Public Safety Center

In 1994 Moffat County put together a Jail Advisory Committee that was appointed by the Moffat County Board of Commissioners. The Jail Advisory Committee was formed with the mission and task to provide leadership and guidance in the selection of programs, planning and design to help meet the future correctional needs of Moffat County. The committee was comprised of local citizens of Moffat County.

The Jail Advisory Committee contacted the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) for assistance in identifying problem areas such as current jail staffing operations, plant operations, and the relationship of the jail to the local community. It was determined that an application for local systems assessment would be submitted to the NIC. The NIC toured the existing Moffat County Jail and reviewed operations. The findings of the NIC indicated that there were many deficiencies, not only in the physical plant, but also in the operations of the facility that could not be corrected by remodeling or operational changes. Also, the existing facility did not meet the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements. The current facility prevented the staff from continuously observing the inmates to prevent suicides, fights, and other problems. The Moffat County Commissioners agreed to hire a consulting management team to help aid the long Process of building a correctional facility. The firm of Voorhis/Robertson Justice Services Inc. was selected as the consultants.

In February 1996, the Jail Advisory Committee presented evaluations and recommendations to the Moffat County Board of Commissioners. The commissioners were informed that based on the studies, audits, and inspections conducted by the National Institute of Corrections, American Corrections Association , and the Department of Justice , a new public safety center was needed.

During the following months, a partnership was formed between the Moffat County Sheriff's Office, City of Craig Police Department, Colorado State Patrol, and the Colorado State Patrol Regional Dispatch Center. All four entities agreed to be housed in the same facility; use shared building space; such as training rooms, break areas, program areas and reception areas.

In the 1997 November election, the people of Moffat County elected to transfer a portion of the County's existing sales tax, already in place, to pay for the bonds needed to build a new public safety center. The following April, the voting public went to the ballot polls again and voted for the construction of a new public safety center. The center will not create any new tax burden on the taxpayers. The center will be paid for with the existing tax structure in place. Public bonds were sold to cover the initial expense of the facility.

In January of 1999, Sheriff D. E. Grinstead took office. Sheriff Grinstead was instrumental in forming a new jail work group comprised of department heads from all four agencies. This group acted as an advisory to the commissioners. The work group was an integral part of the selection process for the design build contractor.

In the spring of 1999, DLR Group, an architect firm, was selected to design a footprint of a facility which would meet the needs of all four agencies. By September of 1999, the contracting firm of TCD was appointed to construct the new Moffat County Public Safety Center and DLR Group was retained to finish the design of the facility.

On November 15, 1999, TCD's dirt subcontractor, Wagner Equipment, started moving dirt on the site. It was a long time coming for all of the people who worked so hard and long and donated their time to this project.

A special thanks goes out to the original Jail Advisory Committee that was so instrumental in the planning of the new Moffat County Public Safety Center.