First look at state-of-the-art jail reveals space for staff, security for inmates

I just returned from an exciting field trip to a place I hope to never visit again... or at least I hope to never stay at. And I’m calling it a field trip for this column, but it was actually a great tour of the new Marion County Detention Center (aka the jail) with our super sheriff Kevin Williams and a couple of my co-workers.
We’d all hoped to go, but last minute scheduling changes prevented Luke (sports editor) from joining us. But P.J. (editor) and Erin (ad manager) did get to go, and I’m glad we were able to share the experience.
The new jail is amazing, from entrance to exit, side to side, inside and out, and I’m so glad Kevin and all his staff will have a much nicer place to work at, along with safer, tighter top-of-the-line security measures.
Kevin, with his decades of experience, helped to design the new jail, along with Jim and Angie Berry & Associates Architects, plus Paul Butler Architects. War Construction Project Manager Roy May, also with loads of experience, added his knowledge to the project.
I’d wanted to go before any of the furniture was installed, and I got my wish. Yes, there will be an open house for the public (June 8, 2-4 p.m.), and yes, there will be a real story later. But while it’s fresh on my mind, I thought I’d share a few highlights for our readers.
As we entered, we noticed there were double security doors. You have to be buzzed in. You can’t just walk into the new jail. There’s a video visitation room right inside, as well as a pistol permit office. Straight ahead behind windows is the dispatch area.
There are offices for lawyers, and equipment so they can video conference with prisoners without the prisoners having to leave their cells.
There are offices for sheriff’s investigators and drug task force investigators. Kevin has a nice office with a window, and many of the other offices have windows, too--a great bonus for anyone!
The EMA director has a nice office. There is a great training room and emergency operations room, with its own break area. Kevin said law enforcement and fire service personnel will be able to use the training room.
Les Walters has his own office. He is the sex offender officer. He also has a window, too. Good for Les! His office is also near an outside door and parking area.
There’s also a visitation area where those who wish to visit an inmate can speak with them via video conference without the inmates having to be brought out of the cells, too. There are also rooms where inmates can sit and communicate on video, as well as video stations inside the cell blocks.
Kevin noted there will be a capability for visits over the internet, too, but all video visits, in-house or online, will be continuously monitored and can be terminated at any time.
Other top officers, deputies and staff have very nice office spaces, break spaces, storage areas, filing rooms and work areas. You can tell a lot of thought was put into the design for the comfort and efficiency of the staff.
There are areas where video cameras can monitor every single room in the jail, as well as all of the cells. There are security measures we cannot delve into, but doors can be opened and closed and locked down, if need be.
There’s a large conference room,  private meeting rooms, an evidence room with special lockers for guns and a dedicated entrance with doors where inmates will enter in vehicles, the doors will close and they’ll then exit the vehicles to enter the jail.
Inside the inmate section of the building, one of the things I was most surprised at is there are no bars. I guess I’m living in the last century, but jails now use cell blocks, not separate cells to house prisoners.
There are multiple cell block areas, where inmates have bunks, with tables and bathroom facilities all in one room. There are private rooms or isolation cells, which are padded, for high-risk inmates and those needing psychiatric watch.
Trustees have their own cell block, too. So those who have earned privileges can be housed together--also with their own tables and facilities.
Kevin seemed most excited at the new kitchen, with plenty of room for cooking, as well as large-quantity storage, which will help him save money on providing food to so many.
There’s a booking area, a property room, more break rooms, staff restrooms and showers, a laundry (which usually runs 24/7), a commissary, a nursing station and more offices for high-ranking officials.
One of the areas Kevin designed is a special separate holding area for inmates who will probably bond out very quickly. He also has another area for more dangerous inmates, also specially designed as to its location and layout in the jail.
There are also a few private cells, both in the womens’ and mens’ cell blocks, with separate bathroom and shower facilities.
The new facility can hold more than 200 inmates, and can be enlarged at a later date, if needed.
I’m so proud for Kevin, his staff and our county and community. I can remember back many, many years ago when a new jail was just a dream. Now, it’s nearly come to fruition.  
To me, this could be the best state-of-the-art jail in the entire state at this time. I’ve never been anywhere like this before. I hope you take advantage of the opportunity to tour the new jail when the sheriff has his open house on June 8 from 2-4 p.m.
I thank Kevin and Roy for taking their valuable time to walk us through the facility and explain a lot of the work behind the scenes.
This was definitely one of the best, if not the very best field trip, of the last decade for me. I hope you’ve enjoyed this sneak peek. Thanks for reading. (Stay out of jail! Unless it’s a tour!)