Dakota County leaders were joined by state and local officials Monday, March 10 to celebrate the opening of an innovative addition to the Dakota County Jail.
The 26-person Integrative Health Unit provides unique offerings, including trauma-informed design features that promote wellness and healing for people experiencing mental health or chemical dependency crises. Minnesota Department of Corrections officials believe the unit to be the largest of its kind in the state.
“Take a moment and look around," Dakota County Board Chairman Mike Slavik said at the event, held inside the unit, where morning light shined through skylights. “You don't need to be a design expert to recognize you're not in a typical jail space. Rather, this specialized unit provides features that will reduce stress for inmates struggling with their mental health and other challenges."
The $14.4 million unit was funded through the American Rescue Plan Act. Features include:
- Increased efficiency for county staff and medical vendors
- Improved medical and therapy spaces
- Dedicated resources in one location to best support the overall wellness of those being treated
- Trauma-informed design features, including adjustable white light settings in cells, warm wall colors, wood-look finishes on doors, outdoor-themed murals and planters visible from dayrooms
- Daylight visibility through skylights and dayroom windows
“This specialized and intentional support will enhance our effectiveness and our efficiency of this care," Dakota County Sheriff Joe Leko said. “It will increase the likelihood of success while in custody and after release — having an impact on individuals, families and our community."
Minnesota Department of Public Safety Commissioner Bob Jacobson said the unit serves as a reminder of how far the criminal justice system's mental health resources have come since he was a police officer in the 1980s.
“Dakota County's commitment to this project has turned vision into reality and created an example for how we address mental health needs," Jacobson said. “This facility that provides specialized care for potentially vulnerable inmates is certainly a testament to that."
State Rep. John Huot told attendees the jail project was the result of a multi-year effort first led by retired Dakota County Sheriff Tim Leslie.
“It really shows what Dakota County's about," Huot said. “Like (Commissioner Slavik) said, we aren't going to see this anywhere else in the state right now, which is really fantastic that we're being innovative."