Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Oct. 26.

Let’s get started with project updates:

• Federal officials broke ground on a nearly $283 million courthouse in downtown Chattanooga, Tenn., designed by HOK and constructed by Brasfield & Gorrie.
• The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office in Florida celebrated the opening of its new $27.5 million headquarters and relocated operations.
• Kansas City officials are pursuing a $120 million renovation and expansion of the city’s unopened temporary modular jail, rather than constructing a new $201 million detention center.
• The new $42 million Duplin County Detention Center in North Carolina is officially open after a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the successful transfer of inmates.
• A nearly $28 million medical and mental health treatment expansion project at the Shelby County Jail in Alabama is now complete.

Moving on to legislation and funding:

• Salt Lake County, Utah Mayor Jenny Wilson has proposed a 13.53% property tax increase to fund a $575 million renovation of the county’s Metro Jail.
• Council members in Clark County, Wash., voted to add two public safety funding measures to the November 3rd ballot, including a $366.2 million bond.

Next, in people news:

• Armor Health announced the appointment of Daniel P. Ritter IV and Benjamin Mitchell as regional operation managers in Ohio and Pennsylvania.
• Angela L. Tillman has been appointed Deputy Superintendent of the Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center in Virginia.
• Dr. Deborah Schult of VitalCore received the 2026 People Helping People Award from the American Board of Correctional Psychology.

Now for this week’s construction reports:

• The Georgia State Financing and Investment Commission has issued an RFQ to design firms for a new $25 million transitional center in Warner Robins, with submittals due Nov. 6.
• The St. James Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana has issued an RFQ for CMAR services for a new Law Enforcement Administration and Operations Complex, with bids due Nov. 24.

And finishing up with events:

• The 2026 IJIS Corrections Technology Leadership Forum will take place in Cape Coral, Florida from Nov. 3–5.

For more details or to access the links mentioned, check out our podcast show notes at correctionalnews.com/podcast.