Platte County’s top judge this week told county commissioners that the county not only needs a new jail, but an entirely new courthouse complex.
On Monday, May 1, Presiding Judge Thomas Fincham addressed the commission during its regular administration session regarding the findings of the recent grant jury report. That report uncovered problems at the county jail, with overcrowding at the top of the list.
Fincham said the courts fully support a proposition to build a new jail and he believes there is liability in the current overcrowded jail situation.
While considering its options for a new jail, Fincham also urged the commission to purchase enough land for a justice center or new courthouse in addition to a new jail.
“The current courthouse was build in 1866, the current jail was built in 1998,” Fincham said. “So the courthouse is 122 years older than the jail and we just need a new facility. There’s only so much square footage in the courthouse and there’s only so much space to have people in there.”
Fincham said several of the court offices have had problems with birds and bats in the building.
Circuit Judge Ann Hansbrough has learned through sources in Jefferson City that there is a strong possibility Platte County could receive another circuit court division as early as July, and will need facilities for this new division, should that happen. Currently, Platte County’s circuit court has five divisions and no open courtroom space.
Additionally, the Platte County treatment courts may be in need of a treatment court commissioner by 2025, necessitating yet more office space for that official.
Fincham said Hansbrough suggested that if the courthouse is relocated the current facilities could be used to house juveniles and the juvenile courts.
“The county spends a decent amount of money housing juveniles off-site,” Fincham said, because the county has no juvenile facilities of its own. He said sometimes juveniles are transported as far as Kirksville, Mo. for detention.
If the current jail were refitted for juveniles, the county could increase its revenue by renting space to other Kansas City area jurisdictions.
Fincham suggested commissioners take a look at Harrisonville, Mo. for a template of how to build a justice complex. While Cass County overbuilt at the time, they have grown into the complex, he said, and Platte County would do the same. Funded by a renewable sales tax, he considers Cass County a good example of how to build a new facility.
Presiding Commissioner Scott Fricker said he agreed with the jail overcrowding problem, with the overall crime numbers increasing each year.
“We haven’t come to any decision at all about the future of the jail, but we talk about it every week,” Fricker said, adding they expect Bill Garnos’ updated jail population study to be delivered within the next two weeks.
Fricker said the upcoming ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act) improvements at the courthouse will address the problem with creatures in the courtrooms.
District commissioner Joe Vanover said ARPA-related plans to relocate the sheriff to the resource center, shift the prosecutor to the old sheriff’s office and to free up space in the courthouse building could provide the space needed for a new courtroom.
District commissioner Dagmar Wood clarified that there is currently no proposition on the table for a new jail facility.
Circuit Judge Quint Shafer also spoke, with his focus on his concerns with courthouse security.
“As judges we handle many high pressure cases where individual liberties are at stake,” Shafer said, noting he often handled high-conflict cases involving both criminal and family law. “It’s vitally important for us and for our community that the judicial process operates independently and free from harm or intimidation and it’s paramount to the rule of law that this occur.”
Shafer chairs a safety committee and last year held several meetings with stakeholders, including the prosecutor, sheriff and others, about the security of the courthouse building. A report was generated, but that report will not be made available to the public. Information pertaining to facility security is exempt from the Missouri Sunshine Law.
Shafer said the plan would protect everyone in the courthouse, not just a few, but attempts to locate outside grant funding to address security needs had so far failed.
Fricker said he was aware of plans to reconfigure the lobby area of the courthouse building and the county plans to use ARPA funding to address those concerns.