The history and current operations of the Marshall County Sheriff’s Office/jail complex will be explored in this month’s History on Third Thursday program – “Marshall County Jail Then and Now” – sponsored by the Historical Society of Marshall County, and held Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at the county jail, located at 2369 Jessup Ave in Marshalltown.

“We decided to hold this month’s program at the county jail, because we thought that would be a topic of interest to the public to see how the jail facility was constructed and how it operates,” said Dan Brandt, president of the HSMC.

The presentation will be conducted by Chief Jail Administrator Joel Phillips who will tell attendees about the history of the facility, explain all the services provided, take attendees on a tour of the confines and answer any questions.

Before the jail was relocated to its current site in 2000, the grounds were home to the Marshall County Care Facility, or county home as it was also known.

“Today we operate a 182-bed facility, which is quite different from the old facility on 212 S. 2nd Ave, where we only had a nine bed unit,” Phillips said. “When the bond passed in 1999, we got to work converting the county home into the jail facility, where it has been ever since.”

The South 2nd Avenue jail facility first opened its doors in 1970. Before that, the facility was located at 20 S. 1st Ave., built in 1883.

Phillips said he will discuss how the jail meets the prisoners’ needs, including food, hygiene, medical, notary services, schooling and coursework, holding religious ceremonies and visitation rights. He will expound upon the jail’s work release program and its offering of domestic violence classes.

“When I give tours, I generally get a lot of feedback on the history of the building. It’s a two-way street. I learn something, they learn something,” Phillips concluded.

The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.