Category Archives: Latest Updates
Ribbon-cutting Celebration Scheduled for July 8, Open House is July 10
Getting Closer to Completion
The new Justice Center is open and we are looking forward to completing construction. There is still some work to be done, but we are definitely getting closer!
We’ve Moved!
A First Look Inside the New Washington County Justice Center
By Cheyenne Alexis features@enterprisepub.com Sep 1, 2020
The new Washington County Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Center is one step closer to completion.
The sheriff’s office will be closed Sept. 3 and 4 for move-in day. The official opening of the entire facility will be in February.
Inside the new sheriff’s office and jail includes several office spaces not currently offered inside the old building, as well as several other additions that will ensure safety and security.
On the main floor, every door is key card accessible, and inside the jail, everything is electronically controlled.
Near the main entrance of the building is a video visitation room, where people can use the video screens or phone to contact inmates remotely.
The remote visitations, Capt. Rob Bellamy said, can also reach outside the facility, so long as visitors have a laptop or computer with camera and internet access. On-site, the visits are free through Combined Public Communications, but elsewhere there will be a fee.
“The inmates never leave their housing units,” Bellamy said. “Every visit has to be scheduled — up to seven days or 24 hours out. All the equipment and maintenance involved are all provided by CPC at no cost for the county. It’s also revenue-generated, so we make some money off of it.”
Near the entrance are several office spaces for all employees, which Sheriff Mike Robinson said is one of the most exciting parts because many deputies share small office spaces. These rooms don’t have public access.
Also included are three interview rooms for deputies questioning people and making statements. These rooms have both audio and video recordings.
Robinson said some of his favorite areas are the evidence intake and evidence rooms.
These rooms are connected by a storage unit where in the intake room, deputies will bag and put evidence in a locker that can’t be accessed until they go to the evidence room on the opposite wall.
“This is one of my favorite rooms compared to what we have,” Robinson said. “The old evidence room is in the basement, and the walls would leak water and flood periodically, and we’ve lost evidence because of that.”
Additional rooms on the top floor include a finger-printing room, which has an automated finger identification system; the front desk where visitors can go to for inquiries such as gun permits; a conference room for meetings, budget meetings and multimedia usage; a weapon storage with safes; locker rooms with showers and assigned lockers; and a training room that can potentially be shared with other agencies in the future.
The courtroom is another huge improvement to the current space, Bellamy said.
The new room has separate areas for the stenographer and witnesses, more seating for the public, a separate interview room and a safer access area for the judge to enter the bench.
Along with the bigger area, Bellamy said he’s happy that the inmates now enter the courtroom without ever intermingling with the public.
“It’s a grand room, I believe,” Bellamy said. “Just the separation of the public and the prosecutors and defense attorney, in correlation to the judge — a lot of thought went into this room. It’s going to be much safer and aesthetically pleasing.”
Also included with the courtroom is a jury room, judge’s chambers and a break room for the court staff.
Down at the new jail, there are 18 spaces for maximum security inmates, or inmates with medical conditions or behavioral issues. Inside the entire jail, 120 inmates can be held.
“We’ve been operating in less-than-ideal conditions for a long, long time. This is going to solve a lot of our problems,” Bellamy said.
The jail is completely electronically-accessible, controlled by control room staff.
The front door for the jail has an intercom system and a pedestrian sally port, to provide an extra layer of security in case of emergency situations.
Two of the maximum security rooms are handicap medical segregation rooms, and they have negative air in case an inmate has a contagious disease — this way, the air isn’t shared with the rest of the jail.
“This is beneficial because we’ve had a few people over the years with tuberculosis and things like that,” Bellamy said.
Another unique aspect is inmates can’t see outside their cells, but the control room staff and officers can see inside.
Included in the cells are bathrooms with a shower, toilet and sink; a bed; television; and video visitation screens.
