Justice Planners is one of the nation’s leading providers in the planning of detention, correctional, special needs, and juvenile facilities. Form follows function is a principle of design which states that the shape of a building should primarily relate to its intended function or purpose. Our up-front facility planning process identifies an agency’s operational needs to determine the requirements of a facility. We are not an architectural firm and are not biased towards new and larger facilities. We are, however, committed to identifying the justifiable facility needs of an agency, and providing an objective process of developing a plan for new or rehabilitated facilities that meets the needs of our client.

A detention center should not be viewed as a stand-alone entity. It is one of many parts of the criminal justice system. Therefore, Justice Planners takes a system approach to assessing needs that may include state and local statutes that impact law enforcement practices, case filing and processing efficiencies, jail diversion programs, sentencing clternatives, and facility expansion or replacement options.

Master Planning

We will develop a comprehensive plan and approach for developing of a facility(ies) within a jurisdiction. This may include a criminal justice system assessment, a needs assessment for the facility and its operations, as well as inmate population and bedspace projections. The long-range plan may include capital and operating cost projections, phased construction, and transitional plans to occupy the new/expanded facility.

Facility Assessment

The conditions at an existing facility will be assessed including the safety and security of all facility users, efficient utilization of all spaces, standards and case law compliance, program objectives, living and working conditions, and the potential for renovation/expansion.

Operational & Architectural Programming

We will work with the client to develop operating principles/approaches for a new or rehabilitated facility, including the defining of an operational philosophy, creating mission statements, identifying specific programs and the determination of movement and security protocols.

We will also develop the physical design requirements for all functional components of the facility. This includes a room-by-room space program and functional adjacency diagrams for all areas of the facility, using applicable state and national standards and best practices.

Staffing Analysis/ Operating Cost Projections

The personnel requirements for a facility will be identified and defined based upon the desired operations and will include the computation and application of appropriate relief. Annual operating costs will be projected based on projected staffing requirements.

The staff at Justice Planners have decades of detention operations experience. We have utilized this experience across the United States (and internationally) to assist our clients in a variety of operational planning and analysis projects. Our goal is to help make facilities safer for all users, more professional, and a better place for staff to work. Operational Analysis services include:

Staffing Analyses

Our team will work with the client to determine staffing needs based upon the physical constraints of the facility, staff interviews and observations, identified posts, operational requirements, the inmate population being detained, and the programs/services provided to inmates and staff. Proper staff relief will be calculated through a net annual work hour analysis. A total staff FTE recommendation will be provided along with appropriate salary/benefits implications. 

Security and Operations Audits

We can assess a facility’s operations to identify actionable recommendations for facility operations based upon Standards and Best Practices. These recommendations will identify opportunities to improve processes, personnel management, the use of technology and potentially reduce costs without negatively affecting the safety and security of the facility, it’s staff, inmates, and the public.  

Policy and Procedure Development

Everything must support the mission of the facility. We will work with staff to develop operational scenarios, draft policies, procedures, and post orders that reflect the actual operations instead of boilerplate language. We can also review and assess agency-generated policies and procedures for compliance with state and national standards and industry best practices.

Justice Planners offers a planning approach that guides clients through the complex decision-making process of planning, designing, constructing, and occupying new and/or renovated facilities. Since the situation of each client is unique, our approach to planning will be tailored to meet the specific needs of the jurisdiction in the development of flexible and realistic plans for the long-term.

Our planning team specializes in both strategic system planning and facility development consulting for corrections, justice, public safety, and government facilities. While a major result of the planning effort is often a constructed facility, our planning approach embraces the functional aspects of system components to define needs, resources, and solutions in a manner that requires accountability at all levels of decision-making. The work throughout our unique planning process is conducted in partnership with clients to clearly define the   operational requirements that will in-turn guide the design of the facility.

Unlike most other government or justice functions the Jail is a 24-hour round-the-clock 365 days-a-year operation that has substantial security and life safety requirements. The security- related positions or posts in the Jail must be staffed even when the scheduled officer calls in sick, takes vacation or is away on required training. Too often this is accomplished by an on- duty officer covering an additional post or by calling-in off- duty staff to work overtime. Both options can be costly. Overtime is expensive, and an officer that is handling multiple security posts jeopardizes the safety and security of the facility.

Our founder managed the development of on the Staffing Analysis Workbook for Jails: Second Edition, which was produced by the National Institute of Corrections, and is considered the “industry standard” process for determining appropriate staffing for local corrections. He has used this proven process to conduct staffing studies for agencies across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.  

Transition is much more than just moving out of one facility and into another. It is a crucial part of facility development process involving a complex set of tasks that need to be completed prior to the actual move. It involves defining the mission and operational philosophy of a facility, how inmates and staff will be treated, and determines all the “nuts and bolts” details of how a facility will logistically operate. It also extends into the months following occupancy when the new facility must be evaluated.

Our staff have extensive experience providing transition and activation assistance to local and federal jurisdictions across the United States and abroad.  

The following is a list of major transition/activation activities that must be planned and corrdinated prior to opening a new facility.

• Preparing and managing the Transition Budget.
• Managing change
• Construction overview
• Developing/revising a facility Mission Statement
• Effectively Managing Inmate Behavior
• Creating a Facility Master Schedule
• Recruiting, Hiring, and Evaluating Staff
• Developing Job descriptions
• Creating Operational Scenarios 
• Developing Policies and Procedures 
• Developing Post Orders
• Managing Furniture, Fixtures, Equipment and Supplies
• Training Staff and Facility Users
• Orienting and Training Inmates 
• Developing a Move Plan
• Conducting a Post Occupancy Evaluation