Q: Is the current Sheriff administration building adequate for our current needs?
A: No. The building opened in 1981, and after 45 years, it’s at the end of its life. Public safety facilities are critical infrastructure and need to be replaced to ensure a safe and secure environment for all who walk through the doors.
Q: I’ve heard that we could build something like the current jail for $10M to $15M. Is that true?
A: No. That’s not true, and the state would not allow a facility not designed to meet our current needs. We need to at least meet our current needs plus the potential for short-term unexpected rises in demand.
Q: I’ve heard the Sheriff’s office can operate just fine with a facility that is about 71% the size needed (65 beds instead of 91). Is this true?
A: No. We need a facility that meets at least 100% of our current capacity needs. While 91 is an average number of people in jail, that number may fluctuate. So, we need capacity to meet the rise and fall of how many people need to be detained in the jail. The building also needs to meet the requirements of current state law. We’re spending millions to house people out of the county. That increases cost, hinders delivery of much-needed services, and degrades conditions for everyone.
Q: I’ve heard that the jail is filled mostly with people who have substance abuse challenges, mental health needs, are too poor to pay fines, or were arrested and detained only for marijuana possession. Is that true? Why can’t we let those people out of the jail?
A: Contrary to what we hear, there are not people sitting in jail for extended periods of time due to smaller offenses. There are people in jail who, if released, would present a safety threat to themselves and others in our community. They would likely commit worse crimes, which would result in longer sentencing. It would actually be harmful for them to be released, and would make their situation worse.
Q: Why doesn’t the jail offer rides to people after they are released?
A: There are many great opportunities for community organizations to provide rehabilitative support to those who are reentering our community. Giving people rides and other forms of support would be an example of that. The Sheriff’s department serves the county in many ways. With current staffing, the ratio is about 1 employee to 1,500 residents.
Q: I’ve recently heard that the public has rejected every bigger jail proposal since 1979. Is that true?
A: No. Johnson County voters have not rejected every bigger jail proposal since 1979. The public actually approved a 42-bed expansion in 1979. However, the county has struggled to build a new justice center since then, with major bond referendums for new and expanded jails explicitly failing to reach the required 60% supermajority in 2000, 2012, and 2013. [Source: https://www.johnsoncountyiowa.gov/historic-facts-and-figures-school-and-bond-elections ]
Q: I’ve heard that the Sheriff’s office spends most of their time arresting and incarcerating people. Is that true?
A: No. The Sheriff’s office spends most of their time serving the broader needs of county communities and residents. While police offices focus on the unique needs of the cities they serve, the Sheriff’s office serves the diverse needs of rural and urban communities. There is extensive work done that doesn’t involve crimes being committed, laws being broken, or people being arrested. The Sheriff’s office serves in times of crisis. In Johnson County, we have had 300-year and 500-year floods, a devastating tornado, and a derecho aftermath that left 100,000 residents without power. The Sheriff’s office supported our county in those times of need. Every winter, there are life-threatening road conditions, with below zero temperatures, high winds, white-out conditions, black ice, and drivers exceeding a safe speed. The Sheriff’s deputies are out in extreme weather risking their lives to help stranded motorists. There are many other examples similar to these. The Sheriff’s office is responsible for overseeing about 91 people in the jail, as well as the 150,000 residents of the county. There are also millions of visitors to and through our county each year. The Sheriff’s office has duties related to that additional population. So, about 100 people serving the activities of millions. The administration is a lean, efficient, and impactful community resource. Yet, they need facilities, resources, and support to do their work.
Q: I’ve heard there is an incarceration crisis in the United States. Won’t building a new jail result in more people being arrested?
A: No. While it’s true that some states seem to be experiencing a higher than expected rate of incarceration, our county is much lower than the national average. For a population of our size, it’s not unheard of to have 1,500 people incarcerated. Our daily average had been 160 per night in the past and has now plateaued at about 91 per night. That number fluctuates, and future trends may be slower than in the past. Even so, we have one of the lowest incarceration rates in the country, despite having millions of people come to and through our county.