This story was first published at Colorado Community News.
CENTENNIAL | The Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Office has completed the relocation and build of a new kitchen and laundry area at the Detention Facility, which are part of its multi-phase $46 million expansion of the facility.
Anders Nelson, public information officer for the sheriff’s office, said the upgrades to the kitchen and laundry areas are designed to support the growing inmate population by improving daily operations and enhancing the standard of care within the facility.
“The current facility was built in 1986 to house fewer than 400 inmates. Currently, we house close to 1,000,” Nelson said. “This placed a significant strain on the capabilities of the old kitchen and laundry areas. The new construction of the kitchen and laundry provides a location that better accommodates the current population of the detention facility. This expansion enables us to serve those in our custody better while streamlining daily operations for our staff.”
These upgrades are part of an overall expansion for the facility.
“The “old” kitchen and laundry area provides us with space to expand our medical and behavioral health services,” Nelson said. “Those upgrades will include 43 additional medical and behavioral health beds, increasing the facility’s capacity to 64 beds. This expansion enhances the sheriff’s office’s ability to deliver essential care, aligning with its commitment to rehabilitation and overall well-being.”
Sheriff Tyler Brown said in a press release from the office that the completion of the kitchen and laundry was a critical first step in the expansion.
“But now our focus shifts to expanding medical and behavioral health services. Increasing the number of medical and behavioral health beds will
allow our staff to better meet the growing mental health needs of individuals in our care,” Tyler Brown said.
Nelson said the expansion responds to a need for enhanced infrastructure and services brought on by population growth and increased demand for mental health support in correctional settings.
“The reality is that our detention facility is outdated, and in the coming years, we need to consider replacing it altogether,” Nelson said. “The new kitchen and laundry were designed to be integrated into a new facility.”
The project was funded through ARPA funds. Nelson said construction on the medical and behavioral health wing is expected to be completed by the end of April 2026.
This story was made available via the Colorado News Collaborative. Learn more at https://www.google.com/url?q=https://colabnews.co&source=gmail-imap&ust=1750359713000000&usg=AOvVaw0O0kFFyuYtkvnoGtYE2gDR