Campbell County officials hosted an open house for the community today on a $7 million expansion of the Campbell County Detention Center located at 601 Central Avenue, Newport. County officials determined that it was necessary to expand the Detention Center to meet the space requirements to house inmates and to comply with federal and state standards.
This expansion will add 256 beds to the current Detention Center. Campbell County officials investigated new and proven concepts in local jail design before embarking on this expansion. This addition has been designed as a secure, dormitory style jail that uses the “direct supervision” model. The direct supervision model allows lower construction and operating costs than those associated with traditional jail design. This model has been used extensively throughout the state of Florida and elsewhere in the United States. Campbell County officials believe this is an effective strategy to meet the current and future needs of housing prisoners.
While the current daily jail population exceeds 200, the current facility was constructed in 1991 to accommodate 135 inmates. The opening of the 256-bed expansion completes the fourth phase in a five-phase effort to meet the current and future needs to house inmates in Campbell County.
The other phases include:
Phase I: COMPLETE. The County constructed a 124-bed Restricted Custody Center (RCC) to house state inmates. This facility opened in April, 2005, housing inmates in two 62-bed dormitories, using the Direct Supervision model. At capacity, this facility generates approximately $800,000 in net income to Campbell County. Inmates housed in the RCC contribute over 100,000 hours of community service to governments and non-profit agencies in Northern Kentucky.
Phase II: COMPLETE. The County constructed a new kitchen/laundry facility outside the secure perimeter of the jail. This facility opened in December, 2005 and is designed to serve over 700 prisoners.
Phase III: COMPLETE. This phase included the renovation of the existing Detention Center. The former kitchen/laundry space was converted to a medical unit to efficiently meet the required medical needs of prisoners on-site. In addition, the booking area was redesigned to provide a “Passive Booking” area to house short-term occupants of the jail and reduce demand on valuable bed space in cells. The sally port was also expanded to provide additional secured space for police officers delivering prisoners.
Phase V: FUTURE PROJECT. The fifth phase will be the renovation of the District Court building as a jail facility, once the District Court is relocated to the new Campbell County Justice Center.
“This expansion demonstrates our working together to make the county jail system more efficient. For every dollar we can save on the jail, we can put that dollar back into services such as roads, parks, and police,” said Campbell County Judge Executive Steve Pendery.
Campbell County Jailer Greg Buckler added, “I am happy with the relationship between my office and the Fiscal Court in addressing our jail space issues. We have made some wise moves here that make Campbell County more secure and serve the taxpayers very well.”