Facility Design

The Shawano County Jail was originally built in 1956, with an addition added in 1994. While updates have been made, the overall layout reflects an older jail design that no longer meets today’s needs.

Outdated Layout

The original jail uses a linear design, which creates blind spots where staff cannot directly see inmates without relying heavily on cameras and electronic monitoring. To keep the facility secure, staff must depend on constant video surveillance instead of direct line-of-sight supervision. Modern jails use a podular design, where cells and common areas are arranged around a central control area. This allows staff to see inmates clearly at all times and respond more quickly to issues. Cameras are used as support, not as the primary way to monitor activity. This improves safety and efficiency.  Learn more about podular vs. linear design. The 1994 addition addressed some of the linear design issues but the jail population and booking area has no sight lines and still relies on cameras.

Limited Space for Staff and Storage

The current Jail and Sheriff’s Office doesn’t have enough space to operate efficiently. Because there isn’t enough room in the Sheriff’s Office, detectives are housed in the courthouse. This separation makes communication and daily operations more difficult and less efficient.

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There is also not enough dedicated space for processing and storing evidence, along with general storage shortages throughout the building. This creates operational challenges and limits the department’s ability to function effectively.