Justice Planning Timeline


Steps toward a more effective criminal justice system

April 2001
National Institute of Corrections (NIC) Seminar - Langmont, CO
County officials attend week-long seminar on jail planning

NIC On-site Visit

• NIC staff tour Blue Earth County Jail
• Interviews with key local justice system personnel
• NIC recommends formation of planning committee and analysis of jail-use data

May 2002
Justice Planning Committee
Committee of criminal justice professionals and citizens begin monthly meetings:

• Monitors policies affecting jail population size and makeup
• Analyzes functioning of overall criminal justice system

July 2002
Jail-use Analysis
Blue Earth County retains Criminal Justice Consultant David Bennett to examine the criminal justice system and analyze how the jail is used.

March 2003
Criminal Justice Symposium
David Bennett presents jail-use data and makes recommendations to the planning committee.

April to October 2003
Implementation of New Measures

• Jail data automation
• Electronic home monitoring
• Early Case Resolution program
• Drug Court

November 2003
Tour of County Jails

• County commissioners and staff begin touring facilities to learn about inmate housing practices
• Counties (cities) included: Carver (Chaska), Washington (Stillwater), Kandiyohi (Willmar), Anoka (Anoka), and St. Louis (Duluth)
• Jails in these counties are modern, direct-supervision facilities that are safer and more efficient

January 2004
Facility Planning Consultant
Blue Earth County hires a facilities expert, Dennis Liebert to assess the existing jail and make recommendations to best meet the current and future needs.

March 2004
Facility Assessment Completed
Liebert's assessment of the jail identifies eight significant problems requiring immediate action.

April 2004
Facility Recommendation
Liebert presents recommendations for more effective and efficient operation of the Blue Earth County Jail:

• More inmate cells and overall space
• Addition of holding cells, intoxilizer area, storage rooms, a negative-air cell (to prevent transmission of contagious diseases), program areas and an improved booking area
• Facilities redesign to incorporate the podular "direct-supervision" approach

July 2004
Researching Options
Blue Earth County hires an architectural firm to perform a cost comparison between renovating/expanding the current jail and building a new facility.

October 2004
Justice Center Recommendation
The Justice Planning Committee recommends to the County Board the expansion of the County's study to combined facilities for jail, Sheriff's Office, Courts, Community Corrections and County Attorney.

Pre-architectural Programming
At the October 12 County Board meeting, the commissioners approved a contract to conduct pre-architectural programming for the Sheriff's Office, Courts, Community Corrections and County Attorney.

December 2004
Courts Analysis
Dan L. Wiley & Associates a nationally recognized and experienced court facility and operations consulting firm, begins studying the current use and safety of the Blue Earth County Courthouse.

February 2005
Courts Program Complete
Dan L. Wiley & Associates provides a judicial space needs assessment for a potential new courts facility. The evaluation of the Courthouse found security to be a significant problem. Wiley recommended courts be relocated to a facility meeting modern security, operational and spatial requirements.

June 2005
Options Presented to County Board
Klein McCarthy & Company Architects and Paulsen Architects presents the County Board with three detailed Justice Center/Jail options including floor plans, elevations and cost estimates.

September 2005
Tour of County Jails
County commissioners and staff toured facilities to learn about inmate housing practices and geothermal systems. Jails in these counties are modern, direct- supervision facilities which are safer and more efficient

§          Story County, Iowa

§          Nobles County

November 2005
Construction Management Request for Proposals Issued
The RFP was issued with criteria that the selected construction management firm would assist the County by working with County personnel, the architectural planning team, and any specialized consultants hired by the County on the Justice Center project. Five construction management firms responded to the RFP. Two firms were interviewed.

 

December 2005
Resolution to Build New Jail
The Blue Earth County Board of Commissioners voted it was necessary to erect a new jail based on the review of the local criminal justice system and the inefficiencies of the current County Jail.

January 2006
Construction Management Firm Hired
The County Board voted to award Construction Analysis & Management Incorporated (CAM), a Construction Management firm from Brainerd, a contract for construction management of a County Justice Center.

Justice Center Agreement
The County Board authorized agreements with Klein-McCarthy and Paulsen Architects for the Justice Center Architectural Services. The Board also approved an agreement with Liebert and Associates for design reviews, staffing analysis refinement, verifying standards compliance, security system reviews and evaluation of fixtures, furniture, finishes and equipment. Liebert and Associates will also participate in the development and review of construction documents.

 

Moving Forward