Tag Archives: justice efficiency

Dubuque council votes to eliminate jail time for simple misdemeanors

Dubuque council votes to eliminate jail time for simple misdemeanors

Continue Reading

Meet the Candidates Videos – Johnson County Attorney Race

Below are videos of Janet Lyness and John Zimmerman, candidates for Johnson County Attorney. These videos are from Iowa City Channel 4. Janet Lyness * * * John Zimmerman

Continue Reading

Attorney General Eric Holder Speech – Video and Transcript – San Francisco

[Source: “Attorney General Eric Holder Delivers Remarks at the Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates,” Justice Department, 12 August 2013] * * * The following is a transcript of Attorney General Eric Holder’s remarks at the Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates on 12 August 2013 in […]

Continue Reading

Justice Department and Council of State Governments Identify States Cutting Correction Costs While Reducing Recidivism and Improving Safety

[Source: Justice Department Press Release, 12 April 2013] * * * Justice Department and Council of State Governments Identify States Cutting Correction Costs While Reducing Recidivism and Improving Safety Bi-Partisan Efforts Result in Major Justice Reforms The Department of Justice and the Council of State Governments (CSG) highlight 17 states that have cut corrections costs […]

Continue Reading

A broad-based citizens group needs to be formed, which includes both “Yes” and “No” representatives

[Source: Johnson County Democrats Facebook Group, 8 May 2013, Comment by Peter Hansen, reposted with permission] Although some of the “No” group are Republicans opposed to nearly all government spending — and seem to think that we should replace taxes with bake sales — many others are very thoughtful, intelligent, informed, and well-intentioned people, e.g., […]

Continue Reading

Election Outcome Commentary by El Brad Field

I seriously do not know what the anti-Authority/anti-Justice people think that they have gained? The police are going to continue arresting people at the same rate they are now. The only thing they accomplished is guarantee that those arrested will be shipped like cattle to other counties. That those working and visiting the courthouse will […]

Continue Reading

After Election Message – 8 May 2013

Thank you to the many volunteers and supporters who worked tirelessly to organize this campaign and to inform voters about the need for a Justice Center. Unfortunately, the results of the May 7th Special Election did not meet the required super majority of 60% necessary to pass a bond referendum. While we are shown, time […]

Continue Reading

Who Really Won? – Commentary by John Deeth

[Source: “Who Really Won,” John Deeth Blog, 8 May 2013] It feels kind of weird to, for the second time, come out of the justice center vote with significantly more votes than the other side, yet lose. Clearly, a majority of the community is convinced of the need for this plan. Maybe even a super […]

Continue Reading

Volunteer Opportunities – Jail and Prison Outreach

[Source: “Vote ‘yes’ then volunteer at jail,” Press Citizen, 6 May 2013, by Patricia Knox] For four years I have been a volunteer at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in the Oakdale Prison Community Choir. In the winter of 2009, I took the basic workshop offered by the Alternatives to Violence Project that was […]

Continue Reading

Viewpoints: Corrections Officer with 30-Years Experience

[Source: “Common sense says vote ‘yes’ on new jail,” Press Citizen, 6 May 2013, by Mike Quinlan] In the past few months we have read many different opinions about building a new jail for Johnson County. As with many political issues, both sides can find a way to use statistics to their advantage. “Who do […]

Continue Reading

Daily Iowan Supports the Justice Center – Editorial Board: Vote ‘yes’ on the Justice Center

[Source: “Editorial: Vote ‘yes’ on the Justice Center,” Daily Iowan, 6 May 2013, by the Daily Iowan Editorial Board] In November 2012, when the original Johnson County Justice Center was presented to the public for a vote, the Editorial Board recommended that the voters reject the bond referendum. The original center narrowly failed to garner […]

Continue Reading

Johnson County justice center: If not now, then when?

[Source: “Johnson County justice center: If not now, then when?,” Press Citizen, 5 May 2013, by Dave Parsons] On the bright side, it appears that everyone now agrees on the need for updated and expanded courthouse and jail facilities in Johnson County. Yet somehow there are a number of factions with competing agendas (some mutually […]

Continue Reading

Do the right thing on justice center

[Source: “Do the right thing on justice center,” Press Citizen, 5 May 2013, by Jim McCarragher] The $43.5 million bond issue in Tuesday’s election is a public safety issue. It proposes a secure justice center combining the sheriff’s office, jail and court-related offices, all attached to the existing Johnson County Courthouse. Our historic courthouse and […]

Continue Reading

Make courthouse ADA-compliant

[Source: “Make courthouse ADA-compliant,” Press Citizen, 3 May 2013, by Karla Smith] I am so proud to live in a community that feels it is important to have a safe and easily accessible courthouse that meets the guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act. A courthouse with enough courtrooms to be able to give our citizens […]

Continue Reading

New jail for 195 inmates is immediately necessary

[Source: “New jail for 195 inmates is immediately necessary,” Press Citizen, 3 May 2013, by John Whiston, a Clinical Professor at the University of Iowa College of Law.] Every year, my students represent about 100 people charged with indictable misdemeanors. I would be one of the first to say that over-incarceration of non-violent offenders is a real […]

Continue Reading

Courthouse needs much more space

[Source: “Courthouse needs much more space,” Press Citizen, 2 May 2013, by Margaret and Chuck Felling] We write in support of the proposal to improve the civil/criminal law complex for Johnson County. That complex is more than courtrooms and jail cells. In 1984, our court-appointed duties as conservator for our son began at least annual reports […]

Continue Reading

Justice center needs your support

[Source: “Justice center needs your support,” Press Citizen, 2 May 2013, by Patrick R. Grady, Chief Judge, Sixth Judicial District] Last fall, I wrote about how our caseloads continue to grow in what now is the fifth most populous county in Iowa. Since last fall, we have listened to the voters and have downsized our […]

Continue Reading

Don’t saddle county with inadequate jail, courthouse

[Source: “Don’t saddle county with inadequate jail, courthouse,” Press Citizen, 2 May 2013, by Dorothy Whiston] Don’t saddle county with inadequate jail, courthouse People across the political spectrum agree that racial disparities in our criminal justice system are at crisis proportions and have been for some time, both nationally and locally. I also believe opposition to […]

Continue Reading
%d bloggers like this: