Corrections Connections

Correctional News

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Welcome to Corrections Connections, the exclusive podcast from Correctional News. Join us as we sit down with leaders across the justice community—from owners and operators to AEC firms and vendors—to discuss the latest news, projects, trends, and innovative ideas shaping the industry. Hear from the most sought-after experts, get real-world insights, and enjoy engaging conversations. https://correctionalnews.com/

2d ago

Weekly Connections August 17th, 2026

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Aug. 17. Let's get started with project updates: Officials in Deschutes County, Ore., held an opening ceremony last week for the newly completed $47 million Deschutes County Courthouse expansion project.The Daviess County, Ky., Fiscal Court has approved a $60.5 million contract with A&K Construction for the renovation and expansion of the Daviess County Detention Center.The Whatcom County Council in Washington has approved moving on to the design phase of a new 150,000-to-155,000-square-foot jail, with a $205 million design and construction budget cap.Oklahoma City has broken ground on the $12.3 million MAPS 4 Robert Ravitz Crisis Center, which will provide emergency assessment, detoxification, counseling, and stabilization services.Officials in DeKalb County, Ind., have unanimously voted to move forward with plans for a new jail costing up to $51.8 million. Moving on to legislation and funding: Commissioners in Bexar County, Texas approved a series of jail reforms that will expand medical screening to identify urgent health, behavioral and withdrawal issues.Supervisors in Culpeper County, Va., have postponed a final decision on building a new jail or joining the Central Virginia Regional Jail Authority, opting for further review.The Hays County Jail in Texas has announced results of its recently launched jail-based competency restoration program. Next in people news: Renee Ciconte, Director of Delaware's Division of Youth Rehabilitative Services, received the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators' 2026 Outstanding Leadership Award. And now for this week's construction reports: San Joaquin County, Calif., has issued an RFQ to design-build entities for a new Sheriff's Operations Training Center and an Emergency Medical Services facility, with responses due Sept. 4.Clay County, Mo., has issued an RFP for a consultant to conduct a feasibility analysis for a new correctional facility for the Clay County Sheriff's Department, with proposals due Sept. 14. And finishing up with events: The Correctional Leaders Association's Northeast Region meeting will be held September 8–11 in Bar Harbor, Maine.Correctional News is accepting nominations for its annual Industry Awards, with submissions due Sept. 30. For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.
Aug 10

Weekly Connections August 10th, 2026

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Aug. 10. Let's get started with project updates: Whatcom County, Wash., is reconsidering adding a reentry resource center and second courtroom to its new jail and behavioral care center plans.Officials in Elmore County, Ala., broke ground on a $70 million, 480-bed jail in Wetumpka, beginning a three-year replacement of the county's current facility.Architecture firm Goodwyn Mills Cawood presented a proposed timeline for a new $100 million courthouse in Madison County, Ala., which could open in 2030.Officials in Midland County, Texas are finalizing plans for a new 42,000-square-foot juvenile justice center, a $41 million project expected to break ground in November. Moving on to legislation and funding: The Bond Oversight Board in Oklahoma County, Okla., recommended a Nov. 3 vote on a 0.4% sales tax to fund a new $605 million, 1,800-bed jail.Indiana Gov. Mike Braun announced a $5.1 million federal grant to train and support more than 600 people leaving prison through the "Keys to Work" initiative.Vermont Gov. Phil Scott's administration is seeking to pause the "Raise the Age" law, which moves nonviolent cases involving 18- to 21-year-olds into family court, due to shortages in treatment and housing. Next, in people news: DLR Group appointed Leslie Jacques as business development leader for its California Justice+Civic practice.Cornerstone Detention Products appointed Scott A. Edgecombe as president, a newly created role overseeing daily operations and expansion. Now for this week's construction reports: Swinerton Builders, on behalf of the City of Dallas, Texas, is seeking bids for the new $150 million Dallas Police Regional Training Academy, with bids due Aug. 20.Montgomery County, Texas has issued an RFQ to architectural firms for the design and construction of a new county jail, with responses due Aug. 26.The State of Minnesota has issued an RFP for architectural firms to provide pre-design services for the expansion of the Faribault Correctional Facility campus, with proposals due Aug. 31. And finishing up with events: The American Probation and Parole Association's 51st Annual Training Institute will take place in Chicago from Aug. 16–19.The Correctional Leaders Association's Northeast Region meeting will be held in Bar Harbor, Maine, from Sept. 8–11.The newest episode of Correctional News' Corrections Connections docuseries, featuring the San Diego County Sheriff's Office's MAT unit, is now live. For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.
Aug 3

