Vernon County 

Sheriff's Office and Jail Facility

A grand opening celebration is scheduled between 2:00 and 4:00 p.m. next Friday and the facility is to be open for tours from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. May 30 and between 1:00 and 5:00 p.m. May 31 at 2040 E. Hunter Street. The one-night "lock-up" to help the Children's Center's efforts to help abused children and their families is to begin at 6:00 p.m. May 30. Children's Center volunteer Jeff Feuquay says several area residents have expressed an interest in spending a night in the new jail -- before the prisoners arrive -- and "bond-out" arrangements can be made for a donation to the Children's Center.

This is the new "Sheriff's office and Vernon County Jail".  It is basically finished now and will be in full operation June 1st. 2009.  The cost is nearly 10 million dollars and is "State of the Art".  I have toured the jail and can tell you, it would be a really creepy place to be put in!

This is the Dispatch area, that I understand will handle Vernon County and Nevada calls and dispatch duties.  These are some of the very few windows that you can see out of.

When a prisoner arrives and is hard to control (violent).  This is the first cell available and he or she can be pushed in and the door slammed, until they decide to cooperate.  Take note, nothing but a toilet and concrete floor.  By the way, all the cell floors are concrete.

This is the booking area.  Notice the prisoners stand below the arresting officer as if to say, you are ours, this is the way your entire stay will be.  I must say that the entire facility is, to say the least, intimidating!

This is one of the Double Cells.  Notice that everything is metal.  Even what appears to be a mirror is made of Stainless Steel.  The shower will only stay on for a  very short amount of time and the hot water only stays on for 15 seconds at a time.

This one of the "Pods" for holding multiple prisoners.  Again notice all the tables stools and beds are made on metal.  Again notice the prisoners cannot see out of the windows. Floors are concrete.

Another "Pod" believed to be more secure than the other "Pod" and I think was originally for female inmates, but can be used for either.

This is the "state of the art" kitchen facility.  Everything needed to feed 83 inmates, including a soup machine that makes 30 gal of soup at a time.

This is the position of the jailer.  From here everything is controlled, Cell doors, lighting, water, cameras (everywhere) and temperature.  At this time, this is the most secure a jail can be.  If someone was escaping, I have no idea how they would find their way out.  Even the Sheriff can't get out with the same key card he came in with.

When the dates are set for the tour, I suggest that everyone in Vernon County take the tour.  You will sleep better at night.

I have heard many mothers say that they are going to take there children on the tour.  What a future crime prevention tool!  Maybe a field trip?