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Council staff advances Justice Center design; MCCF refresh nearing finish
Summary
Council staff presented the proposed Justice Center to replace MCDC — an ~83,000 sq ft facility with central processing and services — and recommended schedule and budget updates; the meeting also reviewed the Montgomery County Correctional Facility refresh, which is largely in construction and scheduled to finish in 2026–27.
The committee’s final agenda item covered corrections and rehabilitation capital projects. Council staff told the committee the FY27–32 corrections CIP includes two active projects totaling about $106 million, an increase driven by adjusted escalation and delivery schedules for the Justice Center replacement for MCDC.
Council staff described the Justice Center as approximately 83,000 gross square feet to include central processing and detention for up to 72 hours, district court commissioners, Health and Human Services units (including a Mental Health Assessment and Placement Unit), pretrial services, a public defenders unit and police warrants and fugitive units. Design work was described as starting in spring and expected to finish in summer 2027, with construction projected to begin winter 2027 and end in the fall of 2029. Staff said total project costs rose by about $16,000,000 owing to adjusted POR sizing to meet state housing unit requirements and schedule escalations requested by the state.
Council staff recommended removing racial‑equity language from the Justice Center PDF and placing it in the Diversion Center project PDF under Health and Human Services, arguing the deflection and diversion functions and equity measures are more appropriate in the Diversion Center’s scope while noting that some equity considerations are relevant to detention design.
Ben Stevenson, director of the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, said the county has long studied the county jail configuration and that the new facility will replace an antiquated jail and aim to incorporate current best practices. The committee also reviewed a Montgomery County Correctional Facility (MCCF) refresh project with medical unit modifications, clogged vent remediation (reported at 85% complete), painting and carpet replacement; the medical unit work was said to be 90% complete, and staff estimated construction work through January 2027 for final station and medical modifications. Council staff recommended approval as submitted.
