Sheriff Mark Danels said the Cochise County jail district ballot measure passed and that county officials are continuing planning and design work while awaiting the outcome of any legal challenges.

"This is a community jail that needs to be supporting all community members," Danels said, adding that the current jail is “almost 40 years old.” He described the passage as a vote of trust in law enforcement and local government after an earlier, legally challenged ballot effort.

Danels said planning, design and operational discussions have continued during the past year and estimated that, if construction proceeds, a realistic timetable is about "a year, year and a half before we cut the ribbon." He cautioned the project would stop only if a judge so ordered: "If the judge says shut it down, we shut it down. At this point, no judge has ever told us to shut it down because the allegations were proven."

Danels urged residents who did not support the measure to engage with county leaders, stressing the jail is intended as a community facility rather than a personal project: "This is not Mark Danels' jail. It's not the sheriff's jail." He said he and county board members are coordinating next steps and that leadership and jail staff are preparing for construction and operations.

Details on the ballot measure text, vote totals and a formal project schedule were not provided on air; Danels said those specifics were discussed in community outreach meetings, which he described as having low attendance during the campaign period.