Brown County Sheriff's Department & Jail
Hiawatha, KansasPre-Bond Services & New Detention Facility
In Nov. 2008, Brown County passed a bond issue to construct a 41-bed facility that was completed in Fall 2010. The current Brown County Jail was built in 1924 and originally also held the sheriff’s residence. In the 1980s the facility was expended to increase the capacity to 31 inmates and the residential portion of the facility was converted into sheriff’s offices.
The new facility combines the jail with the sheriff’s offices. The facility includes offices for sheriff’s administration, records, deputies, workroom, interview rooms, evidence and property storage.
The jail will house inmates in separate pods to maintain proper classifications. Outdated facilities prevented officers from adequately supervising inmates. The new 41-bed jail features direct inmate supervision in a secure control room with a focus on officer and inmate safety and security. The project cost was funded from a one-half cent countywide sales tax.