Weekly Connections August 25th, 2025

Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of August 25th.

We'll kick it off with project updates:

• The Massachusetts Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance selected DiMillo Construction as Construction Manager at Risk for the new $174 million Framingham Justice Center project, expected to be complete by early 2030.
• This fall, two new facilities totaling $66 million will open at the Bill Santucci Justice Center in Roseville, California, adding 165 beds for vocational and mental health needs. A ribbon-cutting is scheduled for October.
• The new $80 million Beltrami County Jail in Bemidji, Minnesota, is slightly ahead of schedule at around 40% complete and is expected to wrap up in early 2027.

Moving over to legislation and funding:

• Fulton County, Georgia, commissioners approved a $1.1 billion plan to build a new medical and mental health facility for 600 inmates, though Sheriff Pat Labat said the plan neglects urgent maintenance issues at the current jail.
• Oklahoma County Commissioners approved a site and phased construction recommendation for the future county jail, but leaders say more funding is needed as the project cost is now expected to exceed $600 million.
• For the second time, the Sac County, Iowa Sheriff's Office is pursuing a bond to replace the county's 85-year-old jail, this time for $12.5 million.

Moving over to people news:

• The Texas Board of Criminal Justice has appointed Bobby Lumpkin as the new executive director of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice, effective September 1st, succeeding the retiring Brian Collier.
• CGL promoted Joseph McKenna to head of business development for the company's Justice Services division.
• HOK recently announced the hiring of Emily Lawson as regional leader of the firm's civic and justice division in San Francisco.

Heading over to construction reports:

• The Lucas County, Ohio Board of Commissioners is seeking qualifications to perform a conditions assessment at the Lucas County Correction Center, with submissions due September 3rd.
• The Oregon Department of Administrative Services is accepting bids for a $9.2 million renovation to the McLaren Youth Correctional Facility, with bids due on September 3rd.
• The Assumption Parish Police Jury in Louisiana has issued an RFQ for engineering and architectural services for its courthouse renovation project, with submissions due September 18th.
• The Judicial Council of California has issued an RFP for design-build firms for the new Fort Ord Courthouse in Monterey County, with a construction budget estimated at more than $118 million. Bids are due on October 21st.

And finishing it off with events for the week:

• Thousands gathered in Denver last week for the American Correctional Association, Correctional Leaders Association, and Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators Summer Conferences.
• Looking ahead, the Correctional Leaders Association will host its Northeast Region meeting in Bretton Woods, New Hampshire, from September 8th through the 11th.

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