For decades, Houghton County has grappled with a jail facility that no longer serves the community’s needs. Now, county officials are taking a new approach to solve the problem.
Houghton County will host an industry day on July 15 at Franklin Township Hall on US 41 to invite contractors interested in partnering with the county to build a justice center. The facility would house a jail, sheriff’s office, and space for the district court to perform arraignments.
The county has sought bond millages at four past elections, failing most recently in August 2025. For several months, a jail committee has analyzed those past attempts and previous designs to better inform a fifth attempt coming in November.
“We are urging the county board to write a millage that speaks to the voters about what they will see as advantages,” said Faith Morrison, co-chair of the jail committee. “What will they get out of a yes vote if they vote yes on the millage? So we want to point out the issues like a safer facility for the working staff, a place where the real problems that those who are detained have such as addiction and mental health, and a safer place for the medical staff which have a tiny space.”
The current facility, built in 1963, has become inadequate. The sheriff’s department and jail operate within limited space, with equipment, electronic data, and offices kept separate from the jail.
“We’re at some effort to make the case to the public that what’s needed is a larger space for the law enforcement support activities that go around the housing,” Morrison said. “The housing is also inadequate and doesn’t meet current standards. But the bigger problem is that the scaling of the support spaces is really not safe.”
The proposed justice center would address multiple operational challenges. The sheriff’s department not only runs the jail but also provides security for all operations throughout Houghton County.
“This space would also include an arraignment area so those that are going to appear in district court wouldn’t have to be brought to the existing courthouse, which would reduce security needs,” said Tom Tikkanen, chairman of the Houghton County Commission.
Contractors can attend the industry day in person or online to learn more about the county’s needs and desires for the justice center project.
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