About the Jail Remodel and Expansion Project

Clark County Jail Services has two facilities, the main jail which is adjacent to the County Courthouse in downtown Vancouver, and a smaller facility located on Lower River Road near the Port of Vancouver. 

The main jail opened in July 1984 with a capacity of 300 beds. The facility on Lower River Road, known as the Jail Work Center, opened in 2000 but has been closed since in 2020. While there have been some updates made to the main facility, much has changed in the last 40 years and the current structure and layout of the main jail needs to be updated to accommodate current and future needs. 

County staff recently has been reviewing both buildings and working with an internal Jail Steering Committee and architectural consultants to determine the best and more efficient uses.

Currently, Clark County is updating the Jail Work Center by adding what will be known as the J Pod. When complete, the J Pod will have 64 medium-security beds. The project is anticipated to be finished in 2026.

The county also is working on adding the H Pod in the main jail facility. This project is anticipated to completed in 2025 and will add 56 minimum-security jail beds. However, there is still much more needed for the main facility. 

During a February 12, 2025, work session, the Clark County Council directed Jail Services staff and the county’s finance team to bring back all potential funding options for a jail remodel and expansion project which is estimated to cost $471.5 million. The funding options also will need to consider the ongoing operational costs including staffing and maintenance expenditures.