[Source: “County has outgrown jail, courthouse,” Press Citizen, 17 April 2013, by Paula Sears] Johnson County has outgrown its current courthouse, jail and sheriff’s office. Our current facility creates an unsafe environment for our jurors, the employees and anyone who has reason to visit. Our courthouse is 112-years-old and has outgrown its capacity to serve […]
[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 […]
[Source: “League of Women Voters strongly backs justice center proposal,” Press Citizen, 14 April 2013] 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 […]
[Source: “Justice Center Early Voting Kicks Off,” KGAN-TV CBS 2, Wednesday, April 10 2013, 08:59 PM CDT] IOWA CITY, IA (CBS2/FOX28) — Early voting kicked off in the special election for the Johnson County Justice Center on Wednesday — the second time the issue has come before voters in six months. The first vote on this […]
[Source: “Early voting begins for Johnson County Justice Center,” KWWL-TV Channel 7 NBC, Written by Jason Epner, Multimedia Journalist – bio | email] JOHNSON COUNTY (KWWL) – Wednesday’s cold, damp weather led to a slow start for early voting, but the two campaigns for a new, $43.5 million bond issue to build a Johnson County Justice Center are warming […]
Click the play button below to hear an audio endorsement from Buffie Tucker.
Click the play button below to hear an audio endorsement from Jackie Sangster.
Click the play button below to hear an audio endorsement from John Lundell. John Lundell received both his B.S. and M.A. at the The University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa. He has served as the Deputy Director of the University of Iowa Injury Prevention Research Center (UI IPRC) where he has worked for the past 18 […]
Click the play button below to hear an audio endorsement from Bob Downer. Robert N. Downer received a Juris Doctor degree from the University of Iowa College of Law and was admitted to the Iowa Bar, both in 1963. Mr. Downer also holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from the University of […]
Click the play button below to hear an audio endorsement from Sandy Boyd. Willard L. Boyd is a lawyer and an educator. He is Rawlings-Miller Professor of Law at the University of Iowa and President Emeritus of The University of Iowa and The Field Museum of Chicago. He serves as Chair of the Larned A. […]
[Source: “Build the justice center,” The Daily Iowan, 8 April 2013, Letter to the Editor by Judy Atkins] For 13 years, I have been with Mediation Services of Eastern Iowa. We are a nonprofit organization made up of volunteers and professionals who mediate small-claims cases in Johnson and adjacent counties. Our job is to facilitate […]
[Source: “Justice center design still in conceptual stage,” Press Citizen, 6 April 2013, Letter to the Editor by Dwight Dobberstein. This is the full content of originally submitted article.] On May 7th voters will decide the fate of the proposed Johnson County Justice Center. Voters deserve assurance that a “yes” vote will result in a building […]
[Source: “County can’t afford to wait any longer,” Press Citizen, 6 April 2013, Letter to the Editor by John Lundell] The proposed Johnson County courthouse enhancements and expansion of the jail need to be approved now. The thoughtful improvements will resolve long overdue security and legal system shortfalls in the courthouse and eliminate the costly […]
Source: “Johnson County justice-center plans draw community scrutiny,” Daily Iowan, 4 April 2013] Note: Fact boxes have been inserted to correct inaccuracies or misconceptions in the story below. * * * Johnson County justice-center plans draw community scrutiny BY QUENTIN MISIAG | APRIL 04, 2013 5:00 AM It was originally billed as a casual Wednesday […]
[Source: “Johnson County Justice Center Would Make More Room for Jail Diversion,” GGAN-TV CBS 2 Iowa, 3 April 2013] IOWA CITY, IA (CBS2/FOX28) — Johnson County Attorney Janet Lyness read the list of charges for inmates in the Johnson County Jail on a given day, trying to make a point. “Next one, robbery, first (degree). […]
[Source: “Talk centers on how center would affect diversion programs,” Press Citizen, 3 April 2013] Johnson County’s case expediting program — which identifies jail inmates who can be safely released before their next court date — lowered the jail population by an average of 6.1 inmates per day in fiscal year 2012. “We have staff […]
[Source: “Report Reveals Benton County Security Concerns,” By Jill Kasparie, Reporter, KCRG, 3 April 2013] VINTON, Iowa – A new report noted concerns with the Benton County Courthouse security system. This comes as anxieties grow across the country. Wednesday in West Virginia, someone gunned down a sheriff in a courthouse parking lot. Last month, two prosecutors […]
