And finishing it off with events for the week:

• The Correctional Leaders Association's Midwest Regional Meeting will be held next week in Omaha, Nebraska from Oct. 6–9.
• Looking ahead, ICPA's annual conference will be held Oct. 26–31 in Istanbul, Turkey.
• Chicago Beyond will host its 2025 National Justice Convening from October 29–30.

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 Sept. 22.

We'll start off with project updates:

• Officials in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, have released design plans for the new $900 million, 1,886-bed county jail in Garfield Heights, with groundbreaking expected this fall.
• Also in Ohio, plans for a new $300 million Franklin County Municipal Courthouse in downtown Columbus have been revealed, with construction potentially starting in November 2026.
• A major $135 million expansion at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre in Saskatchewan, Canada, is now complete, adding 312 beds.
• The removal of a construction crane marked progress on the $47 million Deschutes County Courthouse expansion project in Oregon, with completion expected by the end of summer 2026.
• A new $66.7 million justice center in Carlton County, Minn., which includes a 96-bed jail, officially opened last week.

Now covering legislation and funding:

• The Clark County Council in Washington state will seek voter input on expansion and renovation plans for the aging county jail, with cost estimates ranging from $330 million to over $471 million.
• A proposal to build a joint law enforcement facility and jail for Iowa City and Johnson County, Iowa, is now in question after the Johnson County Sheriff said he would rather pursue a standalone facility.
• The Kansas Department of Corrections recently received a $1.4 million grant to provide mental health and substance-use services to inmates in the state's juvenile detention centers.

Now covering people news:

• Last week, Nate Hayward assumed his new role as Commissioner of Corrections for the city of St. Louis.
• Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver recently announced two promotions: Katherine Wells as Superintendent at Emanuel Probation Detention Center and Martella Walker as Deputy Warden of Security at Warren State Prison.
• The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction has named Mary Locklear as Warden of the Scotland Correctional Institution.

Moving over to construction reports:

• Erie County, N.Y., has issued an RFP for architecture and engineering firms for the expansion and reconfiguration of the Erie County Correctional Facility, with proposals due Oct. 1.
• Montgomery County, N.C., is seeking general contractors to perform renovations at the county's courthouse, with bids due Oct. 29.

And finishing it off with events for the week:

• This week in San Antonio, the Association of Women Executives in Corrections will host its 29th annual training institute from Sept. 26–28.
• Looking ahead, the Correctional Leaders Association will hold its Midwest Regional Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska from Oct. 6–9.
• The International Corrections and Prisons Association's annual conference will be held Oct. 26-31 in Istanbul, Turkïye.
• Chicago Beyond will host its 2025 National Justice Convening from October 29–30.

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 Sept. 15.

We'll get into it with project updates:

• Construction of the new $155 million Grant County Jail in Washington is progressing on schedule for completion in the summer of 2026.
• Also in Washington, Whatcom County has chosen four firms to design and build the county's new jail and behavioral health facility, which could cost between $160 million and $174 million.
• Officials in Colbert County, Ala., awarded a construction contract to Limestone Building Corporation to build a new $35 million, 260-bed county jail.
• In Ohio, the Greene County Sheriff's Office has moved into its new space as the first phase of the $61 million corrections center campus construction project wraps up.

Moving on to updates in legislation and funding:

• The Federal Communications Commission will consider a plan to lift restrictions on jamming cellphone signals in state and federal prisons, with a vote scheduled for Sept. 30.
• In California, a bill aimed at reducing stress and improving safety for correctional officers, as well as codifying principles of "normality" and "dynamic security" has been approved by the state Senate.
• A $40 million bond to fund the construction of a new 230-bed jail in Payette County, Idaho is on the ballot for November.
• A new bill that would ban paper legal mail in New York state prisons and shift all correspondence to a secure email portal has been introduced.

Moving on to people and company updates:

• Correctional News welcomes Ashley Oddo, Deputy Director of the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry, as the newest member of its Editorial Advisory Board.
• The Texas Department of Criminal Justice has appointed Michael Bates as Chief Projects Officer.
• Adnak Contracting Services, LLC recently announced the acquisition of Detention Equipment Service, Inc.

Moving on to construction reports:

• The city of Apopka, Fla., has issued an RFQ for architectural and design firms to conduct a facility needs assessment at its law enforcement training facility, with submittals due Oct. 7.
• The Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in Florida is requesting qualifications from architectural and engineering firms for the renovation of the Sheriff's Operations Center, with submittals due Oct. 24.
• The Caldwell County Project Development Board in Kentucky is requesting proposals from architectural and engineering firms for a new judicial center estimated at just over $33 million, with proposals due Oct. 10.
• The city of Corpus Christi, Texas is seeking bids for general contractors to expand and renovate the city's municipal detention center, with bids due on Oct. 8.

And lastly, for events this week:

• The American College of Correctional Physicians will host its 2025 National Education Conference this week in Providence, R.I., from Sept. 18–20.

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of September 8th.

We'll get it going with project updates:

• Construction on the Macomb County Jail in Michigan is on time and under budget at the halfway mark, with the $229 million project expected to be complete in early 2027.
• A new $111 million, 170,000 square foot courthouse is officially open in Elkhart County, Indiana.
• Tazewell County, Illinois broke ground on its new $44 million Justice Center annex, which is expected to be complete in late 2026.
• Officials in Mono County, California held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new $30.5 million Mono County Jail, expected to be complete in the fall of 2027.
• The Illinois Department of Juvenile Justice held a grand opening ceremony for the new 30-bed Monarch Youth Center in Lincoln.

Moving over to legislation and funding:

• Sarasota County, Florida commissioners are now considering a $401 million plan to build an eight-story addition to the current jail instead of a new criminal justice complex.
• Monroe County, Indiana commissioners chose to move forward with the design development phase of a new $225 million county jail and justice center, though full funding still needs to be secured.
• While Shelby County, Tennessee considers a new $1 billion jail, a review from the Prison Policy Initiative argues that a new facility will not solve most of the problems plaguing the current jail.

Heading over to People News:

• South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden has announced that Corrections Secretary Kellie Wasko will resign from her position, effective Oct. 20.
• Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has appointed Matt Walsh to serve as the Secretary of the Florida Department of Juvenile Justice.

Moving over to construction reports:

• Halifax County, North Carolina officials have issued an RFQ for construction manager at risk firms for the new Halifax County Detention Center, with bids due September 26th.
• The Jessamine County Judge's Office in Kentucky is seeking trade subcontractors for the construction of the new $28 million Jessamine County Judicial Center, with bids due October 15th.

And finishing it off with events for the week:

• The Correctional Leaders Association Northwest Regional Meeting kicks off from September 8th through the 11th in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire.
• The American College of Correctional Physicians 2025 National Education Conference will take place September 18th through the 20th in Providence, Rhode Island.
• The Association of Women Executives in Corrections will hold its 29th annual training institute from September 26th through the 28th in San Antonio.

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