Jail Division

The jail division has a fascinating and colorful history. The reason for this is that the jail is a very old institution and is one of the prime responsibilities of the Sheriff. Excluding the Sheriff himself and his Headquarters Staff, it is the oldest division in the department. 

Persons charged with offenses and committed for trial are detained in the Wayne County Jail pending trial, and persons sentenced to Jail upon conviction of an offense are confined in the Hamtramck Detention Facility [the Dickerson Jail]. The Sheriff operates three Jail Divisions. Medical facilities are available to provide care for minor and less aggravated cases of sickness and disease. Advanced care is provided to the inmate population with Sheriff's Personnel maintaining supervision at Aurora Hospital and Mercy Hospital, both in the City of Detroit.

DIVISION ONE

In 1984, the Andrew C. Baird Detention Facility [Division One] was completed. Division One is 14 stories high, has 1088 beds, 150 beds for the mental health wards, and 20 beds for the Infirmary Section. Division one houses the Central booking area and Classification section for the entire jail system.

DIVISION TWO

Jail Division Two, the "Old County Jail" was originally constructed in 1929 and remains standing to this day. In 1963, construction was completed on the "Annex" side to this building, creating 251 new beds. In 1992, Division two was completely overhauled and now has the capacity to house 641 individuals.

DIVISION THREE

On November 18, 1991, the William Dickerson facility opened at a cost of $60,500,000. This jail has 804 beds and is a direct supervision [no bars] facility. The facility houses sentences inmates and offers alternative programs, and provides such services as the laundry to the entire jail system, including the Juvenile Detention Center and Food Service to the jails, Juvenile Center, and the House Senior Nutrition Program. The Dickerson Jail is built on 16.7 acres and is approximately 500,000 square feet in size.

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