Upon completion, Greene said, the public will have an opportunity to tour the new facilities.
“We’re getting really close,” said David McAtee, public information officer for the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors.
The project, which has been underway since late 2020, is located along Prescott Lake Parkway. After construction is completed, McAtee said they have to go through the punch list to make sure everything is ready. He said the punch list can take a long time because it involves many details.
Polara Health will be housed at the detention center to address inmates’ behavioral health needs. “They will get the attention right there that they need,” said McAtee, noting that the emphasis is to keep people out of jail.
The Yavapai Justice Center and Jail will have two courtrooms, so those arrested can be processed right there. There will be space for two judges and courtroom staff, along with a big kitchen. The jail will have 125 beds for short-term holding. The cafeteria will be able to feed nearly 400 people, with inmates charged $2.99 per meal.
The project is running about six months behind and $1 million over budget because of the construction delays during the pandemic and inflation. It was funded through a $60 million bond and $12 million from the county’s general fund.
Hensel Phelps, with its corporate office in Colorado, is the main contractor, while Kitchell Corp. from Phoenix is coordinating the work on the ground. “They are doing an amazing job considering that prices doubled during the pandemic,” said McAtee.
Kristin Greene, director of public affairs for Yavapai County Sheriff’s Department, said there are three main buildings in the complex.
- The jail, where inmates are either released or held before being sent to prison.
- A new courthouse, which replaces the one on Gurley St.
- A connection center, also known as a reentry center, where community resources will be housed. Concerns such as housing, substance abuse and mental health will be addressed there.
The overall size is 105,524 square feet, with the 73,289-square-foot detention center, the 24,466-square-foot court and the 7,769-square-foot connection center.
Inmates will also be screened for mental health and other issues before they are booked. “Recidivism rates have a lot to do with mental health,” Greene said. “We’re going to look at ways to keep people from coming back to jail,” she said.
Greene said the only jail intake and booking in Prescott now is very small and the old jail is dilapidated. She said the new jail will save time and gas costs by not having to transfer inmates to elsewhere in the area. The new facilities also will move the courthouse out of the busy downtown.
“This will be a lot more efficient from top to bottom,” she said. “I’m extremely excited about the connection center being right there. This is the culmination of a long belief by Sheriff David Rhodes.
Upon completion, Greene said, the public will have an opportunity to tour the new facilities. QCBN
By Stan Bindell and Ray Newton, QCBN
Photo by Patty Newton: Officials say the Yavapai County Justice Center and Jail on Prescott Lake Parkway will save on time and money, with services on site aimed at reducing the number of people returning to jail.
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