Dallas County is moving forward with plans to build a new jail facility, a project estimated to cost more than $5 billion and expected to take close to a decade from planning to completion. The initiative aims to replace the aging Lew Sterrett Justice Center at 111 Commerce Street, which has been in operation for nearly 50 years and is facing severe overcrowding.
County Judge Clay Jenkins told WFAA that construction on the new jail will begin in 2026. He noted the complexity of such large civic projects, stating, “You don’t just throw up a jail in nine months or a year,” and compared the timeline to other major undertakings like the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center overhaul.
A key decision still pending is where the new jail will be located. Jenkins confirmed that while state law requires the facility to remain within four miles of the county courthouse, several sites are under consideration. He said Dallas County expects to purchase land for the new jail later this year, which would solidify plans and initiate one of the largest public-sector developments in North Texas in recent decades.
The current jail complex occupies 15 acres of riverfront property between Dallas’ two Calatrava bridges along the Trinity River—a highly visible location near downtown. The land is valued at $109 million according to appraisal district records. Moving the jail could open up this area for redevelopment, with possibilities including a new arena for the Dallas Mavericks among other potential projects.
“If you were building a jail now, you probably wouldn’t build it right in the middle of the postcard, front door of Dallas,” Jenkins told WFAA.
Jenkins also highlighted that mental health treatment and reducing recidivism will be central features of the new facility’s design, aiming to address shortcomings at the current site.
This move comes as part of broader development activity in Dallas, including ongoing efforts related to convention center renovations and property tax adjustments across Dallas County.
