[Source: “‘My proposal is that we not take a stance,’ board member says,” Press Citizen, 19 March 2013] Iowa City’s Human Rights Commission will not take a stance against the proposed justice center. One of the center’s opponents, University of Iowa history professor Jeff Cox, asked the commission at its Feb. 19 meeting to oppose […]
[Source: “County may study minorities in justice system,” Press Citizen, 6 March 2013] Johnson County will explore hiring a firm to take a “systemic” look at disproportionate minority contact across the criminal justice system in the county. Board of Supervisors member Rod Sullivan said during a meeting of the county’s Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee that […]
14 October 2012 at 12:14 am by Jennifer Hemmingsen Source: The Gazette People can be reluctant to tax themselves for something big and expensive, like a jail, if they don’t see any benefits for themselves. But Iowa City’s justice center opposition has included a faction with a different objection: They don’t want the county to […]
The critique of the Justice Center ballot issue mostly has been a critique of the larger justice system itself. It’s a critique I largely agree with. Too many people in our society are punished for the wrong reasons, and too many of the incarcerated are black or brown or poor. It’s also a local problem, […]
Guest Opinion published in the Iowa City Press-Citizen October 1, 2012 The $46.8 million bond issue on the Nov. 6 ballot in Johnson County 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 […]
Iowa City Press-Citizen July 14, 2012 Reach Lee Hermiston at 887-5413 or lhermiston@press-citizen.com. Over the past two years, the county has spent nearly $500,000 to refurbish the exterior of the Johnson County Courthouse by cleaning the brick mortar and installing new steps. The interior is a different story. The building has no metal detectors, sinking […]
