The Macon-Bibb County Commission in Georgia has selected an architect for the up-to-$31 million Bibb County Law Enforcement Center renovation project. Construction is expected to begin in 2026.
The project will implement significant improvements and expansions for the existing jail. The project aligns with the mayor’s efforts to secure the county’s safety and provide quality care for incarcerated individuals.
The expansion effort will be broken up into three phases. The first phase will center around demolishing a building to make room for additional parking with up to 76 new spaces. The second phase will address ongoing issues inside the jail, notably within the infirmary area. The final phase will prioritize the construction of a maximum-security housing pod.
Once completed, the project will include up to 150 beds, including 96 maximum security beds and 24 healthcare beds. The latter beds will be used to help treat chronically or mentally ill inmates.
The expansion cells will be built off-site and later transported in and stacked together as part of the construction process. The cell design will enable the county to later pick them up and move them should the cells need to be relocated.
Photo by Boston Public Library, Public domain, from Wikimedia Commons