BOONE COUNTY, Ind. (December 5, 2022) — The Boone County Commissioners were on hand Monday afternoon with Sheriff Micheal Nielsen and other stakeholders for a groundbreaking ceremony at the new Justice Center. The Commissioners provided the following statement.
“After many years of planning and working through this much-needed development, we are looking forward to seeing this project finally come to fruition.
Despite some setbacks, we are grateful to see the project make headway. More importantly, we believe this is a critical step to move Boone County into the future. The entire project is expected to last 20-24 months, according to the county’s contractor.
From L to R: Community Corrections Executive Director Michael Nance, Director of Capital Investments Max Mendenhall, Sheriff-Elect Anthony Harris, Commissioner Donald Lawson, Commissioner Tom Santelli, Commissioner Jeff Wolfe, and Sheriff Mike Nielsen.
The Commissioners would also like to thank several county offices including the Prosecutor, Coroner, Community Corrections, Probation Services and others for their valued input on this project.
“This was one of the most cost-effective projects we could do and I’m grateful to see it move forward,” Boone County Commissioner President Jeff Wolfe said. “The new Justice Center will ensure our continued advancement in the overall public safety across our community.”
“The expanded Justice Center really addresses those suffering from mental health issues and addiction needs in Boone County,” Sheriff Nielsen said. “We currently do not have the space or facilities we need to make sure all of our inmates are taken care of. I’m happy to see this project moving forward, and it will have long-lasting positive impacts for Boone County.”
Front Entry Rendering (by K2M Design)
“This is a generational investment as a partnership between the Boone County Sheriff, Commissioners, and Council,” said Rob Barnes, Hagerman Group’s Director of Government Affairs and Business Development. “This justice center is truly rethinking criminal justice for the community instead of warehousing people – it values the communication of care to bring people back to becoming productive members of society.”
“As Owner’s Representative, we are honored to provide guidance and oversight to the Commissioners and Sheriff’s Office throughout this entire process,” said Veridus Group’s Jesse Emswiller. “We are excited to see this project push forward and look forward to seeing how it will serve the citizens of Boone County for many decades ahead.”
“When I first met Sheriff Nielsen and the Commissioners, you could tell immediately that they wanted to create a facility unlike any other in the state. They were outside the box thinkers and instantly knew that I wanted to help bring their vision to reality,” said K2m Design President Scott Maloney. “Together we spent many months pouring over all the details to make this state-of-the-art facility everything the county needs to fulfill its mission for those in its care and custody, as well as the employees and providers that treat them. On behalf of the entire K2M Design team it has been an honor and a privilege working with Boone County, the Sheriff’s office, Hagerman, GM Development, and Veridus Group on this transformative endeavor.”
