Breaking Ground and Building Hope: Watertown’s New $37M Jail Promises Safety and Efficiency
- Steve Jurrens
- Feb 19
- 3 min read
Northeast Radio SD News - Watertown, SD - After years of debate, three public votes, and a decade of planning, the skyline of western Watertown is finally shifting. The long-awaited $37.4 million Codington County Justice Center is rising from the prairie, a project officials say is not just about locking people up, but about the fundamental safety of the staff and inmates who inhabit the space.
In a recent presentation to the Watertown Rotary Club, Codington County Commissioner Lee Gabel and Sheriff Brad Howell detailed the progress of the facility, which is slated for completion in mid-2027.
A Design Rooted in “Operational Security”
The current jail, built in the 1970s, has long been criticized for its “linear” design—long corridors that prevent staff from seeing inmates without being physically present in the hallways. The new facility utilizes a “podular” or “radially” designed housing area, which Gabel likens to a pie.
“If you’re sitting in the control booth of our current jail... you can’t see any inmates,” Gabel explained, highlighting the reliance on over 100 camera feeds. “In the new modern facility... you have the advantage of your peripheral vision. You’re going to be able to react to things that are happening much more quickly.”
Sheriff Brad Howell emphasized that this design isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about life and death. “We’ll be able to pick up if [inmates] are having a beef... we can shut that down right away so we don’t have any inmate-on-inmate assaults, and also you can help shut down some inmate-on-staff assaults.”
Navigating the Costs of “Justice”
The road to this groundbreaking was paved with fiscal hurdles. The project is funded by a $29.65 million bond approved by voters in 2024, supplemented by $6.2 million in county savings.
While some residents questioned the $37 million price tag, Gabel noted that delaying the project further would have only led to costs skyrocketing. “The rate [of inflation on construction] was somewhere between 4 and 5 percent annual inflation... construction just always goes up,” Gabel remarked, noting that a more expansive “Justice Center” proposal in 2014 was estimated at $35 million—a bargain compared to today’s market for a smaller footprint.
Future-Proofing for a Growing Population
The new facility will initially house 108 beds, but the design includes “shelled-in” space—essentially empty wings with finished exterior walls—that can be quickly converted into additional housing if the inmate population grows.
“We want to try to save some money and not have to spend too much in the future,” Gabel said. “Over time, inmate populations go up typically, but hopefully we can continue to control that.”
Modernizing the Court Process
One of the most significant technological leaps in the new jail is the integration of Interactive Television (ITV) for court appearances. By allowing inmates to “Zoom” into court from within the jail, the county significantly reduces the logistical nightmare and security risks associated with transporting inmates back and forth to the downtown courthouse.
“We used to bring 25, 30 inmates on a gang... we’d have to have manpower everywhere,” Sheriff Howell recalled. “It is a good thing that we can be able to keep them in-house and not have to bring them out.”
Community and Subcontractors
The project is utilizing local talent wherever possible, with companies like HDR (a premier jail architect) and Beckenhauer Construction managing the site. The precast concrete panels—the “walls” currently being hoisted into place—are manufactured by the Hutterite-owned Iroquois company, ensuring that a significant portion of the $37 million investment stays within South Dakota.
As the precast walls continue to rise near the local DOT approach, the “Live Webcam” remains a popular fixture for residents tracking the progress of what will soon be the most advanced law enforcement facility in the region. Sensera Public View
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