Daviess County officials are moving ahead with a major renovation and expansion of the Daviess County Detention Center, a project expected to cost approximately $40 million.
Jailer Art Maglinger said the expansion is a less costly option than rebuilding and will add about 125 beds to the facility while addressing long-standing inefficiencies and code compliance issues.
“It goes back to 2023 when Fiscal Court voted to do a comprehensive facility report,” Maglinger said. “The main building that houses the majority of our inmates doesn’t have an operational kitchen, so it’s a pretty inefficient system. The renovation addresses structural code, ADA compliance, overcrowding, and, of course, the inefficiencies we’ve been dealing with.”
Built in 2001, the 70,800-square-foot Building 1 was designed for about 380 beds. The capacity increased to 482 in 2005 after the General Assembly changed legislation about the square footage for inmates. Maglinger said that with the renovation and expansion, the total footprint will grow to just over 100,000 square feet with 607 beds in that building. Combined with other Detention Center buildings, the licensed capacity will rise to 789.
Maglinger noted that on Monday, the jail was currently housing about 615 inmates, including 380 county prisoners. He said the renovation is designed to relieve chronic overcrowding while creating more programming space — including opportunities to expand treatment options for women.
The project is expected to unfold in stages, allowing the jail to remain operational. Maglinger said he is optimistic the county will not need to displace large numbers of inmates during construction, though that will depend on the final plans.
“If we weren’t operational for a year, the county would lose about $5 million to outsource inmates to other facilities, not to mention the Sheriff’s Office would have to go all over the state transporting prisoners,” Maglinger said. “The addition makes it possible to keep the facility open.”
Daviess County Fiscal Court approved design work with JKS Architecture in late 2024. The firm is now completing detailed work, such as site surveys and geothermal testing, and will oversee the bidding and project management once construction companies are selected.
Officials estimate the timeline for completion is between 2.5-3 years.
“This is a significant step,” Maglinger said. “Not every jail in the Commonwealth is able to proactively address these needs. This project improves safety for the community, while making a better facility for both inmates and staff.”