Weekly Connections August 3rd, 2026

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Aug. 3. Let's get started with project updates: Columbus, Ohio Mayor Andrew Ginther announced that the city has canceled plans for a new Franklin County Municipal Court building, opting instead to renovate the existing courthouse.Macon-Bibb County, Ga., has broken ground on the second phase of a $28.5 million to $31 million expansion and renovation of its law enforcement center.Leaders in Cleveland County, N.C., toured the county's new $210 million Justice Center in Shelby, which is currently about 80% complete.Anderson County, S.C.’s $83 million detention center is nearing completion and is expected to open by the end of the year.Commissioners in Washington County, Pa., have approved $41.2 million in contracts to construct a new 70,000-square-foot public safety building. Moving on to legislation and funding: The Daviess County, Ky., Fiscal Court advanced an ordinance authorizing up to $60 million in bonds for a long-planned Detention Center renovation and expansion.Los Angeles County supervisors voted to place a charter amendment on the Nov. 3 ballot that would restore Measure J funding for jail diversion programs.The Houghton County, Mich., Jail Committee recommended a $28 million, 30-year bond to build a new justice center.Voters in Hutto, Texas, will decide on Nov. 3 whether to fund a roughly $42 million justice center project. Next, in people news: The Correctional Leaders Association (CLA) has announced its newly elected executive board, including President Lindsay Wallace (Arkansas), Vice President Bobby Lumpkin (Texas), and Treasurer Dr. Laurel Harry (Pennsylvania).Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro honored SCI Waymart Facility Maintenance Manager Tim Schweinsburg with a Governor's Award for Excellence for leading significant infrastructure improvements. Now for this week's construction reports: Jim Wells County, Texas has issued an RFQ to architecture and engineering firms to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the county's existing 88-bed jail, with submittals due Aug. 19.Sandoval County, N.M. is prequalifying contractors for a renovation and addition project at the Sandoval County Judicial Complex, with bids due Aug. 21. And finishing up with events: The American Correctional Association's 156th Congress of Correction, the Correctional Leaders Association Summer Conference, and the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators Summer Juvenile Justice Leadership Forum recently concluded in Pittsburgh. For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.
Jul 27

Weekly Connections July 27th, 2026

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of July 27. Let's get started with project updates: Officials with the Georgia Department of Corrections held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for nine new off-site-constructed modular buildings, adding 504 maximum security beds and 20 medical beds to the system.The Florida Department of Corrections broke ground on two new modular medical facilities at Lowell Correctional Institution and the South Florida Reception Center, expected to open in 2027.Summit County, Ohio broke ground on a roughly $3.9 million intake and medical assessment expansion at the county jail.The $14 million Cole County, Mo., Juvenile Center project is on track for completion in March 2027, according to Nabholz Construction. Moving on to legislation and funding: The South Fulton Municipal Regional Jail Authority in Georgia authorized the issuance of bonds to support Fulton County's proposed $1.36 billion, decade-long jail overhaul.Commissioners in Union County, N.C., unanimously approved placing a $200 million jail bond referendum on the November 3rd ballot.Voters in Clark County, Wash., will consider a $366.2 million bond in November to renovate and expand the county jail and add courtrooms. Next in people news: STV has named Codi Newsom Vice President and Justice Market Pursuit Leader within its National Buildings Group. And now for this week's construction reports: Fulton County, Ga., is seeking proposals from design, architectural and engineering firms for a new 1,800-bed, 780,000-square-foot special-purpose detention facility, with proposals due August 27.Construction Manager J.H. Findorff, on behalf of Portage County, Wis., is seeking bids for work on the new $70 million Portage County Jail and Law Enforcement Center, with bids due August 13.San Patricio County, Texas, has issued an RFQ for a design-build project to construct a new 400-bed county jail, with submittals due August 13.Scotland County, N.C., has issued an RFQ to architecture and engineering firms to conduct a feasibility study for a new 250-bed detention facility, with bids due August 14. And finishing up with events: The American Correctional Association's 156th Congress of Corrections, the Correctional Leaders Association's Summer Conference and the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators' Summer Juvenile Justice Leadership Forum will take place concurrently in Pittsburgh from July 30 through August 2. Visit the Correctional News team at booth 515 in the ACA exhibit hall. For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.
Jul 20

