County continues to discuss new jail and 'justice center'

In what is being described as an effort to eventually save local taxpayer dollars, the Cook County commissioners agreed to continue researching the feasibility of building a new jail and law enforcement center.

Cook County Sheriff Pat Eliasen spoke to the county board during a meeting of the commissioners Tuesday, May 23. Eliasen says the key action Tuesday is that any potential justice center or new jail remains in the early stages of discussion or planning.

And though a potential justice system is indeed in the early stages of planning, Eliasen says costs under the current system of jailing for Cook County inmates is not cost-effective.

One option being considered under the feasibility study includes building a much larger jail, new offices for the county attorney and a new base of operations for the county courts.

WTIP’s Joe Friedrichs shares this report on the potential of a new ‘justice center’ for Cook County.