ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. (First Alert 4) – Renovations are nearly complete at the St. Charles County Jail, with improvements designed to rehabilitate inmates and reduce recidivism after release.
The renovations will allow for more effective treatment of inmates who are mentally ill or addicted to drugs. The jail plans to provide structured programming, peer support and either daily doses or monthly injections to address opioid withdrawals.
“When these individuals come in they are not stabilized. We get them stabilized, get them the correct treatment, we get them in front of the right people, whether it’s peers, counselors, our treatment team,” said Robin Edwards, interim executive director of corrections.
The jail’s capacity is expanding from 528 beds to 573. Federal ARPA money paid for many of the upgrades, but money from opioid lawsuits will continue the mission moving forward.
“The ARPA money is a one-time deal, we’ll get it built with that, we’ll have the funds not only to staff this but a facility that really makes a difference,” said Steve Ehlmann, St. Charles County executive.
The mental health area opens this week. The substance abuse area will open in June.
Copyright 2026 KMOV. All rights reserved.