JEFFERSON CITY, MO – The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) has completed a collective $11,142,748 project and partnership with the Perry County Sheriff’s Office and the Perryville Police Department as well as other selected county jails, city lockups and juvenile detention centers across the state aimed at detecting, preventing and mitigating COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.
This funding, provided by the American Rescue Plan Act, addresses pandemic-era issues where traditional jail and lockup environments put staff, detainees and visitors at a heightened risk for COVID-19 infections. This one-time federal funding is creating greater resiliency at the local level to prevent any respiratory viruses from circulating and creating unnecessary strain.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, confinement facilities were identified as a vulnerable population with several significant factors contributing to the spread of infectious diseases:
- Inadequate ventilation;
- Lack of mitigation and prevention resources like screening equipment, cleaning and sanitation supplies and personal protective equipment; and
- Inability to effectively and safely isolate infected individuals.
In response, DHSS collaborated with the Missouri Department of Corrections, as well as various law enforcement and municipal groups, to better assess their needs and ultimately make funding available through a competitive application process. The funding opportunity was promoted to to more than 150 county jails and city lockups through the Missouri Sheriff’s Association, Missouri Association of Counties and the Missouri Association of Councils of Government.
The funding has been used to upgrade ventilation systems, purchase mitigation and detection supplies, equipment and software and complete minor renovations to enhance, and in some cases establish, physical distancing practices. The enhancements, which began in December 2023, are expected to significantly reduce the transmission of COVID-19 and other infectious diseases among staff, detainees, visitors and their local communities and will ensure these facilities’ ability to respond to future outbreaks.
“This initiative reflects our ongoing commitment to prioritize the well-being of all residents for future resiliency,” said Paula F. Nickelson, director of DHSS. “For individuals serving in correctional facilities, this will enhance their opportunity to remain healthy and reenter society in a healthier, more productive manner.”
Learn more about how COVID-19 recovery funding is making a difference in Missouri communities at Health.Mo.Gov/Funding.
Detection and Mitigation of COVID-19 in Confinement Facilities Program
Missouri Confinement Facilities Awarded
Barton County Sheriff’s Department
Jasper County Sheriff’s Department
Benton County Sheriff’s Department
Jefferson County Jail
Bollinger County Sheriff’s Office
Johnson County Sheriff’s Department
Branson Police Department
Laclede County Sheriff’s Department
Bruce Normile Juvenile Justice Center
Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department
Buchanan County Sheriff’s Department
Lewis County Sheriff’s Department
Butler County Sheriff’s Department
Maries County Sheriff’s Office
Caldwell County Detention Center
Marion County Sheriff’s Office
Cape Girardeau Co. Sheriff’s Department
Mary Dickerson Juvenile Justice Center
Carter County Sheriff’s Office
Michael W. Prenger Family Center
Cass County Sheriff’s Office
Miller County Sheriff’s Department
Cedar County Sheriff’s Office
Mississippi County Regional Juvenile Justice Center
Christian County Sheriff’s Department
Mississippi County Sheriff’s Department
Clark County Sheriff’s Department
Monett Police Department
Clay County Jail
Montgomery County Sheriff’s Department
Clinton County Sheriff’s Department
Oregon County Sheriff’s Office
Cooper County Sheriff’s Department
Ozark County Sheriff’s Department
Crawford County Sheriff’s Department
Perry County Sheriff’s Department
Daviess/Dekalb Regional Jail
Perryville Police Department
Desloge Police Department
Pettis County Sheriff’s Department
Douglas County Sheriff’s Office
Phelps County Sheriff’s Department
Dunklin County Sheriff’s Department
Pike County Sheriff’s Office
Franklin County Sheriff’s Office
Polk County Jail
Greene Co. Juvenile Justice Center
Pulaski County Sheriff’s Department
Greene County Sheriff’s Office
Raymond J. Grush Juvenile Justice Center
Grundy County Sheriff’s Department
Ripley County Detention Center
Harrison County Sheriff’s Department
Saline County Sheriff’s Department
Henry County Sheriff’s Department
Shelby County Sheriff’s Department
Holt County Sheriff’s Office
St. Francois County Sheriff’s Department
Howard County Sheriff’s Department
Texas County Sheriff’s Department
Howell County Sheriff’s Department
Washington County Sheriff’s Office
Iron County Sheriff’s Office and Jail
Webster County Sheriff’s Department
Jackson County Department of Corrections