Whitley County was directed by the state to address overcrowding in its jail. The nearly 40-year-old jail had been considered out of compliance since 2012, and the county commissioners were committed to protecting the county from potential lawsuits.
Elevatus was hired by the county to design a new detention center for the county. The commissioners sought a cost-effective design, with the potential for future expansion if ever necessary, that would meet the Sheriff’s Department’s needs.
The new Whitley County Sheriff’s Office & Detention Center checks each of those boxes.
The County elected to team with Elevatus and utilize our prototype design delivery method to expedite the design process and save the County a tremendous amount of money in design and construction escalation costs. The design allows for 226 beds in general housing and 10 beds in inmate services, along with two 12-bed JCAP units where inmates can complete an addiction treatment program. An additional housing pod can be added in the future without complication if needed.
The facility is highlighted by Elevatus’ industry-leading central control room that provides 360-degree lines of sight into each dayroom; a highly efficient intake processing unit; inmate services with the capacity to meet future needs; and a Sheriff’s Department office with space to function effectively.
