After two years of construction and a string of weather delays, Perry County officials and community leaders finally gathered Monday afternoon, Oct. 13, to dedicate the Perry County Joint Justice Center — a modern complex that unites the county’s law enforcement, courts, and judicial offices under one roof.
The event marked a milestone years in the making. The dedication was first scheduled for January 2024 but was canceled when an ice storm struck the region. A second attempt in March 2024 fell victim to a tornado that tore through Perryville. This time, with sunny skies and no natural disasters in sight, the ceremony went on as planned — though county clerk and emcee Jared Kutz joked that officials had “braced for an earthquake.”
Located at 400 W. St. Joseph St., the 60,000-square-foot facility houses the Perry County Jail, Sheriff’s Office, Circuit and Associate Courts, and the Perryville Police Department. Funded through a voter-approved half-cent sales tax passed in 2021, the project was designed and built by Zoellner Construction Co., Inc., with project management by NAVIGATE Building Solutions and architectural design by Dille Pollard Architecture.
A MODEL FOR COOPERATION
Presiding County Commissioner Mike Sauer called the Justice Center “a model facility for counties our size.” The building, he said, not only meets long-term needs but also symbolizes what collaboration between city and county governments can accomplish.
Sauer reminded attendees that the idea grew out of necessity. The county’s former jail had been overcrowded for years, with inmates sleeping on floors and aging ventilation systems causing rust and mold issues. The new facility doubles the jail’s capacity to 80 beds, includes secure transport elevators for inmates, and provides separate waiting areas for crime victims — a major step toward fulfilling the state’s Victim’s Bill of Rights.
“The design gives us efficiency, safety, and dignity all in one place,” Sauer said. “We hope this building will serve Perry County for the next 100 years.”
Sheriff Jason Klaus, whose staff now operates in expanded quarters, said the building has already transformed daily operations. “We finally have the space to do things the right way,” he said. “From evidence storage to jail programming, everything is safer and better organized.”
Klaus noted that the Justice Center also recently added a Safe Haven Baby Box, dedicated earlier this summer. The baby box allows parents in crisis to safely and anonymously surrender a newborn for immediate medical care and adoption placement. During that ceremony, Klaus told attendees, “I pray it never has to be used — but if it does, I want this to be one of the first options a mother thinks of when she wants her child to have a chance at a future.”
DEDICATION DAY
The dedication ceremony began with an opening prayer from Perryville Police Chief Direk Hunt, who also performs local ministries through his church. He asked for blessings on those who serve and protect the community.
Among those recognized were Perryville Mayor Larry Riney, City Administrator Brent Buerck, and Zoellner Construction project leaders Matt Zoellner and Nic Janet. Between speakers, Kutz offered remarks highlighting the teamwork that carried the project through several setbacks.
The ceremony also included the unveiling of a bronze plaque marking the site of a time capsule, to be opened in 50 years. Mayor Riney and Commissioner Sauer held the plaque for attendees to view before its installation.
The event concluded with a ribbon cutting led by the Perryville Regional Chamber of Commerce, officially marking the completion of a project that many described as a “once-in-a-generation” improvement for public safety and county government.
“This building isn’t just about what it is,” Sauer told the crowd. “It’s about what it means. It means progress, partnership, and pride in Perry County.”
TOUR OPPORTUNITIES
Following the dedication ceremony, Presiding Commissioner Sauer spoke about the delays in holding the event and the opportunity for people to tour the facility.
“As you know, the building dedication is an event we actually had scheduled three times," he said. "Our initial goal was to have an open house for the public in December of 2024, and we could not due to delays with elevator installations and functionality, which limited accessibility for our community.
"We then moved the event to early January 2025, when we were hit with the ice storm. And then in March, we wanted to offer limited tours, and we had the tornado. The initial plan was to host a community open house when the building was empty. In mid-January of 2025, that was no longer the case.
"Today, the PCJJC is a fully functioning justice center with two operational law enforcement agencies, courts, prosecutor’s office and a jail. This is a secured facility that houses incarcerated individuals, sensitive court records, trial evidence, as well as weapons and other tactical gear necessary for law enforcement agencies to do their jobs. Unfortunately, it is no longer logistically possible to host a community open house in what is now a secured operational facility.”
“With that being said, Sheriff Jason Klaus will be offering limited guided tours of portions of the building that are accessible from 1 to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 28, and again, from 9 to 11 a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 30,
These tours will showcase the parts of the Justice Center that the public can access safely without compromising the integrity of the building’s intended purpose, which is to safely and securely execute the many branches of justice for our community while also allowing our criminal justice staff members to perform their duties as required.
“Like all Perry County facilities, public portions of the PCJJC are available to be viewed by the public at any time during regular hours of operation.”
