Construction began on July 14, 2015, exactly 100 years after the dedication of the original courthouse. The new Justice Center opened in January, with the exception of the jail, which is awaiting certification.

The main floor of the Justice Center houses the jail, dispatch center and law enforcement center. The 14-employee sheriff’s department has moved out of cramped quarters in the old courthouse to more efficient space in the new center.

Chief Deputy Corey Bristol said evidence once stored in an old vault now has its own evidence room with improved security and storage conditions. The dispatch center also has all new equipment, he said.

The new jail includes four units with total capacity of 40 inmates. The former facility held a maximum of 16 prisoners for up to 90 days. The county is seeking certification that will enable the larger jail to house inmates for up to a year.

Dispatcher Tascha Anderson works in the new dispatch center in the Mountrail County Justice Center March 24.

The jail includes a commercial kitchen, a medical exam room, a small indoor recreational gymnasium, the latest security technology as well as up-to-date holding areas, handicapped-accessible facilities and more functional sallyport and booking area. Working with the local medical facility, the jail will receive a weekly physician’s visit.

Built-in technology allows for video visitation within the jail. The technology includes a kiosk where inmates can electronically submit requests ranging from ordering their commissary needs to filing grievances, enabling correctional officers to focus on other issues.

The jail also is equipped with interactive technology for remote court appearances. When scheduled to appear in court, inmates can be moved through separate elevators and corridors to avoid contact with the public.

The expansion raises the number of courtrooms from one to three. A new smaller courtroom exists for hearings. A larger courtroom suited to jury trials held its first trial at the end of February. Handicapped accessible and capable of seating 94 people, the larger courtroom was designed acoustically to stifle audience sound while carrying conversation occurring in the court chamber. There’s extra room in the chamber to accommodate cases with multiple attorneys or a second clerk.

The previously existing courtroom seats 104 people, but has less space available for attorneys, Clerk of Court Traci Hysjulien said.

Hysjulien’s office has increased its space significantly. The office used to have files stored around the courthouse, and now it is able to bring all that information into one area, she said. In addition, there is more lobby space for the public to research records.

Offices in the expansion were built to accommodate future expansion. The building also was designed to complement the historic architecture of the original building, not compete with it. The two-story addition was designed to match the rock exterior of the old courthouse, but the interior has a more modern look.

State’s Attorney Wade Enget said the attitude was, “Let’s not build a monument. Let’s design functionality.”

The open design encourages traffic flow. Windows and workspace placement creates visibility for staff within offices so visitors never go unnoticed.

The State’s Attorney’s Office had been located outside the courthouse. With the expansion of the position to full-time, the office now is located on the second floor of the Justice Center, along with the Clerk of Court, a jury room, judge’s chambers and the larger courtroom.

The addition connects with the original building on all floors. The new entrance to the courthouse is through the addition, and all who enter must go through security screening.

Klein McCarthy was architect on the project, and Adolfson & Peterson Construction managed the construction.