Williamson County commissioners purchased 255 acres of land in southeast Georgetown on May 19 to house a new centralized justice center.
Located adjacent to the recently opened Williamson County Administration Building and an existing set of county buildings off SE Inner Loop, officials say the nearby facilities will allow for efficient government services. However, some residents said the jail will be too close to schools and neighborhoods.
The big picture
The justice center could be the next addition to a growing campus of Williamson County buildings in the area—another step in the county’s move out of downtown Georgetown.
Commissioners approved the $76 million land purchase in a 4-0 vote May 19, with County Judge Steve Snell absent. The vote was the culmination of a yearlong process to select a site for the facility.
Additionally, the Williamson County Administration Building—which houses a number of county departments, including the tax assessor, county clerk and purchasing department—officially opened July 14. The $90 million building was constructed between May 2024-July 2026.
Nearby, the county is also planning renovations at the Williamson County Regional Animal Shelter as part of the merger with the city of Georgetown, and at the Juvenile Justice Center to expand the facility, adding additional beds and safety upgrades.
Now, the county is thinking through how much space it needs in a justice center, while balancing ongoing concerns from residents in the area.
Zooming in
In 2023, the county identified the need for a new or upgraded jail and justice center facility to accommodate population growth, as the current building in downtown Georgetown is experiencing structural deficiencies and space shortages due to age.
The jail and justice complex provides essential services to all county residents, not just those charged with crimes, District Attorney Shawn Dick said May 12.
“We’re talking about victims. We’re talking about jurors. We’re talking about people that just need a civil case resolved through no fault of their own. ... The building needs to be designed for all of those people and their safety,” Dick said.
Commissioners considered options to build a new facility or upgrade existing buildings, working with project manager Kitchell to determine the extent of the county’s future needs.
Kitchell evaluated 37 potential sites for the complex during initial planning phases. The county settled on the SE Inner Loop location rather than expanding the current downtown facility because of the expenses to renovate and space constraints in the downtown area.
The proposed justice campus sits less than a mile from the Saddle Creek, Maple Creek and Carlson Place residential communities, as well as Wagner Middle School, Mitchell Elementary School and the Ride On Center for Kids.
Prior to the county closing on the land sale, residents expressed concerns regarding property values and neighborhood safety, with many speaking during public comment periods at the May 12 and 19 Commissioners Court meetings.
A closer look
Located at 1838 Texas Trail in Georgetown, the new Williamson County Administration Building consolidates several county services while expanding office and community space.
Residents can now find tax office and county clerk services at the administration building, where they can obtain marriage licenses and birth certificates, as well as vehicle registration and tax payments.
Tax office customers can utilize new drive-thru lanes, which are equipped with secure delivery systems that can transport new license plates. There is more parking space and accessibility compared to the downtown offices, county documents state.
For Commissioners Court meetings, the public will find more seating and improved audio and visual capabilities, according to county documents.
What's next
The county is currently in Phase 2 of the Justice Center project. Commissioners and county officials are working to determine just how much space and what type of facilities are needed at the justice center, and are touring similar buildings across the county, Snell said. Phase 3, the design phase, would require commissioners’ approval to begin.
Snell plans to spend more time on public engagement for the project to work through the concerns of residents who live near the site, County Communications Director Connie Odom said. Snell said this includes discussing what transportation looks like for people who have recently been released from the jail.
“We’re going to make a hundred-year decision right there, and we want to make sure it is the absolute right decision for the county and everyone involved,” Snell said.
Odom said it is too early to know how these efforts will impact the project’s timeline. In the short term, the county plans to demolish a recently purchased property across from the current jail to build temporary offices.
Following the move to the administration building, county departments have vacated many downtown spaces, including the historic courthouse. Justice center staff members will repurpose the available space to alleviate severe overcrowding until the new campus is ready.
The historic courthouse will undergo repairs and restoration. While the county judge will keep an office in the building, the Williamson Museum may also move in, although plans for the transition are not yet final.
