Yavapai News

A temporary restraining order for Yavapai County's Criminal Justice Center has been denied by the Honorable Thomas Kelly, which was filed by a citizen asking for a complaint and emergency motion for a preliminary injunction on the construction of the center. 

In the complaint, the citizen claimed the construction didn't address environmental issues, according to a press release from Yavapai County.

"Before breaking ground, the county had an Environmental Site Assessment completed on the project site and as recently as Sept. 3, passed a project site inspection by the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ)," the county said in the press release. "The ADEQ inspection was initiated based on a complaint to the department submitted by the same individual that filed a lawsuit on the project."

The new justice center will help provide more space for the jail population, which has been increasing since 2013. 

“The new justice center, currently under construction in Prescott, is important to the safety and well being of our local law enforcement as well as every citizen in Yavapai County," Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Vice-Chairman Randy Garrison said in the press release. "Removing the holding and booking of dangerous criminals from downtown Prescott is the smart thing to do and I strongly support this project. I am glad to see we have prevailed successfully from this unwarranted attack.”