Location: Prestonsburg, Kentucky

Like many older county jails, the old Floyd County Jail was on the top level of the County Courthouse, above the county offices.   The jail did not comply with many of the State physical plant standards and had experienced extensive flooding due to inmate vandalism and system malfunctions, which caused problems throughout the courthouse building.

To remedy these problems, the decision was made by County officials to construct a new jail behind the courthouse.   The topography of the site directly behind the present courthouse was such that the new facility was built on a single level with parking beneath part of the facility, which allows parking for seven vehicles.  

The detention center houses 114 adult males and females in all classification levels.   Confinement areas consist of dorms and cellblocks in a podular design surrounding the facility control room.   Design priorities included: excellent sight lines for staff, ease of staff access to inmates and the public, ease of operations of all systems including, HVAC controls, communications, and security electronics.

Included within the jail are areas for inmate programming, visitation, inside and outside recreation, laundry and kitchen facilities, holding and detox cells, storage and mechanical/electrical rooms and administrative areas.   Two elevators service the jail with one used by the public and a security elevator used by inmates and service companies, which is adjacent to the lower level parking area.   The facility design began in early 1993 and construction was completed in mid-1995.