Some of the finishing touches are being made to the new Clinton County Law Center and Jail, but officials have not put an opening date on the project.
Clinton County Sheriff Rick Lincoln says they want to finish the work so there is no wet paint or dry wall dust in the way of the public when the facility opens. Lincoln said that in the near future the Sheriff’s Office staff will move into the new facility. He said they will box up he office and the county staff move the offices into the facility and they should be able to plus in the phones and computers and be ready to go
Lincoln said the transition to moving the inmates into the new jail will come after the offices are moved.
When the move is made, Lincoln said the entry to the Sheriff’s Office and jail will move to the east door of the Courthouse and then thru the courthouse. But, when the transition is complete the old law center will be demolished and the parking lot rebuilt. When that is complete the Sheriff says the entry to the courthouse and law center will be on the north entry of the new facility.
Chief Deputy Steve Diesch pointed out some of the changes for the staff will be an increase in spaces from 44 to 112 inmates. Another is the increase in the number of cameras.
Diesch says they hope to use some community volunteers for a day to help the staff practice operating the facility before moving the prisoners.
Diesch added they will also have a training period with the area law enforcement agencies on how the facility will operate and how they will bring in prisoners..
Sheriff Lincoln pointed out the county Sheriff’s Department operates the jail..
Diesch says the national institute of corrections has helped provide assistance in how to open a new facility.
Lincoln says there will be public open house at the jail before the inmates are moved I the facility is secured.
