Shoshone-Bannock Tribe gets a new Justice Center
Timothy Charles/ February 2010

Front view of the new Shoshone-Bannock Justice Center in Fort Hall, Idaho.

Fort Hall, Idaho -- The Native American Bank, N.A. of Denver, Colorado (NAB) was able to help the Shoshone-Bannock Tribe realize their dream of a new Justice Center with the assistance of a $15.9 million private loan. The new state-of-the-art Justice Center was completed in Fort Hall, Idaho in February of 2010 at a cost of $25 million. The 66,200 square feet facility houses a jail, the juvenile services center, courts, and the Fort Hall Police Department.

The courts occupy the largest portion of the building, including 3 court rooms, offices for the Public Defender and the Prosecuting Attorney and support areas. The police area includes patrol, detectives, administration, evidence processing, and interview rooms.

The adult jail area has room for 80 beds and will detain men and women in separate areas. The juvenile detention area has room for 20 beds and will include a medical examination room, a classroom, dayrooms, office space, a multi-purpose room, visitation area, and a dedicated outdoor recreation area. The juvenile area will be self-contained and separated from the adult jail facilities.

The project was 20 years in the making. Getting financial assistance was the greatest challenge and through fortitude and determination was able to obtain assistance through the Department of Justice with a grant of $3.5 million. Another $256,000 came from a planning grant, $271,000 from the Housing and Urban Development RHED Grant and $4 million from the Tribal General Fund. NAB was able to loan the Tribe the remaining $15.9 million to help complete the project. The new facililty is expected to result in the creation of more than 50 new jobs to the area.