Shawnee County Jail Opens $21M Behavioral Health Unit
Image
Topeka – September 12, 2026 -- A new 60-bed Behavioral Health Unit at the Shawnee County Jail in Topeka, Kansas, opened on August 24 following a three-year, $21 million construction project, expanding specialized care for pretrial detainees with mental health and substance use needs.
VitalCore Health Strategies backs 23,279-square-foot expansion
The addition was built to serve individuals awaiting trial who require mental health treatment, substance use support, suicide prevention, competency restoration, and other specialized services. VitalCore Health Strategies provides healthcare services at the facility under a partnership with the Shawnee County Department of Corrections that began in 2024.