Taney County Jail Inmate Search

In Forsyth, Missouri stands the medium security Taney County Jail. Initially, a 40-inmate facility completed in 1981, prison overcrowding due to agreements with nearby towns such as Springfield, Missouri demanded a larger facility. Inmates from local city and police jails transferred to the Forsyth site. Sheriffs ran the facility with many prisoners there for 24 hours only. It held inmates being sentenced, waiting a release or those acquitted. Most became released in less than a year. Waiting prisoners received three meals a day, a time of watching TV, and a continuing education program. The one-story facility became known for its then modern updates of electronic doors. County offices resided on the lower level of the site.

In 1991 a generator fire filled the facility with smoke and took part of the roof. The electronic doors had a manual lever system which allowed authorities to open cells and save most of the prisoners. Then the county jail became rebuilt. As the population of Taney County grew so did the need for more cells and eventually, the facility could not accommodate the number of prisoners coming in. At times it refused taking inmates from other cities and jurisdictions.

By 2008 the Taney County jurisdiction enacted a three floored justice center along with a prison that would serve county needs better. It housed prisoners from the Missouri State Highway Patrol and Branson. It then ended its agreement with Springfield, Missouri with a 60-day notice. The new facility of precast concrete with masonry on a steel frame has 116,750 square feet. In that space lays a 44,500 square feet with 264-beds in which 134 cells have double bunks. The design has flexibility with the 14 dayrooms can have 16 to 20 beds to accommodate different housing classifications. A central control center with a satellite control system now monitors the housing area. Defensible during emergencies with vault resistant six-foot high center and a slow access entry helps keep the peace.

HMN Architects designed 9,900 square feet to become the law enforcement center. The sheriff's office, administrative offices, and dispatch services take care of inmates from the first call to the lockup in the cell. After the stay in the jail the same space has prosecuting attorney offices, juvenile offices, two jury trial courtrooms, two non-jury courtrooms and most importantly the judge’s chambers. Officials hope that the new facility will cover their needs for at least ten more years.

Information via

https://www.tulsaworld.com/archive/fire-in-county-jail-in-missouri-kills-inmates/article_aac31e50-b838-5cc7-90f2-11b7e1f31203.html

http://bransontrilakesnews.com/news_story/article_c36ed6d8-fb59-11e5-82d7-93c56e049106.html

https://hmnarchitects.com/project/taney-county-justice-center/

http://bransontrilakesnews.com/news_free/article_182db45a-ab63-11e6-af4b-bfb11802e46d.html