The Daviess County Detention Center is preparing for a $43 million renovation and expansion that Jailer Art Maglinger said will modernize operations, address overcrowding, and bring the facility up to current safety and accessibility standards. The project is expected to take around 3 years and will allow the jail to remain operational throughout.
The overhaul will focus on Building 1, the main structure originally constructed in 2001. The plan includes adding 125 bunks, installing a fully operational kitchen and laundry area, expanding program and recreation space, upgrading surveillance infrastructure, and making key ADA and code compliance improvements.
“It’s intimidating, but it will also be exciting to see the finished project,” Maglinger said. “This allows us to get at least 25 more years out of the current building while addressing the critical areas that have created operational inefficiencies.”
Daviess County Fiscal Court in March 2023 unanimously approved a comprehensive architectural/engineering facility assessment report, which was completed by JKS Architecture. Maglinger said the report found Building 1 was nearing the end of its useful life and needed major upgrades.
He added that the option for renovation was significantly less costly than other options for building a new facility. Fiscal Court voted unanimously in November 2024 to contract with JKS for the renovation project and design services.
One of the most pressing issues prompting the renovation was the jail’s inefficient kitchen setup. Currently, all meals are prepared in a small kitchen located in Building 3 and transported by trailer to inmates in Building 1. Laundry services operate similarly. The new plan will bring both functions into the main building to reduce inefficiencies and improve security, Maglinger said.
“Food quality suffers, and it also increases the risk of contraband,” Maglinger said. “We are on borrowed time with our current system, and doing nothing is not a wise option.”
Overcrowding is another long-standing problem the renovation seeks to address. While Building 1 currently has 482 bunks, Maglinger said certain specialized housing units, such as protective custody, suicide watch, and medical segregation, remain over capacity. The additional 125 bunks will bring Building 1’s capacity to 607 and provide more flexibility for housing federal and state inmates.
“Even when our overall population numbers are down, we’re still overcrowded in certain housing units due to issues of inmate classification and conflicts,” he said.
Maglinger said federal and state inmates provide essential revenue to help offset the jail’s $11.5 million operating budget. Currently, the jail houses approximately 350 county inmates, 90 federal inmates, and 150 state inmates.
Maglinger said these dynamics fluctuate, but have a big impact on the county’s budget. Housing federal and state inmates helps reduce the jail’s expenses.
“This summer, we hit a record high of over 400 county inmates, which is the sole statutory responsibility of our county,” he said. “People sometimes say we’re a for-profit jail, but the county subsidizes the jail over $3 million each year for the facility to be in operation.”
The renovation also includes improvements to the sally port, raising clearance from 10 to 14 feet to allow emergency vehicles such as fire trucks or buses in the event of a mass evacuation.
All new programming areas and recreation yards will have restrooms and showers, allowing for long-term programs such as the substance abuse program to take place entirely within one secured space. The renovation also provides a contingency opportunity to consolidate all staff, inmates, and operations into one building in the event of an emergency situation.
A larger program space that will also be used as the chapel with restrooms is included in the plans. Maglinger said the new space will be significantly larger than the current chapel and will better accommodate programs such as Residents Encounter Christ that meet for a full day.
Maglinger said a critical part of the expansion is that it allows the jail to stay operational during the construction period. If the facility had to shut down, Maglinger estimated it would cost more than $5 million per year to house inmates at other jails.
That excludes other expenses related to medical, transportation, and other lost revenue lines from the jail not being in operation. Closing the jail entirely would also displace jail staff and, in turn, disrupt local law enforcement and court operations.
“We would have to contract with at least 10 different counties, and maybe even go into Indiana to accommodate the number of county inmates that we house,” he said. “It is in the county’s best interest to remain open during the construction period,” Maglinger said.
The project is still in the design phase, with construction expected to begin this spring. The first phase will focus on the new addition before interior renovations begin. Maglinger said the team expects the full project to take between 24 and 36 months, depending on construction conditions and phasing.
“This project is vital to our facility operations and the public safety of our community,” Maglinger said. “We want to continue to display good stewardship for our county.”
