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Jackson County and Kansas City, Missouri, officials announced Wednesday they agreed on a site for a new municipal jail after recommendations from city and county staff and consultants.
It will be adjacent to the current site for the new Jackson County detention center.
Kansas City has more inmates than the current detention center can handle. People arrested by Kansas City, Missouri, police have been taken to jails in Vernon and Johnson counties in Missouri.
"There are people sometimes who say, ‘There is no jail in Kansas City.’ Not quite accurate," said KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas. "If somebody goes out and shoots somebody tonight, there is a place for them to go. If somebody actually goes out and does something lesser but still serious, the city of Kansas City still has lockup and still addresses, actually, a good number of people. So still call 911. We still have the police going out to investigate crimes; there is no anarchy."
Jails in Warrensburg, nearly 45 minutes away, and jails in Nevada, nearly an hour and a half away, have been among some of the facilities picking up the excess.
Councilmember Crispin Rea has been one of the main forces behind the agreement. He explained sending Kansas City inmates to neighboring jurisdictions is not the solution.
"Unfortunately that means some folks have to be released prematurely," councilmember Rea said. "Those facilities retain control so it's not just a capacity issue, it's a control issue."
Additionally, the city used a behavioral center for a time to house inmates.
“Today’s agreement is a significant step forward in addressing the needs of both Kansas City and Jackson County detainees,” County Executive Frank White Jr. said in a news release. “I commend City Councilmember Crispin Rea for his leadership and vision in making this agreement a reality. I also want to recognize the hard work and dedication of city and county staff, who have worked diligently to bring us to this point. This partnership underscores our shared commitment to public safety and responsible governance.”
The city will pay the county $2.3 million for land on the county's new detention center site being built near Interstate 70 and U.S. 40 Highway. The deal settles a back-and-forth discussion between Kansas City and Jackson County since 2019 and marks a key moment of working together.
"[This] reverses what I would argue were some mistakes made about a decade ago in Kansas City when we decided we didn't want to be in the jail business at all and we'd just rent, ironically from Jackson County," Mayor Lucas said. "The years have gone on and we've seen perhaps it's time for a new solution."
Kansas City wants voters to approve an existing sales tax to cover building costs. Councilmember Rea explained it's too early to tell if that means taxes will go up.
"My hope is that this would be a straight renewal asking folks to renew [the public sales tax] so we could fund the construction of this facility," councilmember Rea said.
Councilmember Rea also praised the efforts of White to get a deal done for the municipal detention center.
“County Executive Frank White Jr. has shown exceptional leadership and commitment to our community by working collaboratively to secure a fair and balanced deal for the new municipal detention center,” Rea said in the release. “His thoughtful approach in considering the needs of our neighborhoods and ensuring transparency throughout this process has set a high standard for how we move forward together on critical projects. We appreciate his dedication to creating safe, equitable solutions for all residents.”
The Jackson County Legislature also will consider the approval of the sale agreement. Legislator Manny Arbarca explained he has his own concerns about the deal.
"I think we all agree that we need a city jail," legislator Abarca said. "The reality is there are questions to be asked about the cost the county is charging the city for the land acquisition."
It's a step forward for Kansas City, but the clock is ticking with resident concerns growing.
"We have a spiraling crime issue," councilmember Rea said. "Last year it was homicides, this year it's property crimes. Those crimes, that phenomenon threatens to undermine everything we've built in this city and we've got to get it under control. Detention is one part of that strategy, but it is a part of the strategy."
The new Jackson County Adult Detention Center is scheduled to open in 2026.
The city council passed an ordinance accepting the terms of the land sale and authorizing the execution of the contract.
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