Wilkes County Law Enforcement Center

In an effort to streamline their operations and consolidate several different, out-of-date facilities, Wilkes County contracted Cope Associates to create a new 120,000 square foot law enforcement center. The facility is planned for future expansion to 412 inmates, and is currently being built to handle 298 inmates, 56 of which will be federal inmates. Half of the new facility is dedicated to detention, with the other half being used for offices, sheriff’s administrative functions, a new 911 communications center, and a new magistrate’s office. All of this is designed to alleviate strain on the existing courthouse, which the law enforcement center will be connected to via bridge, allowing secure transport of detainees from the facility to the courthouse.