From the Lawrence Daily Journal-World for Aug. 7, 1975:

Douglas County was facing the possibility of having its jail closed and having to alter the plans for the new Lawrence-Douglas County Judicial and Law Enforcement building, still a year away from completion. Neither building was in complete compliance with a new set of state jail standards mailed to authorities this week. Few were surprised that the old stone structure that had served as the county jail since 1903 did not measure up to the new standards, but it also appeared that at least one major adjustment, and possibly some minor ones, would be necessary in the construction of the new jail facility. After consulting the new 44-page standards book, architect Richard Peters suggested the new building would not comply with standards concerning an outdoor exercise area, a detoxification cell, and width and depth of some security vestibules.