Dallas County is moving forward with plans to build a new jail facility, which could lead to significant redevelopment opportunities along the Trinity River. The county’s current jail, the Lew Sterrett Justice Center at 111 Commerce Street, was built nearly 50 years ago and faces issues of overcrowding and outdated infrastructure.
County Judge Clay Jenkins stated that work on a replacement will begin in 2026. The project is expected to cost more than $5 billion and may take almost a decade to complete from planning through construction. “You don’t just throw up a jail in nine months or a year,” Jenkins said, referencing the timeline of other major projects like the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center overhaul.
A key issue yet to be resolved is where the new jail will be located. State law requires that it remain within four miles of the county courthouse, but Jenkins confirmed it would not occupy its current position between Dallas’ two Calatrava bridges along the Trinity River. He indicated that land acquisition for the new site is anticipated later this year.
Relocating the jail could have substantial effects beyond corrections infrastructure. The existing complex occupies about 15 acres of riverfront property valued at $109 million, according to appraisal district records. This land has been discussed as a possible location for future high-profile developments, including an arena for the Dallas Mavericks.
“If you were building a jail now, you probably wouldn’t build it right in the middle of the postcard, front door of Dallas,” Jenkins told WFAA.
Jenkins also noted that design priorities for the new facility include improved mental health treatment and efforts to reduce recidivism rates—areas he described as lacking in the current structure.
The potential move comes amid other large-scale development initiatives underway in Dallas, such as overhauls of convention center facilities and scouting locations for sports arenas.