The cells are also wheelchair accessible with wide doors, which was an issue in the past. The doors have a nook for prisoners to receive their food or to be handcuffed in case of an emergency.
Inside the control room, in the middle of the maximum security area, the staff is able to see inside all rooms and has access to all cameras around the facility.
“It means safety and security for the staff — that’s a big thing,” Robinson said, noting that the control room is his favorite area. “If someone even manages to get out, the doors all lock and they can’t get to anyone. They hit one button and every door is locked.”
The justice center will have an official open house in February when the entire facility is complete.
Move is Delayed to September 3 and 4
Updated:
The Sheriff’s Office will be closed to public access on September 3 and 4 while we move into the new Justice Center including a portion of the new correctional facility. Remodeling of the current sheriff’s office and jail will start as soon as we move into the new Justice Center.
The construction project is scheduled for completion in February 2021.
Back to Normal Business on June 1
The Washington County Courthouse will resume normal operating procedures to walk-in traffic on June 1. In-person vehicle inspections and firearms purchase certificate applications will also resume to normal walk-in traffic procedures.
Washington County Jail inmate visitation will resume on June 1, as well.
Important Update About Inmate Visitation
The jail will continue to restrict access into the facility until further notice regarding professional visits, inmate activities such as church, AA, NA, fingerprinting, etc.
On June 1, 2020 inmate visitation via the visitation room will resume normal hours and procedures & will be subject to change if situations dictate.
For further information, read Washington County’s latest statement regarding modified business practices during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Modified Business Practices for Washington County Offices and Buildings
UPDATED May 6, 2020
View the Latest Modified Business Practices StatementState of Nebraska Direct Health Measures for Three Rivers Health District, set in place to attempt to lower the spread of COVID 19 virus, have led to the modification of business at all of the County buildings in Washington County. The modifications resulted in the closing of Washington County buildings to the public. All County Offices remained open internally to assist the public via phone, US mail, or electronically.
Washington County’s plan will be as follows:
The DHM for Three Rivers Health District is set to relax some restrictions on May 10. These restrictions take in to account the ever changing situation facing the District. In an attempt to continue balancing employee and public safety with the need to conduct ongoing County business the following changes will be made to the County’s current business practices.
All County buildings will remain closed to the public until May 18, 2020.
On May 18, 2020 County Offices may begin taking appointments from the public for person to person interaction. The appointment expectations shall be the same as the Modified Business plan from March 20. All employees will wear a mask when interacting with the Public. Public will be screened at the west door and are asked to have masks when entering the building. Social distancing will be maintained at the same 6-foot standard. Each office will disinfect the areas of public contact in their office between each appointment. No gatherings of more than 10 people. Deliveries will be left at door. This practice will remain in effect until May 31, 2020.
If the Directed Health Measures have not been modified to be more restrictive, then the County buildings will become open to the public on June 1, 2020.
Monday, June 1, 2020, County Offices will not need to set appointments with public. Continued social distancing as directed by changing in Health Directives. Deliveries can return to normal. Maintenance Department will ensure areas are disinfected daily. Plan for continued Health Directives throughout the summer.
Due to the potential relocation of the Sheriff’s office and the continued risk of COVID spread to the jail population, Sheriff’s Office and Jail may have a modified business plan different from that of other County Offices.
This plan is subject to review daily.
Dan Douglas, Director
Washington County Emergency Management
Sheriff’s office adds defibrillators to patrol vehicles through donations
Washington County sheriff’s deputies will soon have a device in their patrol cars that could save lives at a moment’s notice.
Through donations from the Blair Area Community Foundation (BACF), CF Industries, Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 36 and private donors, the sheriff’s office recently purchased 16 automated external defibrillators, also known as AEDs. The portable devices are designed to treat people experiencing sudden cardiac arrests.
A Look Inside the New Justice Center
Tour the construction site for the new Washington County Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Center in Blair.
As featured on the Washington County Pilot-Tribune & Enterprise