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.
Facility offers three treatment pathways for detainees
The unit organizes care into three pathways: suicide prevention, competency restoration, and persistent mental illness. Programming includes group counseling, cognitive programming, medication support, art and music therapy, and low-impact physical activity.
Design incorporates safety and therapeutic features
The space includes soft furnishings, natural light, sound-dampening elements, adjustable lighting, safety rooms, and specialized furnishings intended to create a calmer treatment environment. HTK Architects, HDR, and Topeka-based KBS Constructors designed and built the facility.
VitalCore CEO cites community safety rationale
Viola Riggin, cofounder and CEO of VitalCore, said the Topeka-headquartered company is a collaborative partner in the clinical stabilization of at-risk mental health clients in the community, and that the facility will serve as a rehabilitation center to promote family and community safety.