county jail facility in colorado springs to get upgrade

Members of the El Paso County Board of Commissioners have given their approval to start the design phase of a project upgrading the county jail.

That facility, officially known as the El Paso County Criminal Justice Center, is more than 30 years old and in need of modern security enhancements.

Funding for the $236,000 design work will come out of a county public safety sales tax which was renewed by voters for another six-year life last November.

Revenue from the tax, according to sources, makes up around $20 million of the county sheriff office’s overall $75 million budget.

Located at 2739 E. Las Vegas Street, the center, say county officials, needs enhanced door security, increased camera surveillance, and upgrades of its reception desk area.

The design work will be done by the DLR Group, a Colorado Springs-based architectural firm specializing in public facility work.

How much the actual upgrading will cost won’t be known until the completion of the design phase.

The center has an inmate capacity of 1,700, but has been on occasion over that number.

By Garry Boulard

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