Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of July 20.

Let’s get started with project updates:

• Williamson County, Texas officials marked the topping out of the county’s $90 million Juvenile Justice Center expansion, which is expected to be completed by the summer of 2027.
• Leaders in Orangeburg County, S.C., held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new $60 million courthouse project, which is expected to be completed in two years.
• A Monroe County, Ind., subcommittee voted to recommend renovating and expanding the existing jail complex in downtown Bloomington using the adjacent county-owned Curry Building.
• Officials in Hillsborough County, N.H., are considering plans to build a new $285 million, 485-bed jail in Goffstown to replace the current facility in Manchester.

Moving on to legislation and funding:

• A federal judge appointed former Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Director Annette Chambers-Smith to oversee healthcare across Arizona’s nine state-run prisons.
• Commissioners in Lorain County, Ohio began public hearings on two proposed sales tax measures to fund the construction and operation of a new $142.6 million, 540-bed jail facility.

Next, in people news:

• ModCorr has appointed 40-year construction and infrastructure veteran Eric Kishel as Executive Vice President.
• GFT has named David McRoberts, CPP, Principal Advisor, Justice Systems, Operations & Public Safety Infrastructure.
• The Delaware County, Pa., Jail Oversight Board appointed Jeffrey Lange interim warden of the George W. Hill Correctional Facility.
• Armor Health has appointed Dr. Syretta James as Chief Behavioral Health Officer.

And now for this week’s construction reports:

• Architect Goodwyn Mills Cawood and construction manager Volkert Inc. are prequalifying contractors for the new $500 million Escambia Men’s Prison project in Alabama, with proposals due July 30.
• The Grand Traverse County, Mich., Sheriff’s Office is requesting proposals from vendors for inmate communication systems at the Grand Traverse County Jail, with proposals due August 5.
• The State of Delaware is seeking bids for the expansion and renovation of the infirmary at the Baylor Women’s Correctional Center, with bids due August 20.

And finishing up with events:

• The National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives’ 50th Annual Training Conference will take place from July 24–28 in Dallas.
• The American Correctional Association’s 156th Congress of Corrections, the Correctional Leaders Association Summer Conference, and the Council of Juvenile Justice Administrators Summer Juvenile Justice Leadership Forum will be held concurrently in Pittsburgh from July 30 through Aug. 2.

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