JAIL EXPANSION
El Paso County Criminal Housing Improvement
for Public Safety Project
Project Completion
On March 22, 2005 the Dedication Ceremony was held for the opening of the 864 bed expansion of the Criminal Justice Center.
Mission Statement
We, as the Owner, Design Team, and Contractors (CHIPS Team), are committed to working as partners with the community to provide the citizens of the El Paso County a safe, secure, state of the art detention facility.
To achieve this mission, the CHIPS project team will:
- communicate openly and effectively
- provide quality craftsmanship
- establish and meet safety goals and expectations
- minimize disruptions to ongoing operations
- manage and maintain budget expectations
- treat all partners with dignity and respect
- maintain and regularly update project schedule
Through our focus on the above objectives, we will deliver a project that exceeds all stakeholder expectations.
Criminal Justice Center completed 1988
REILLY JOHNSON ARCHITECTURE
Computer rendition of jail expansion
On February 20, 2003, the El Paso County Commissioners approved the contract to hire our construction contractor for an 864-bed addition to our facility. In addition to the new construction, a massive remodel of the facility was included. The remodel is necessary to bring the current facility up to current standards and to meet new service needs anticipated with the expansion.
The original Criminal Justice Center was designed during the early 1980's to house 384 inmates, however, the service areas were designed to accommodate an inmate population of approximately 700 inmates. Even with this foresight, it became apparent around 1994 that the inmate population was rapidly approaching a critical crowding situation. It was in that year that the decision to double bunk the facility was made. bed space was increased to 735 beds.
Female Ward July 2002
In 1996, a ballot question was placed before the voters of El Paso County to approve a tax increase, for funding an expansion to the jail. This ballot issue was defeated by a 3 to 1 vote.
As indicated in the above chart the average Daily population (ADP) at the jail has steadily increased at a pace of over 100 per year. The ADP has risen from 731 in 1994 to 1106 in 2002.
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