Indiana officials consider developer for proposed jail

MUNCIE, Ind. (AP) - County commissioners in Indiana have released details about a proposed jail that would be built in a former school building.

Delaware County officials released details Monday about the response to the county's request for proposals for the jail in the former Wilson Middle School building, the Star Press reported . Indianapolis-area firm BW Development was the only company to respond.

The facility would cost $45 million and have the capacity for up to 750 inmates, according to the firm's proposal. The new jail would be triple the capacity of the current Delaware County Justice Center.

The Justice Center was originally planned for 120 inmates when it opened in 1992. While the limit was later increased to 200, the jail is frequently overpopulated with nearly 300 inmates. An Indiana Department of Correction inspector warned local officials that the county could see problems if the jail continued to operate overcapacity.

The proposed jail would include rooms for courts and offices for the sheriff, prosecutors, community corrections, probation and public defenders. County officials said BW Development would build and manage the project.

The commissioners will hold a public hearing on the proposal June 25.

The Muncie Community Schools opened the Wilson building in 1995, but closed it in 2014 because of declining enrollment. Property management company ASONS renovated it into office space in 2015 before moving out last year amid cutbacks.

Commissioners recently bought the building for $2.9 million.

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Information from: The Star Press, http://www.thestarpress.com