Funding for new Cole County juvenile center in limbo after state legislature fails to pass bill
Erika McGuire
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
State funding for a new juvenile center in Cole County is uncertain after the Missouri legislature failed to pass House Bill 19 on Wednesday.
About $4 million of the more than $14 million project would have come from the state.
The project has been in works since 2022 and would have been built at 2204 St. Mary’s Blvd.
Cole County Commissioner Sam Bushman said in an email Wednesday morning that having a new facility built is critical. Bushman said the original plans included eight detention cells and a half-court basketball gym.
“This could be shrunk down to a good-sized exercise room, with a basketball goal outside.” Bushman said.
However, Cole County Sheriff John Wheeler said making the facility smaller and reducing the number of detention cells is not an option.
“If they can come up and do it for $10 million, I would be all for it. But I am not supportive of reducing the programing that we have invested or designed in the facility I am not for reducing that at all,” Wheeler said. “It would be more ridiculous to spend $12 million and then still house juveniles out because it’s not big enough.”
The current facility on Stadium Boulevard in Jefferson City is more than 30 years old and only has three detention cells.
Wheeler said only having three cells forces the county to move juveniles to other facilities, costing thousands in transportation and housing expenses.
“If you get certified as an adult, you have to remain at the juvenile center and I have to pay for it. I am paying if the juvenile goes to Cole County juvenile. I have to pay Cole County juvenile because its my prisoner,” Wheeler said.
Safety is also a key priority for a new facility. Wheeler says the current center’s setup has led to numerous injuries for officers.
“How many juvenile officers have been injured because of the way the set up is, its quite a bit, how many assault there has been there of the juvenile officers,” Wheeler said.
The remaining $10 million for the project would come from the American Rescue Plan Act and Cole County. However, Wheeler says he’s unsure where the funding would come from for the remaining $4 million.