(Source: Johnson County Board of Supervisors Press Release PDF Document, 6 June 2014) EVENT VIDEO This is a video recording from the event and below is the original announcement. EVENT ANNOUNCEMENT This is the original announcement about the event. For Immediate Release PUBLIC INVITED TO PROVIDE INPUT ON DESIGN OF COURTHOUSE ANNEX Date: 17 June […]
(Source: “Public to weigh in on courthouse annex design,” Iowa City Press-Citizen, 1:26 p.m. CDT May 7, 2014, Mitchell Schmidt) Johnson County officials have decided to give the public a conceptual look at a proposed courthouse annex before November ballots are cast. Johnson County elected officials and architects with Iowa City’s Neumann Monson Architects and […]
[Source: “Proposed justice center would be highly efficient,” Press Citizen, 1 May 2013, by Lonny Pulkrabek, sheriff of Johnson County.] In November of 2005, Johnson County received a report from the Durrant Group that looked at this project and looked at four different locations: • Site 1 was at the existing courthouse and gave a cost […]
In the video below, John Whiston speaks about Jail Alternatives and the efficiency of a unified Justice Center. John is a Clinical Professor at the University of Iowa College of Law.
[Source: “Our View: Vote ‘yes’ and keep addressing concerns,” Press Citizen, 30 April 2013, by the Press Citizen Editorial Board] As a newspaper editorial board, our natural inclination is to side with those who are fighting against the power structure. To fight for those who have documented how about 40 percent of the people in […]
[Source: “County Dems support justice center bond,” Press Citizen, 30 April 2013, by Mike Carberry] Johnson County desperately needs to upgrade the quality of our justice infrastructure. We need a justice center that is safe, disability-accessible and secure on both sides of the judicial bench. We do not have this now. We are one of […]
[Source: “Time for county to get it right: vote ‘yes’,” Press Citizen, 30 April 2013, by Tom Baldridge] I find it interesting that the letters to the editors about Tuesday’s special election tend to follow the same path. If the writer is in favor of the bond issue, the facility under discussion is called a […]
[Source: “Courthouse needs to be updated,” Press Citizen, 28 April 2013, by Paul Burns] The Johnson County courthouse was built at a time when the county’s population was five times smaller and electric lighting was still considered a modern wonder. It is a beautiful building but it doesn’t function well as a working courthouse. We […]
[Source: “Right time to meet Johnson County’s needs,” Gazette, 27 April 2013, by Jim McCarragher] Johnson County’s 112-year-old historic courthouse and 30-year-old jail are outdated, and represent a threat to public safety, security and access to justice. The $43.5 million bond referendum on May 7 would pay for a new, much-needed Justice Center that combines […]
[Source: “Center will improve safety, security,” Press Citizen, 26 April 2013] I’m directing this letter to University of Iowa students; before you cast your vote regarding the justice center, make sure you are basing your decision off of facts and not speculation or hearsay. Despite what you may have heard, the current jail is not […]
[Source: “Downtown impact would be positive,” Press Citizen, 26 April 2013] The location of the proposed justice center (adjacent to the historic courthouse) has been labeled by some as poor choice, but I don’t see how this project would have anything but a positive impact on downtown Iowa City. It’s no accident that most town […]
[Source: “Johnson County justice center still divisive,” The Daily Iowan, 24 April 2013] Opponents of the proposed Johnson County Justice Center say the revised cost is still too high, and that changes made to the plan are insufficient. “This is a nominal reduction, and they have essentially thrown a bone to the public,” said Aleksey […]
[Source: “Vote ‘yes’ to ensure justice for all,” Press Citizen, 19 April 2013, by Richard, Buffie and Jessica Tucker] If you have ever been in the Johnson County Courthouse, for any reason, it is apparent why you should vote “yes” for the new justice center. We are writing this from the standpoint of two lawyers and […]
[Source: “Safety still a big concern at jail, courthouse,” Press Citizen, 19 April 2013, by Noreen Revier] Three years ago I served on a jury where the accused had harmed someone. The thought struck me how little separation there was between that person and those of us on the jury as we came and went […]
[Source: “Vote ‘yes’ to improve space and safety,” Press Citizen, 19 April 2013, by Phil Leff] I have practiced law in Johnson County for 50 years. The old courthouse was an integral part of my practice and initially served the population well, but eventually became stuck in time. I am very familiar with its shortcomings. […]
[Source: “Vote ‘yes’ to update courthouse,” Press Citizen, 17 April 2013, by Renee and Joe Hanrahan] The Johnson County historic courthouse was designed and built in the year 1899-1900 and dedicated in 1901. By 1900 standards this was a proud, modern building with electric lights, steam heating and large high-ceiling windows for ventilation. Today, 112 […]
[Source: “Single facility improves safety, security, space,” Press Citizen, 16 April 2013, by Jim McCarragher] Nicholas Johnson’s recent guest column claimed there’s a much easier, win-win option to the current proposal for a new Johnson County justice center on the ballot in May. However, Johnson’s idea of creating a second, separate facility at another location […]
Neumann Monson Architects has provided the architectural drawings for the planned Johnson County Justice Center. Explore the images below – click to enlarge. Click here for the PDF of the architectural drawings (right click and save to download).
