Champaign County Board To Vote On Jail Plan

A decision on what to do with the Champaign county jails will be made at Thursday night’s county board meeting.

A sheriff’s operation master plan was presented as an option for what the county can do with the downtown Urbana jail and the satellite jail.

The facilities committee already approved the plan with a 5-0 vote.

Chief Deputy Allen Jones said the plan will explore relocation to one shared building in order to increase efficiency.  

“It takes a look at where the future of the sheriff’s office could be as far as the size and the different designs of the facilities and how to better accommodate the needs of inmates that we have,” said Jones.

The condition of the downtown jail has been a concern for years. This plan may result in the closing of that facility.

But, some community members are concerned that a new facility means jail expansion.

 “If we have to close, if that’s the outcome, then where are we going to put those beds,” said Facilities Committee Chair Stan James.

James said a new facility would relocate beds, not add additional ones.

With full county board approval a planning process can begin, and is expected to last 4 to 6 months.

The meeting is Thursday at 6:30pm at the Brookens Administrative Center.