Jacksonville begins formal site-selection process for a new jail, setting public meetings and council vote timeline

A major public-safety project enters a structured decision phase

Jacksonville is moving from broad discussion to a formal, consultant-led process to determine where a new Duval County jail should be built, outlining a defined sequence of public meetings and a final recommendation headed to City Council. The work is intended to replace the city’s aging jail complex and create a facility designed for modern custody, medical care and behavioral-health needs.

City leaders have signaled that the location decision will be shaped by operational efficiency, transportation demands across Duval County and the political realities of placing a large detention facility near residential neighborhoods or key economic-development areas. The next steps center on hiring outside expertise to run a structured site-selection effort, rather than choosing among ad-hoc proposals.

Why the city says a replacement jail is needed

A City Council-appointed committee that studied the jail and related public-safety facilities described a system strained by overcrowding, ongoing repair needs and persistent building issues. The committee reported that the current jail was designed for 2,189 inmates but has held roughly 2,600, a level that can limit access to services and increase operational stress. It also documented continuing facility problems and substantial spending on maintenance projects over recent years.

The committee’s draft recommendations pointed toward a campus-style replacement with an in-house infirmary and separate housing areas for different populations, reflecting how incarceration practices, health demands and staffing requirements have changed since the existing facility was built.

What “site selection” is expected to include

Jacksonville’s plan calls for a specialized consulting team to guide feasibility work and manage a site-selection process that weighs functional requirements and community impacts before a final plan is presented to City Council. The process includes two public input meetings as part of the run-up to a recommendation.

• Identification of operational requirements, including transport times from different parts of the city and connections to courts and public-safety partners.
• Screening of potential locations and development constraints, including land availability, infrastructure and room for future expansion.
• Public engagement through scheduled input meetings prior to a final plan being delivered for City Council consideration.

Location options have surfaced, but no site has been selected

In recent months, suggested locations have entered public view through unsolicited private proposals and public discussion. One proposal referenced a Northside area near the intersection of Lannie Road and Ethel Road, close to the Montgomery Correctional Center (often called the Prison Farm). The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has also publicly described concerns about placing a jail too far from where arrests occur, citing the staffing impact of extended transport times.

At the same time, the city’s long-term planning has included discussion of moving the jail out of Downtown, where redevelopment pressures and competing land-use concepts have grown. Cost remains a central factor: the replacement jail is widely treated within city planning as a billion-dollar-scale undertaking, with construction still expected to be years away even after a location is chosen.

Key decisions still ahead include the consultant selection, the short list of viable sites, and the final City Council vote on a recommended location and delivery approach.