Case Study | Corrections: Hamilton County Jail South Addition

Hamilton County required a facility to meet the changing needs of law enforcement—the evolving role of the Sheriff’s Office and rapidly-growing municipal Police Departments. The space also needed to include a consolidated 911/Emergency Operations Center for compliance with Indiana’s Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) Consolidation Program.

Acting as Principal in Charge, Architect of Record, and Lead Designer, Joe Mrak designed and proposed an expansion on the south side of the existing jail facility to meet the County’s needs. After expanding the space, the first floor housed the Sheriff’s patrol, detectives, crime investigation laboratories, and evidence processing and storage areas, while the Sheriff’s office was renovated to provide space for Sheriff’s administration and record divisions. The lower-level space that formerly housed the old EOC and dispatch area was expanded to make room for a new 27-position 911/Communication and Emergency Operations Center, and training and other support functions were moved to a dedicated facility elsewhere on the campus.

The expansion project met the County’s ongoing growth and expanding law enforcement needs with a sophisticated design, separating the facility’s functions by floor level while providing a renovated Sheriff’s office and a consolidated 911/Communications and Emergency Operations Center.