As planning committee languishes, architect recommended for new Monroe County jail

While bickering continued this week among Monroe County officials discussing plans for a new jail, the process is moving slowly forward with the recommendation of a design firm to oversee the project.

During a Wednesday morning commissioners' work session, county building and fleet manager Richard Crider announced a committee had reviewed three proposals from jail architect firms bidding on the project and selected Indianapolis-based DLZ.

The commissioners are expected to vote on accepting the recommendation at their March 22 meeting.

In related news, Monday's Community Justice Response Committee meeting about priorities for the new facility turned contentious, rife with arguing and claims of disrespect and tones of racism.

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County commissioner Penny Githens accused fellow committee member April Wilson of disrespecting her, while the leader of the county's Black Democratic Caucus said the true disrespect has been toward the committee's two Black members: county council member Jennifer Crossley and sheriff Ruben Marte.

“While all of the elected officials in this room have been, from time to time, treated in a manner that is less than ideal by their colleagues, councilor Crossley and sheriff Marte have been the direct recipients of a noticeably high number of sighs, eye rolls, muttered comments, direct disparagement and cut-off statements,” Nicole Bolden said.

The group of elected officials and people working in the criminal justice system has been meeting for two years, with no apparent outcomes.

On Monday, they debated whether to form subcommittees to study four areas: facility, judicial process, treatment and case management for released prisoners. They couldn't agree. No subcommittees were created.

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No jail site has been found, the number of cells and treatment facility details haven't been determined and there's no firm cost estimates for the facility that will replace the 37-year-old jail located in the Zietlow Justice Center.

DLZ's proposal involves "thinking outside the box," said Crider, who oversees the county's buildings. He said the company's vision makes clear that "we cannot build a jail like the days of old."

Treatment options for mental health conditions and substance use disorder are key components of a modern jail, as is programming to help transition people from incarceration back into society so they can overcome barriers that contribute to a high rate of recidivism.

On the review committee with Crider were ASI contractor David Gardner, county attorney Lee Baker, jail commander Kyle Gibbons, assistant jail commander Matt Demmings and commissioners' administrator Angie Purdie. All six favored DLZ's submission.

A statement in the DLZ proposal about the importance of addressing recidivism reflects the vision of many in Monroe County who have voiced concerns the county is failing in that regard.

"We bring together critical stakeholders, program providers, and community partners to identify synergistic opportunities for the integration of vital programs that reduce recidivism," it says.

DLZ's proposal says Eve Hill, whose 2020 study of Monroe County's criminal justice system drew attention to disturbing conditions at the jail, has agreed to work with them as a consultant to lend her expertise to the project.

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DLZ has in recent years designed and overseen construction of justice centers in Franklin County, Ohio, and in the Indiana cities of Martinsville, Elkhart and Madison.

The firm's timeline for the Monroe County project calls for bids being awarded about a year after the contract is granted, with construction starting sometime after that and continuing up to two years.

Monroe County resident and DLZ architect Scott Carnegie has been designated as the onsite project manager. Staff there are familiar with conditions and challenges at the current jail, where DLZ completed interior renovations in 2007, 2010 and 2014.

If selected by the commissioners, the firm is expected to present its overview of the proposed project during the April 3 Criminal Justice Response Committee meeting at the courthouse.

Contact H-T reporter Laura Lane at llane@heraldt.com or 812-318-5967.

This article originally appeared on The Herald-Times: Monroe County considering DLZ as architect for new jail