Jackson County Detention Center Groundbreaking Ceremony
Published on September 07, 2022
Jackson County elected officials, local dignitaries and stakeholders, in conjunction with the design-build team of JE Dunn | Axiom | DLR Group, officially broke ground September 7, 2022 on the new Jackson County Detention Center (JCDC).
The new 400,000 square foot facility will be located at 7000 E. US Hwy 40. It is expected to contain 1,244 beds along with support services.
“The Administration and Legislature have worked collaboratively and thoughtfully to reach this critical part of the project,” Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. said. “We have complete confidence in the abilities of the JE Dunn | Axiom | DLR Team to carry out our vision for a state-of-the-art detention facility that meets the safety and security needs of detainees, staff and our community for decades to come.”
Speakers for ceremony included:
o Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr.
o Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forté
o Jackson County Legislator Ronald E. Finley, 2nd District
o Jeff Jenkins, Vice President & Project Director – JE Dunn
o Daniel Felder, CEO – Axiom Construction – Joint Venture Partner of JE Dunn Team
o Babette Macy, JCDC Partners LLC – Owner’s Representative
o Congressman Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO)
"Having safe, dependable institutions such as the Jackson County Detention Center are imperative to the health and safety of communities,” said Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forté. “Working with the project stakeholders to achieve the vision of constructing an up-to-date center goes beyond creating a safer community – it will also serve as a turning point in the lives of those who stay there, providing access to resources that can change detainees’ lives for the better, highlighted in the County's tagline, ‘Justice with Dignity.’”
Jackson County leaders began the collaborative process of evaluating the need for a new detention center nearly eight years ago. Through a community-based task force and a series of studies, County leadership concluded a new facility would not only improve the cost to taxpayers to operate and maintain the facility, but also allow space to institute best management practices for the safety and security of detainees, visitors and employees. The facility will include educational resources and social service programs geared toward reducing recidivism, as well as behavioral health and other healthcare services on-site.
The mindful due diligence by leadership will produce a foundation for one of the key elements of planning, building and operating a detention center, which is respecting the dignity of detained individuals. The new facility will provide evidence-based treatment and training opportunities that address the needs of the individuals and the underlying causes of criminal behavior, which is the basis for the project’s heartfelt guiding principle, "Justice With Dignity".
Kansas City-headquartered JE Dunn Construction was selected to assist in the design and build of the new facility, along with Axiom Construction and architectural firms, DLR Group and Wellner Architects.
“Real change begins here. The selection of JE Dunn means we have the fortune of playing a role in bettering not just our communities, but individual lives in the present and years to come,” said JE Dunn Vice President and Project Director Jeff Jenkins. “The importance of delivering on a new facility goes beyond providing a safe space for those within, but also to serve as a place of healing and transition.”
Daniel Felder, Chief Executive Officer of the Axiom Construction Group, said "This is a collaboration that will inspire change. How we partner, how we serve the community, how we build, how we change lives.”
The expected completion date for the facility is Summer 2024.