Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo joined the Nevada Division of Public and Behavioral Health (DPBH) and Assembly Speaker Steve Yeager on June 3, 2026, to announce the start of construction on the Southern Nevada Forensic Facility.
The new secure forensic psychiatric hospital that will expand capacity, improve access to treatment and strengthen Nevada’s forensic mental health system.
Burke Construction Group of Las Vegas is the project’s general contractor.
Located in Las Vegas on the Southern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services campus, the facility will provide court-mandated competency restoration services, ensuring individuals receive the treatment necessary to participate in legal proceedings as required under state law.
“For years, Nevada has faced a growing demand for forensic mental health services,” Lombardo said. “The Southern Nevada Forensic Facility represents a major investment in both public safety and behavioral health infrastructure. Once completed, this facility will reduce delays in treatment, expand capacity in Southern Nevada, and better serve courts, communities, and patients across our state.”
The $399 million project includes a four-story, 327,000-sq.-ft. hospital with 298 beds. The facility also was designed to accommodate future expansion through the addition of a fourth tower, which could provide an additional 90 to 120 beds.
“The Southern Nevada Forensic Facility is now one step closer to reality,” said Drew Cross, statewide forensic director with the Division of Public and Behavioral Health. “This building is a game-changer for mental health, and we are excited for the impact it will make for years to come. We thank Governor Lombardo, state lawmakers and all of our partners for their dedication to this project and bolstering the well-being of all Nevadans.”
The new hospital will replace several aging facilities constructed in the 1970s and 1980s, modernizing Nevada’s forensic mental health infrastructure and enhancing the state’s ability to meet growing service demands for decades to come.
Construction is expected to be completed in 2029.♣
