The Jackson County Detention Center was delivered to replace an overcrowded, deteriorating jail with a modern facility designed around safety, operational efficiency, and dignity for detained individuals. Now based just outside downtown Kansas City, Missouri, the new center provides nearly 400,000 square feet of space and 1,000 beds for the Jackson County Justice System.
Delivered using a design-build approach, JE Dunn Construction, Axiom Construction, and DLR Group worked with Jackson County to create a long-term justice solution that supports secure operations while improving environments for staff, visitors, and detainees. Jackson County’s goal for the facility was to incorporate evidence-based treatment, training opportunities, medical and mental health support spaces, and operational best practices intended to address underlying causes of criminal behavior and reduce relapse.
The detention center includes dedicated support space for programs, medical and mental health services, and two courtrooms, creating a more comprehensive campus for detention and justice functions. Public reporting on the completed facility also highlights bright interior spaces, natural light, outside courtyards, and open-air gyms, reflecting a design emphasis on humane conditions and safer day-to-day operations.
