Vernon County Jail Inmate Search

The Vernon County Jail, located in Nevada, Missouri, has historical relevance within the town. The jail has evolved over the span of decades and has now become part of the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office which is located in west-central Missouri. The Sheriff’s Office/Jail borders the state of Kansas. The small county is located on 837 square miles.

The state-of-the-art Vernon County Jail has a professional staff that provides a safe and secure environment for the prisoners. It provides out-of-jurisdiction housing and is equipped with medical care, screening services, full food service, and a commissary. Vernon houses prisoners from across the state including state sex offenders. This detention center is staffed 24 hours per day, 365 days a year by male and female Correctional Officers. Incarcerated individuals are provided care and maintenance after an arrest or court commitment.

Vernon County was originally named Bad Axe County until 1851. Residents of the new Vernon County wanted a jail. For approximately $1,000, the first county jail was built. The building was only 34 by 16 feet and two stories high. The second Vernon County Jail was constructed in 1880 and included living quarter for the Sheriff in an adjacent building. The jail itself was built out of stone, the sheriff’s living quarters built with brick. The buildings were located on the same property as the current jail.

In 1909, the third Vernon County Jail was built when the need arose for more space. The third jail was constructed for approximately $20,000 and was located on the Courthouse Campus on Decker Street. The exterior was faced with red paving bricks and trimmed with stone. The Sheriff was provided with living quarters and the jail itself could hold 12 prisoners with four cells for men, one for women, one for juveniles and a hospital cell. The old jail was sold for $200 in 1911.

By 1974 additional office space was added to the east side of the jail. In 1990, the prison section of the jail was renovated to hold more prisoners. Electric locks were installed on the security doors. In 1993, the second addition on the east side provided more office space as well as a training area for deputies. Meals were no longer prepared on site and outsourced to vendors.

Vernon County officials decided to construct the fourth Vernon County Jail in 2000, and relocate the building to northern Viroqua. The needs of the facility were researched and the new jail was completed 4 months ahead of schedule and $650,000 below the $10.3 million dollar budget. The new facility was built to accommodate Vernon County jail needs over the next 20 to 30 years.