Milwaukee County published a master plan for a new jail in 1986. The study led to the selection of a parking lot north of the county courthouse as the most appropriate site for new construction. The study also advocated direct supervision as the most suitable jail management philosophy. A group known as the Jail Program Team visited nearly 30 jails around the country to interview staff, administrators, and inmates and observe daily operations. As Milwaukee County's architectural design was developed and reviewed, the entire design team, including architects, construction management personnel, and county staff, was committed to producing the best possible design. Mockup construction was carefully planned, scheduled, and reviewed. The total cost of the mockup was estimated at $700,000, but the mockup approach ultimately saved more than $2.9 million in final construction costs because it identified design problems before actual construction began.