The League of Women Voters of Johnson County strongly endorses passage of the proposed May 7 Justice Center bond referendum.
The League has long believed that open and responsive local governments should provide their citizens with excellent public services and plan for public safety, including police, fire, ambulance and jails. We also believe that elected officials must recognize the county’s changing demographics, the need for increased services, and have a vision for the future. The proposed new Justice Center plan shows that those putting forth the issue have that vision.What do you think?
Not even opponents of the bond issue deny that we sorely need to build a new courthouse and jail.
Their argument — wrongly — is that the county first needs to address the issue of disparity in incarceration rates among races. This disparity needs to be addressed, of course, but delaying the building of a new justice center is not going to solve it. Disproportionate incarceration of minorities is a major problem that goes far beyond Johnson County. It reaches across the state and nation as well.
Opponents fail to address the real need for new courtrooms and space for educational opportunities and mental health and substance abuse programs. The safety and security of those involved in the judicial process — judges, attorneys, law enforcement personnel and citizens — also needs to be improved, and this issue is addressed in the plans.
New space is needed for jail alternative programs, substance abuse treatment programs, mental health programs and educational programs so we can help break the cycle of anti-social behavior and incarceration.
Transporting the overflow of inmates to other counties often makes it hard for families to visit them. Eliminating the transporting of inmates to other counties’ jails also eliminates the time, risks and costs (more than $1 million a year).
The League of Women Voters suggests that those who have not toured the courthouse or jail do so to see for themselves the problems facing Johnson County. The needs exist. And, we encourage everyone to vote “yes” for the Justice Center on May 7.
__________
About the Author. Barbara Beaumont is president, League of Women Voters of Johnson County. Comments: bgbeaumont@juno.com
May 1, 2013 | jcjusticecenter | 0 Comments
I.C. delay doesn’t provide solutions
[Source: “I.C. delay doesn’t provide solutions,” Gazette, 1 May 2013, by Barbara Beaumont]
The League has long believed that open and responsive local governments should provide their citizens with excellent public services and plan for public safety, including police, fire, ambulance and jails. We also believe that elected officials must recognize the county’s changing demographics, the need for increased services, and have a vision for the future. The proposed new Justice Center plan shows that those putting forth the issue have that vision.What do you think?
Not even opponents of the bond issue deny that we sorely need to build a new courthouse and jail.
Their argument — wrongly — is that the county first needs to address the issue of disparity in incarceration rates among races. This disparity needs to be addressed, of course, but delaying the building of a new justice center is not going to solve it. Disproportionate incarceration of minorities is a major problem that goes far beyond Johnson County. It reaches across the state and nation as well.
Opponents fail to address the real need for new courtrooms and space for educational opportunities and mental health and substance abuse programs. The safety and security of those involved in the judicial process — judges, attorneys, law enforcement personnel and citizens — also needs to be improved, and this issue is addressed in the plans.
New space is needed for jail alternative programs, substance abuse treatment programs, mental health programs and educational programs so we can help break the cycle of anti-social behavior and incarceration.
Transporting the overflow of inmates to other counties often makes it hard for families to visit them. Eliminating the transporting of inmates to other counties’ jails also eliminates the time, risks and costs (more than $1 million a year).
The League of Women Voters suggests that those who have not toured the courthouse or jail do so to see for themselves the problems facing Johnson County. The needs exist. And, we encourage everyone to vote “yes” for the Justice Center on May 7.
__________
About the Author. Barbara Beaumont is president, League of Women Voters of Johnson County. Comments: bgbeaumont@juno.com
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Tags: Commentary, cost, Endorsement, Gazette, incarceration conditions, Iowa City, jail conditions, jail diversion, johnson county, justice center, justice efficiency, letter to the editor, racial disparity, savings, space, substance abuse treatment programs
Categories: Commentary, Endorsement