Weekly Connections July 20th, 2026

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of July 20. Let's get started with project updates: Williamson County, Texas officials marked the topping out of the county's $90 million Juvenile Justice Center expansion, which is expected to be completed by the summer of 2027.Leaders in Orangeburg County, S.C., held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new $60 million courthouse project, which is expected to be completed in two years.A Monroe County, Ind., subcommittee voted to recommend renovating and expanding the existing jail complex in downtown Bloomington using the adjacent county-owned Curry Building.Officials in Hillsborough County, N.H., are considering plans to build a new $285 million, 485-bed jail in Goffstown to replace the current facility in Manchester. Moving on to legislation and funding: A federal judge appointed former Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Annette Chambers-Smith to oversee healthcare across Arizona's nine state-run prisons.Commissioners in Lorain County, Ohio began public hearings on two proposed sales tax measures to fund the construction and operation of a new $142.6 million, 540-bed jail facility. Next, in people news: ModCorr has appointed 40-year construction and infrastructure veteran Eric Kishel as Executive Vice President.GFT has named David McRoberts, CPP, Principal Advisor, Justice Systems, Operations & Public Safety Infrastructure.The Delaware County, Pa., Jail Oversight Board appointed Jeffrey Lange interim warden of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.Armor Health has appointed Dr. Syretta James as Chief Behavioral Health Officer. And now for this week's construction reports: Architect Goodwyn Mills Cawood and construction manager Volkert Inc. are prequalifying contractors for the new $500 million Escambia Men's Prison project in Alabama, with proposals due July 30.The Grand Traverse County, Mich., Sheriff's Office is requesting proposals from vendors for inmate communication systems at the Grand Traverse County Jail, with proposals due August 5.The State of Delaware is seeking bids for the expansion and renovation of the infirmary at the Baylor Women's Correctional Center, with bids due August 20. And finishing up with events: The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives' 50th Annual Training Conference will take place from July 24–28 in Dallas.The American Correctional Association's 156th Congress of Corrections, the Correctional Leaders Association Summer Conference, and the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators Summer Juvenile Justice Leadership Forum will be held concurrently in Pittsburgh from July 30 through Aug. 2. For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.
Jul 13

Weekly Connections July 13th, 2026

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of July 13. Let's get started with project updates: South Dakota officials held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new $87 million, 102-750-square-foot women’s prison in Rapid City. Santa Barbara County awarded a nearly $139 million design-build contract to Sletten Construction Company and partner DLR Group for the North Branch Jail expansion project. A new $60 million, 200-bed jail in Cheatham County, Tenn., designed by MBI Companies and built by BELL Construction officially opened last week. The Montana Department of Corrections will explore using existing facilities to expand housing for women inmates, as the Montana Women’s Prison remains at or above capacity. Hancock County, Maine, officials held a groundbreaking ceremony last week for the new $55 million Hancock Judicial Center. Moving on to legislation and funding: North Carolina’s newly signed state budget includes major raises for Department of Adult Correction employees, though officials say more is needed to fill staffing vacancies. Spokane County, Wash., officials are considering tax measures to fund a replacement jail and community-based behavioral health facilities ahead of the November ballot. The Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana will receive up to $27 million in state funding for design and construction of a new jail. Next in people and company news: The Federal Bureau of Prisons awarded Securus Technologies a contract to provide secure tablets to all inmates in custody in BOP facilities. CorrectPac, a division of PortionPac Chemical Corporation, has named Pam Engel as its Western Regional Manager. Habersham Metal Products has named Jay Hill its new Detention Sales Manager. Now for this week's construction reports: The Pierce County, Wash., Facilities Management Department has issued an RFQ to architecture firms for pre-design services for a Jail Replacement Project, with submittals due July 31. New Kent County, Va., is seeking proposals from architecture and engineering firms for the design and construction of a new county courthouse, with proposals due Aug. 14. And finishing up with events: The National Commission on Correctional Health Care's 2026 Correctional Mental Health Conference will take place in Austin, Texas, from July 18–20. The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives will host its 50th Annual Training Conference in Dallas, from July 24–28. The American Correctional Associations 156th Congress of Corrections, the Correctional Leaders Association’s Summer Conference and the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators’ Summer Juvenile Justice Leadership Forum will be held concurrently in Pittsburgh later this month, from July 30–Aug. 2. For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.
Jul 6

