Benton County, Indiana
County Jail, Sheriff’s Depart., and Dispatch Facility
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The Benton County jail building includes the sheriff’s department
with the county dispatch. The building is located next to the 1874
courthouse. The placement of the building meant that the jail had
to stay one-story as much as possible. The existing historic courthouse
had to have the most visual impact on the courthouse square. The
project was favored by the Benton County Historical.
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The indorsement by the historical society was an important issue,
due to the lasting impression that the new jail was going to have
on the courthouse square. As can be seen in the photos, the building
is only one-third the height of the courthouse. The brick for the
new jail match perfectly to the 1874 brick. The match of the brick
and the accents of the limestone in the new building provided a
small and yet, not overpowering setting.
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The new building is located on the “back” side of the building.
The jail is approximately 20’ away from the existing courthouse.
The building are connected by a half-buried corridor, which allows
for the transfer of prisoners without ever leaving the buildings.
The project was started in 1991 with a study. The building started
construction in 1996 and was completed in 1997. The photo shows
a front porch on the new jail, which makes a more pleasant setting
for the entrance into the sheriff’s department.
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