Here’s a schematic showing the location of the two new proposed correctional facilities on Reservation 13. The boundary marked in blue approximately corresponds to the schematic and locates the area on the aerial photo where the new buildings will be built. On the diagram, the red X designates the current Central Detention Facility (CDF}, the DC Jail. The grey building below the blue buildings is the current Central Treatment Facility (CTF). The blue building on the left is the new CDF and on the right, the new CTF. They will front Massachusetts Avenue, SE.
Update & 10 Year Timeline for New DC Jail and the Correctional Treatment Facility
by Larry Janezich
Posted September 13, 2024
Last Monday, ANC6B heard Michelle Wilson, Deputy Director of the DC Department of Corrections (DOC) deliver a presentation on the plan to replace both the DC Jail and the associated Correctional Treatment Facility with two new buildings on Reservation 13. Currently both facilities face serious sanitary, health, and infrastructure issues. At present there are over 2000 residents being held at the two facilities.
Wilson told the ANC that their data shows that 60% of the population suffer from some form of mental illness and that 30% have serious mental illness. Also, 90% of the individuals coming in to the facility have or have previously suffered from PTSD.
She said, “…we are very mindful that we are a correctional institution, we’re not a psychiatric institution or anything of that nature…we’re a jail – we need to address the needs of the individuals coming in to our care and custody…. Our goal is as soon as you enter we are preparing you for release and reentry into the community.” While the new facilities are for men, the DOC is also renovating the Women’s’ Center.
Construction of the new buildings will proceed in two phases; first will be replacement of the existing Central Treatment Facility for residents with mental and behavioral health issues at a cost of $463 million spread over six years which the Mayor has requested in the FY 25 budget. The second building would replace the DC Central Detention Facility (DC Jail) and has not been funded yet, as costs are still being estimated. The buildings will be located at 1901 Massachusetts Avenue., SE. The DOC says that they are taking the approach that the buildings should not look like a jail.
Here’s the tentative timeline:
- Groundbreaking for building 1 – first quarter 2027
- First new building occupied – third quarter of 2030
- Construction of Building 2 starts – first quarter 2031
- Second building occupied – third quarter 2034
For more, go here: https://doc.dc.gov/page/new-correctional-facilit y
CAPITOL HILL CORNER 