Weekly Connections September 22nd, 2025

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Sept. 22.We'll start off with project updates:Officials in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, have released design plans for the new $900 million, 1,886-bed county jail in Garfield Heights, with groundbreaking expected this fall.Also in Ohio, plans for a new $300 million Franklin County Municipal Courthouse in downtown Columbus have been revealed, with construction potentially starting in November 2026.A major $135 million expansion at the Saskatoon Correctional Centre in Saskatchewan, Canada, is now complete, adding 312 beds.The removal of a construction crane marked progress on the $47 million Deschutes County Courthouse expansion project in Oregon, with completion expected by the end of summer 2026.A new $66.7 million justice center in Carlton County, Minn., which includes a 96-bed jail, officially opened last week.Now covering legislation and funding:The Clark County Council in Washington state will seek voter input on expansion and renovation plans for the aging county jail, with cost estimates ranging from $330 million to over $471 million.A proposal to build a joint law enforcement facility and jail for Iowa City and Johnson County, Iowa, is now in question after the Johnson County Sheriff said he would rather pursue a standalone facility.The Kansas Department of Corrections recently received a $1.4 million grant to provide mental health and substance-use services to inmates in the state's juvenile detention centers.Now covering people news:Last week, Nate Hayward assumed his new role as Commissioner of Corrections for the city of St. Louis.Georgia Department of Corrections Commissioner Tyrone Oliver recently announced two promotions: Katherine Wells as Superintendent at Emanuel Probation Detention Center and Martella Walker as Deputy Warden of Security at Warren State Prison.The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction has named Mary Locklear as Warden of the Scotland Correctional Institution.Moving over to construction reports:Erie County, N.Y., has issued an RFP for architecture and engineering firms for the expansion and reconfiguration of the Erie County Correctional Facility, with proposals due Oct. 1.Montgomery County, N.C., is seeking general contractors to perform renovations at the county's courthouse, with bids due Oct. 29.And finishing it off with events for the week:This week in San Antonio, the Association of Women Executives in Corrections will host its 29th annual training institute from Sept. 26–28.Looking ahead, the Correctional Leaders Association will hold its Midwest Regional Meeting in Omaha, Nebraska from Oct. 6–9.The International Corrections and Prisons Association's annual conference will be held Oct. 26-31 in Istanbul, Turkïye.Chicago Beyond will host its 2025 National Justice Convening from October 29–30.For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.