Weekly Connections July 6th, 2026

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of July 6. Let's get started with project updates: Rutherford County, Tenn., officials are considering building an estimated $375 million jail and sheriff's office complex in Murfreesboro to address overcrowding.The Massachusetts Trial Court and Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance has selected the site and development team for the new Roderick L. Ireland Regional Justice Center in downtown Springfield.Tarrant County, Texas unveiled its renovated Sheriff's Office training facility last month after a three-year, $25 million upgrade project.Scott County, Mo., opened its new Justice Center in Benton late last month, adding more than 14,000 square feet to the judicial building.Botetourt County, Va., marked a construction milestone on the new $37 million Circuit Courthouse with a topping-off ceremony last month. Moving on to legislation and funding: Gov. Ron DeSantis signed Florida's $117.6 billion budget while vetoing funds tied to a proposed new 600-bed prison hospital in Gilchrist County and correctional staff raises.California's recently approved 2026-2027 budget includes $2.7 billion over 5 years for 14 judicial branch projects and $350.9 million for new courthouses. Next in people news: Richard Comerford has been appointed as Secretary of the Florida Department of Corrections, succeeding Ricky Dixon, who retired on June 30.DeSoto Parish, La., Sheriff Jayson Richardson was elected President of the Louisiana Sheriffs' Association Executive Board. And now for this week's construction reports: Sarasota County, Fla., is seeking proposals from both architecture and CMAR firms for design and construction of a new multi-level addition to the downtown Sarasota Correctional Campus, with architectural submittals due July 27 and CMAR submittals due July 30.Collin County, Texas has issued an RFQ to architecture and engineering firms to design a new single-story juvenile detention building, with submittals due July 30. And finishing up with events: The Correctional Leaders Association's 2026 Western Region Meeting will take place in Cle Elum, Wash., from July 13–16.The National Commission on Correctional Health Care will hold its 2026 Correctional Mental Health Conference in Austin, Texas, from July 18–20.The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives will commemorate its 50th annual training conference in Dallas, from July 24–28. For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.
Jun 29

Weekly Connections June 29th, 2026

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of June 29. Let's get started with project updates: The Lorain County Jail Advisory Board in Ohio has approved designs from DLZ Architecture for a new $143 million, 540-bed jail based on a podular supervision model.The Elmore County Commission in Alabama has approved a $69.9 million bid from FITE Building Company to construct a new 480-bed jail.Officials in Warrick County, Ind., held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week at the new $54 million Warrick County Sheriff's Office and Security Center.Construction is underway on a new two-story, 52,000-square-foot federal courthouse in Medford, Ore., which is expected to finish by late 2027.The Lee County, Miss., Board of Supervisors has approved a $9.3 million agreement with Tindall Corporation to provide 31 prefabricated detention cells for the new Lee County Justice and Public Safety Center. Moving on to legislation and funding: Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger announced new Virginia Department of Corrections reforms and created the Governor's Community Partnership Council on Corrections.The Tennessee Department of Correction is launching mobile community supervision offices to help probationers and parolees in rural areas meet requirements and access support services. Next in people news: NELSON Worldwide has hired Julian Andrade as Vice President and Practice Delivery Leader of the company's Civic and Justice Practice.STV named Marcus Weidner as its first Chief Technology Officer to support the firm's digital and AI transformation. Now for this week's construction reports: Transylvania County, N.C., is prequalifying contractors to build a new $40 million, two-story county courthouse, with bids due July 10.The Virginia Department of Corrections has issued an RFP for architectural and engineering firms to provide on-call project services, with bids due July 15.Construction Manager McCownGordon Construction is seeking subcontractors for the new $55 million Finney County Detention Center project in Kansas, with bids due July 27. And finishing up with events: The Correctional Leaders Association's 2026 Western Region Meeting will take place in Cle Elum, Washington from July 13–16.The National Commission on Correctional Health Care will host its 2026 Correctional Mental Health Conference in Austin, Texas from July 18–20.The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives will commemorate its 50th annual training conference in Dallas from July 24–28. For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.

Welcome to Corrections Connections, the exclusive podcast from Correctional News. Join us as we sit down with leaders across the justice community—from owners and operators to AEC firms and vendors—to discuss the latest news, projects, trends, and innovative ideas shaping the industry. Hear from the most sought-after experts, get real-world insights, and enjoy engaging conversations. https://correctionalnews.com/

Creator

Correctional News
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

70
Rating

Clean
Copyright

© Copyright 2026 Correctional News
Show Website

Corrections Connections