Justice Center moving along
Construction of the Chambers County Justice Center and Jail is moving along smoothly, expected to be operational in about a year. Photo by Chris Cody.
ANAHUAC— The skyline of Anahuac has undergone drastic changes recently with the construction of the new Chambers County Justice Center and Jail, which is expected to be operational in about a year.
The new justice center and jail are expected to be completed by the end of 2026, around October to December, at an estimated cost of $168.3 million.
Construction is moving along smoothly, and if there are no interruptions, such as a hurricane, the county expects to remain on or ahead of schedule until completion.
The 67,000-square-foot, three-story justice center will feature four state-of-the-art courtrooms and judicial offices.
Once construction is mostly complete, staff will begin moving in and preparing the facilities for use. The county court, as well as the 253rd and 344th District Courts, will relocate to the new facility.
Currently, there are no plans to add additional courts or make changes to the current courthouse.
Since the new jail will be able to hold juvenile detainees and adult inmates, the current jail will no longer be needed.
The 30,000-square-foot, two-story law enforcement center will feature a modern crime lab, evidence storage, sheriff’s operations, and the 911 Dispatch Center.
The 104,000-square-foot, single-story county jail will replace the outdated 142-bed facility, built in 1982. The new jail will have 336 beds, complete with modern kitchen and laundry facilities.
There will be ample parking for staff, visitors, and law enforcement vehicles.
An opening ceremony is in the works, with specific details and times to be set at a later date.
The complex will be bordered on the north by Miller Street, bounded on the south by North Court Street and Cummings Street, bounded on the west by Bolivar Avenue, and bounded on the east by South Main Street and Washington Avenue.