The planning and construction of a jail facility can span months and sometimes years especially if a referendum is involved. When the construction crews have left the scene and there’s a completed building in front of you, it can be difficult to understand why you can’t begin the move-in process.
Before you can occupy the facility, the jail must be commissioned and undergo a rigorous quality assurance process, ensuring compliance with strict security, regulatory, and operational standards.
While the formal process of commissioning a jail facility happens after construction, the planning process begins long before breaking ground.
RELATED RESOURCE: Guide to Jail Construction Planning
In simple terms, jail commissioning is the process of verifying that all systems, equipment, and building infrastructure are working properly prior to occupying the facility.
Every facility operates differently, and one state may have jail commission standards that another state doesn’t. For example, the State of Wisconsin requires a special inspection for smoke control systems. Another requirement is that all video recordings must be saved for a minimum of 120 days. These compliance standards, along with hundreds of others, must be met.
Examples of systems that require testing include:
Once the commissioning process is complete, the Department of Corrections (DOC) will conduct their final inspection. When they arrive, no one can be in the building and it must be locked down.
Samuels Group has built and commissioned several jail facilities and has fine-tuned the process. Even so, no two projects are alike, each having different materials, contractors, systems, and stakeholders.
In the end, coordination of all these separate entities becomes the biggest challenge. Staying current with compliance requirements is also a must. Adding to the challenge is the complexity of the systems and standards.
To ensure each system operates properly requires a lot of programming behind the scenes. Rarely does one system operate independently of another; the card access system is tied to the intercom system and door hardware, for example. This can make it difficult to pinpoint where a potential issue may stem. For example, there could be numerous reasons why a door doesn’t operate properly. Is it bad hardware, faulty wiring, improper installation, software programming, a bad sensor, or something else?
There may be up to six different trades involved in troubleshooting a single issue, and it can take hours to figure out what might otherwise seem a simple fix. That’s why working with reliable contractors and having a dedicated construction manager who stays on top of every aspect of a project is critical.
A building must be 100% turnkey before beginning the commissioning process; you can’t have one piece that isn’t done. A construction manager’s job is to coordinate various third-party contractors along with the construction company’s own work crews and the project owners to ensure everything works properly, and to address any issues prior to handing the facility over to the DOC for final inspection.
RELATED RESOURCE: Modern Correctional Technology Integration For Jail Facilities
The timing of the jail commissioning project will depend greatly on the size of the facility and the availability of inspectors. It may take a few weeks or up to a few months depending on whether any issues are identified.
To streamline the process, Samuels Group coordinates third-party contractors and inspectors as far in advance as possible. Some may come from other states, requiring additional coordination and travel. When building the project schedule, there is time allotted for the commissioning process. However, final deployment is determined closer to completion of the project.
Quality craftsmanship, systems, and attention to detail are a given. Ultimately, the more coordination and communication that happens upfront between architects, engineers, security experts, and third-party contractors, the smoother the commissioning process will be.
When it comes to jail facilities, security and safety are top priorities. Everything must be in order and workers must be fully trained on the systems before inmates can be moved in. No one can afford for a door to not lock properly or for a fixture to come loose and be used as a weapon. It’s important to protect everyone involved, including the inmates.
Working with a construction company experienced in building jail facilities is just as crucial. The complexity of these facilities requires a deep understanding of security protocols, regulatory compliance, and system integration. A seasoned team of jail construction professionals not only streamlines the commissioning process but also helps mitigate potential risks by proactively addressing challenges before they arise.
The team at Samuels Group has such experience and has successfully built and commissioned several jail facilities in Wisconsin and Iowa. If you’re exploring the possibility of a new or renovated jail facility, check out our Guide to Jail Construction Planning below, and request a free consultation today.
