Weekly Connections August 31st, 2026

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Aug. 31.

Let's get started with project updates:

• Supervisors in Santa Clara County, Calif., unanimously approved a roughly $1 billion plan to modernize the main jail in San Jose and the Elmwood Correctional Facility in Milpitas.
• A new $21 million, 60-bed behavioral health unit opened last week at the Shawnee County Jail in Topeka, Kan., featuring 3 specialized treatment pathways.
• Officials in Amador County, Calif., held a ribbon-cutting ceremony last week for a new $28 million expansion at the Amador County Jail.
• Officials with the Candler County Sheriff's Office in Georgia held an open house this week at its new $12 million jail facility, which replaces its aging facility.
• Dixon County, Neb., is moving into the design phase for its new $12.5 million courthouse project, which will replace the county's 140-year-old facility.

Moving on to legislation and funding:

• The Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority approved borrowing up to $195 million for a new 4,000-bed men's prison in Escambia County, raising the project budget to $900 million.
• Milwaukee County, Wis.'s Capital Improvements Committee unanimously advanced an $896 million plan to build the Investing in Justice Courthouse complex, a new criminal courthouse.

Next in people news:

• Correctional healthcare provider Armor Health has named Tamara Taylor as the company’s first Regional Vice President of Client Relations.
• The North Carolina Department of Adult Correction promoted John “Jay” Craft to judicial district manager for District 8.

Now for this week's construction reports:

• The Oregon Youth Authority is seeking bids for renovation and expansion of the infirmary at the McLaren Youth Correctional Facility, with bids due Sept. 3.
• The Michigan Department of Technology, Management and Budget has issued an RFP for renovations at the Richard A. Handlon Correctional Facility, with bids due Sept. 16.
• The Borough of Wyomissing, Pa., is requesting proposals for a design-build project to modify its existing Borough Hall and Police Station campus, with proposals due Oct. 1.
• Middlesex County, N.J., is seeking bids for design and consulting services to upgrade security technology at the Middlesex County Superior Courthouse, with proposals due Oct. 6.

And finishing up with events:

• From Sept. 8–11, the Correctional Leaders Association's Northeast Region meeting will take place in Bar Harbor, Maine.

For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.