Indy Locks in Justice Center Location
Subscriber Benefit
As a subscriber you can listen to articles at work, in the car, or while you work out. Subscribe NowThe City of Indianapolis has selected a 40-acre portion of a former downtown GM stamping plant as the location for a proposed criminal justice complex. Developers will start drafting plans for the project, which will include a 3,500-bed detention facility, three dozen court and hearing rooms and office space for the Marion County Sheriff's department. The RACER Trust, which owns the property, has yet to announce development plans for the remaining acreage.
April 25, 2014
News Release
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – After hosting six public meetings, consulting with dozens of stakeholders, and upon the unanimous recommendation of key users of the facility, the City today informed pre-qualified development teams to begin design of a new Marion County Justice Center on approximately 40 acres in the northwestern corner of the GM Stamping Plant location. This site is the preferred location of the Marion County Sheriff, Superior Court Executive Committee, Superior Court Criminal Term, Circuit Court, Prosecutor, Public Defender, Community Corrections, and Indianapolis Bar Association.
“The City appreciates the input received from many people and three decades of study on this project,” said Mayor Ballard. “The many stakeholders of this facility agree the GM site offers better access for the general public, can be developed at less cost, and will produce significant private development opportunities in the surrounding area.”
Development teams will now begin designing plans for the proposed facility that will include 34 criminal court/hearing rooms and offices for the Marion County Sheriff's Office and Probation Department. The center will feature a 3,500 bed detention facility (an increase of 1,100 from current capacity), 750 community correction beds (250 bed increase), 1,500 parking spaces, and room for future office and facility expansion.
In December of 2013, Mayor Greg Ballard, Sheriff John Layton, and representatives for Marion County Judges, joined together to announce plans to seek proposals to build a new consolidated Justice Center for Marion County. The existing jails, courts and office facilities are aging, inefficient and located in separate buildings. For example, a modern jail would only need half as many deputies to guard inmates as the current jails. The different facilities also require tens of thousands of hours transporting inmates back and forth as well as multiple kitchens, laundry and medical facilities. Financial experts believe the new center can be funded through the money saved with a modern facility – no tax increase required.
Click below to read statements of support for the Justice Center at the GM Stamping Plant location from:
–Judge Louis Rosenberg, Marion County Circuit Court
–Judge Lisa Borges, Marion County Criminal Term Superior Court
–Marion County Sheriff John Layton
–Bob Hill, Marion County Public Defender
–Indianapolis Bar Association.
Developer teams will submit their final bids to the City this summer. Key stakeholders expect to identify the team selected to build and manage the facility by the end of the year.
Source: The Office of Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard