Johnson County Justice Center

Source: “Johnson County justice-center plans draw community scrutiny,” Daily Iowan, 4 April 2013] Note: Fact boxes have been inserted to correct inaccuracies or misconceptions in the story below. * * * Johnson County justice-center plans draw community scrutiny BY QUENTIN MISIAG | APRIL 04, 2013 5:00 AM It was originally billed as a casual Wednesday […]

[Source: “Talk centers on how center would affect diversion programs,” Press Citizen, 3 April 2013] Johnson County’s case expediting program — which identifies jail inmates who can be safely released before their next court date — lowered the jail population by an average of 6.1 inmates per day in fiscal year 2012. “We have staff […]

[Source: “Report Reveals Benton County Security Concerns,” By Jill Kasparie, Reporter, KCRG, 3 April 2013] VINTON, Iowa – A new report noted concerns with the Benton County Courthouse security system. This comes as anxieties grow across the country. Wednesday in West Virginia, someone gunned down a sheriff in a courthouse parking lot. Last month, two prosecutors […]

[Source: “Johnson County Iowa – Incarceration and Racial Disparity – Causes and Solutions,” ResourcesForLife.com, 1 April 2013, by Greg Johnson] The justice system in Johnson County seems to be disproportionately arresting and incarcerating people simply on the basis of race. (Source: “Time to correct underlying causes of jail overcrowding,” Press Citizen, 31 March 2013) Once […]

[Source: “Before you cast a vote, tour the county jail, courthouse,” Press Citizen, 31 March 2013, by Shams Ghoneim] The county’s 32-year-old jail was designed with a capacity of 46 inmates — a number that reached 92 when jail officials decided to double bunk. The inmate daily average, however, has exceeded 170 and is reaching 200. […]

[Source: “Johnson County to Bring Justice Center Back to Ballot,” KGAN-TV CBS 2 Iowa, 3 January 2013] IOWA CITY, IA (CBS2/FOX28) — Johnson County is planning to bring the vote for a new justice center back to the ballot, but this time, with a smaller price tag. The Johnson County Board of Supervisors is tentatively […]

I was born and raised in Iowa City and have always considered it home. I spent 33 years in law enforcement in Cedar Rapids, although I have been a Johnson County resident for most of my life. In 2011, I became involved with what the needs were for a Johnson County Justice Center building — […]

[Source: Iowa City Press Citizen, 24 October 2012] The Johnson County Board of Supervisors approved the following language to appear on the Nov. 6 ballot: “Shall the County of Johnson, State of Iowa, issue its general obligation bonds in an amount not exceeding the amount of $46,800,000 for the purpose of erecting and equipping a […]

  County manages ‘revolving door’ of re-offending October 5, 2012 Iowa City Press-Citizen [source] By Tarra Bannow There’s a familiar “slippery slope down” that Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness said tends land people in jail over and over again. Often, it begins with a minor charge — possession of marijuana, for example. A person then […]

[Source: Press Citizen, 14 October 2012] I’d like to use this space to answer some questions people have asked me about the proposed Johnson County justice center. • No. 1. Why do we need a new facility? The justice center is designed to provide more courtrooms and administrative space and to increase the size of the local […]

[Source: “New Tailgating Rules Will Mean More Citations, Fewer Trips to Jail to Prevent Overcrowding,” KCRG TV9, 23 August 2010] IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa’s recent announcement to take a tougher approach in enforcing the law during tailgating and home football games has drawn concerns of potential safety issues and overcrowding in the […]