http://www.msnbc.com/local/KSHB/168856.asp

Johnson County Jail Now Scheduled to Open in Late Spring. LAST SUMMER THE new jail in Johnson County appeared to be one step away from opening. Now, eight months later the cells remain empty and county officials blame it on faulty security electronics system. They cite programming problems and bad wiring and said the contractor is at fault.

Security system is probably one of the most important things in a correctional facility, we dont have assurances inmates behave the way we expect, said one officer.

On February 10, the Countys Public Building Commission set up a project to fix the problems. Theyre using other companies to do the work and the countys legal staff will try to recoup its losses from the original contractor.

In the meantime, the county is farming out inmates to other jails across the state and those expenses added up to about $2.4 billion from February to December last year.

As for when the jail will finally open, officials said if it goes as planned, it should be fully operational in late spring or early summer.

-- Homer Beanfang (Bats@inbellfry.com), February 15, 2000

Answers

Thanks, Homer! This particular jail is located in Olathe, Kansas, not far from where I live.

-- Wilferd (WilferdW@aol.com), February 15, 2000.