The current Cuyahoga County Corrections Center is outdated and no longer meets the needs of our community. A new facility will provide a safer, higher quality and more humane environment that prioritizes the needs of residents and staff.

The Central Services Campus will be built in Garfield Heights on 72 acres near Transportation Boulevard and Granger Road, acquired by the County in 2024. The property is centrally located, environmentally clean, connected to public transportation, and allows for low-rise construction.

The current program budget is $889M. Costs have been reduced by decreasing the square footage, reducing the total number of beds, and using existing buildings to minimize unnecessary construction costs, without compromising the quality and environment of the facility or limiting planned programming.

The facility will be financed through a 40-year extension of a 0.25% sales tax which was approved by Cuyahoga County Council in 2023.

It's too early to determine what impact, if any, the new Central Services Campus will have on property taxes.

The project is expected to begin with the demolition of existing structures in late 2025. The new facility is expected to be operational in 2029.

Currently, the plans for the Central Services Campus include 1,886 beds, a number that meets operational needs, while continuing Cuyahoga County’s efforts to reduce the jail population.

The new facility will include a variety of enhanced services to include:

• Upgraded medical, substance abuse, and mental health services
• An on-site Reentry Resource Center to connect residents with basic needs such as transportation and housing, employment, and other supportive services.
• A Behavioral Care Center that will provide trauma informed care in a secure facility as an alternative to jail.
• Each housing unit will include recreation areas, providing opportunities for exercise, fresh air and light for residents.
  

Yes, the new facility will offer both in-person and video visitation.

The current County Corrections Center will no longer be used when the new facility is fully functional.

Cuyahoga County is continuing to evaluate opportunities to reduce the jail population through pre-trial detention reduction strategies and diversion efforts. The County continues to work with our partners in the justice system to identify innovative ways to reduce the jail population and time spent in the jail.

The Diversion Center will not move into the new facility; however, a Behavioral Care Center is included in the plans which will provide trauma informed care in a secure facility as an alternative to jail.

Cuyahoga County is partnering with the ADAMHS Board and the Centers to create a new crisis receiving center that will treat people suffering mental illness and addiction. The center will open in 2026 on the old St. Vincent Hospital Campus.

There will be an expanded modern central booking space in the new facility.

The county is working with our internal staff and the courts to identify transport needs as we work through the operations of the new facility. We are also talking with our sister counties in Ohio and outside of the state that have jails that are not connected to the courthouse to understand best practices and efficiencies. The new facility will also offer space for virtual meetings.

The new facility will provide a more friendly and conducive space for employee satisfaction. There will be a host of amenities, including free parking, which will attract and retain staff.

Currently, the average length of stay is 34 days. The County is seeking to reduce that number with the implementation of the modernized central booking project.

The policies are guided by ODRC state standards and Cuyahoga County has consistently met or exceeded those standards.