County’s new Transition Center set to open later this year

POUGHKEEPSIE — A new Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center (DCJTC) is under construction, serving as a rehabilitation center for incarcerated individuals. 

Dutchess County Sheriff Kirk Imperati said that the “new facility enhances the safety and dignity of both those who are incarcerated and our correctional team who work here. It is the result of the hard work of many people coming together to address long-standing problems.” 

The center will be able to look at the root cause of crime in the Hudson Valley, and hopefully prevent future criminal relapses. The facility is $20 million under budget and is expected to open later this year. 

The building encompasses 161,987 square feet of space, with many different features inside. The facility will have an infirmary, classrooms, programming areas, kitchens, laundry rooms, improved staff areas, and natural light. 

This design was strategically planned out in order to minimize risk and reduce the number of required officers in the building. 

DCJTC has been researched and assessed since 2012, when the Dutchess County Jail reached capacity almost every day. The jail’s capacity was limited to 250, and the county was housing 550. 

Housing out all of the county’s incarcerated people would cost taxpayers $8 million annually. This option also did not consider the well-being of those who were incarcerated. 

In 2016 the Town of Poughkeepsie approved the $192.2 million budget for the DCJTC design and construction. The enhanced safety and security features and a more valued workplace for the county’s Corrections team helped with the budget. The staff and changes being done for the new facility will lower the annual operation costs compared to the old facility. 

The facility will include immersive rehabilitation and community reintegration, mental health and substance abuse disorder services, education and workforce development training. 

There will also be other programming services such as parenting skills, Bible study, volunteer opportunities, and more. 

Dutchess County Legislature Chairman Gregg Pulver said, “With the construction of the new Justice and Transition Center, we have been able to create a facility that will be a criminal justice model and help people get their lives back on track.”