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Welcome to Weekly Connections! Here is your summary of key updates from the justice industry for the week of Dec. 15.

Let's get into it with project updates:

• The Santa Cruz County, Calif., Sheriff's Office is advocating for a new mental health jail facility, with estimates rising to approximately $350 million. Link: Santa Cruz County Sheriff eyes new mental health jail facility 
• Ground has been broken on a major renovation of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail in Charlottesville, Va., a project estimated at $49 million. Link: Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail breaks ground on renovations
• The Asotin County Justice Complex in Clarkston Heights, Wa., officially opened Dec. 6 with a successful transfer of 45 inmates. Link: Late-night inmate transfer marks seamless opening of new Asotin County Justice Complex 
• Lancaster County, Neb., officials are debating whether to include jail expansion planning in the county's 2026 strategic priorities as the jail population grows. Link: Could jail expansion be part of Lancaster County’s 2026 priorities?

Next up is legislation and funding:

• Leaders in Fond du Lac County, Wis., will hear a resolution to designate the future site of a new jail facility, with costs estimated at $393 million. Link: Fond du Lac County Jail decision on agenda for board of supervisors
• Comal County, Texas, commissioners are evaluating a potential expansion of the Comal County Jail in response to rapid population growth. Link: Comal County considers jail expansion for anticipated growth
• San Diego County leaders are warning that nearly $1 billion is needed to rebuild and repair county jail facilities, especially the Vista Detention Center. Link: Hundreds of millions needed to rebuild Vista Detention Center & to repair other jails in San Diego County
• The Michigan Department of Corrections has adopted a new policy, starting Jan. 5, 2026, requiring all confidential and legal mail sent to incarcerated people to be photocopied. Link: Michigan Department of Corrections adopts new mail policy in attempt to stop drug smuggling

Moving on to People News:

• The Texas Department of Criminal Justice announced Everett Dale Cox as the new Deputy Director of the Facilities Division. Link: