Jackson County cuts ribbon on new Detention Center
Published on March 19, 2026
Jackson County officially opened its new Detention Center with a ribbon cutting ceremony Thursday, March 19, 2026.
In his opening remarks County Executive Phil LeVota said the day marked an important milestone for Jackson County, “A project that represents years of planning, collaboration, and a shared commitment to strengthening public safety and improving how our justice system operates.”
“This facility is the result of strong collaboration across many partners in county government, the justice system, and the construction and design teams who helped bring it to life,” he said.
The new detention center is approximately 470,000 square feet and was designed with the future in mind. The layout allows Jackson County to expand the number of housing units and beds if needed, ensuring that the facility can continue to serve the community as needs evolve in the years ahead.
“Beyond size and construction,” LeVota said, “what matters most is what this facility represents: a modern, safer, and more efficient environment for the professionals who work here every day, and one designed to support accountability, safety, and long-term operational success for Jackson County.”
Presiding Judge of the 16th Judicial Circuit, Kevin Harrell said the new center is about justice with dignity. “It’s not about housing inmates because we are not going to incarcerate our problems away. We want individuals to go in and be held accountable. We want to keep our community safe, but we want them to come out better individuals.”
“We want the people who work within the institution to feel safe coming back and forth to work and to feel safe. We want them to go to work in a nice institution and the people who come to visit them to feel safe and we want to be proud of the facility that we have, and I think we have done a good job in doing that,” he said.
Jackson County Prosecutor, Melesa Johnson said that she and her office work every day to hold those who break the law accountable for their actions.
“Accountability not only requires us to ask ourselves what we do with people when they break the law, but also what we do to make sure that they never do it again. We know punishment alone has never made our community safer, we have so much more to address,” she said.
“I am so proud that we are opening a detention facility that enforces serious consequences for serious choices,” Johnson said. “It also looks much different than what we imagine detention facilities to look like inside there is natural lighting, murals, art and communal spaces designed for real human beings. A calmer, more intentional environment because evidence so that the conditions people are in helps shape the people they become. This place is built with that in mind. Inside there will be programing, job training, treatment for underlying conditions that drive so much behavior that lands people in jail in the first place. We are finally prioritizing the root causes of crime that will ultimately save lives.”
According to Jackson County Sheriff Darryl Forté, the idea of justice with dignity is huge in corrections facilities. “This means treating every person with respect. Listening so they are heard, avoiding harm or bias and always striving for fair and humane outcomes.”
“This building reflects those values through natural light, thoughtful design and spaces that promote well-being it also supports a direct supervision model which is important where staff engage directly and positively with those in their care,” he said.
“This facility represents more than an investment in infrastructure, it’s an investment in people, in accountability and a second chance. It stands as a tribute not only to doing what is right but doing it the right way. Today we don’t just open a building, we open the door to a stronger, more just future for our community.”
In conclusion to the ceremony LeVota thanked the many partners who helped bring the project to completion.
“This effort began with the steering committee and continued through the work of our county project team, our owner’s representative, and the many professionals who dedicated their time and expertise to delivering this facility,” he said. “We also want to recognize our construction and design partners, including JCDC Partners, JE Dunn Construction, Axiom Construction Group, and DLR Group, whose collaboration and commitment helped bring this project to life.”
LeVota said, “Today, we celebrate more than just a building. We celebrate a new approach to detention, one that prioritizes dignity, safety, and rehabilitation while maintaining the safety and security of our community.”