Johnson County Justice Center

Dubuque council votes to eliminate jail time for simple misdemeanors

Below are videos of Janet Lyness and John Zimmerman, candidates for Johnson County Attorney. These videos are from Iowa City Channel 4. Janet Lyness * * * John Zimmerman

[Source: “Attorney General Eric Holder Delivers Remarks at the Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates,” Justice Department, 12 August 2013] * * * The following is a transcript of Attorney General Eric Holder’s remarks at the Annual Meeting of the American Bar Association’s House of Delegates on 12 August 2013 in […]

[Source: Justice Department Press Release, 12 April 2013] * * * Justice Department and Council of State Governments Identify States Cutting Correction Costs While Reducing Recidivism and Improving Safety Bi-Partisan Efforts Result in Major Justice Reforms The Department of Justice and the Council of State Governments (CSG) highlight 17 states that have cut corrections costs […]

[Source: Johnson County Democrats Facebook Group, 8 May 2013, Comment by Peter Hansen, reposted with permission] Although some of the “No” group are Republicans opposed to nearly all government spending — and seem to think that we should replace taxes with bake sales — many others are very thoughtful, intelligent, informed, and well-intentioned people, e.g., […]

I seriously do not know what the anti-Authority/anti-Justice people think that they have gained? The police are going to continue arresting people at the same rate they are now. The only thing they accomplished is guarantee that those arrested will be shipped like cattle to other counties. That those working and visiting the courthouse will […]

Thank you to the many volunteers and supporters who worked tirelessly to organize this campaign and to inform voters about the need for a Justice Center. Unfortunately, the results of the May 7th Special Election did not meet the required super majority of 60% necessary to pass a bond referendum. While we are shown, time […]

[Source: “Who Really Won,” John Deeth Blog, 8 May 2013] It feels kind of weird to, for the second time, come out of the justice center vote with significantly more votes than the other side, yet lose. Clearly, a majority of the community is convinced of the need for this plan. Maybe even a super […]

[Source: “Vote ‘yes’ then volunteer at jail,” Press Citizen, 6 May 2013, by Patricia Knox] For four years I have been a volunteer at the Iowa Medical and Classification Center in the Oakdale Prison Community Choir. In the winter of 2009, I took the basic workshop offered by the Alternatives to Violence Project that was […]

[Source: “Common sense says vote ‘yes’ on new jail,” Press Citizen, 6 May 2013, by Mike Quinlan] In the past few months we have read many different opinions about building a new jail for Johnson County. As with many political issues, both sides can find a way to use statistics to their advantage. “Who do […]

[Source: “Editorial: Vote ‘yes’ on the Justice Center,” Daily Iowan, 6 May 2013, by the Daily Iowan Editorial Board] In November 2012, when the original Johnson County Justice Center was presented to the public for a vote, the Editorial Board recommended that the voters reject the bond referendum. The original center narrowly failed to garner […]

[Source: “Johnson County justice center: If not now, then when?,” Press Citizen, 5 May 2013, by Dave Parsons] On the bright side, it appears that everyone now agrees on the need for updated and expanded courthouse and jail facilities in Johnson County. Yet somehow there are a number of factions with competing agendas (some mutually […]

[Source: “Do the right thing on justice center,” Press Citizen, 5 May 2013, by Jim McCarragher] The $43.5 million bond issue in Tuesday’s election 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 and […]

[Source: “Make courthouse ADA-compliant,” Press Citizen, 3 May 2013, by Karla Smith] I am so proud to live in a community that feels it is important to have a safe and easily accessible courthouse that meets the guidelines for the Americans with Disabilities Act. A courthouse with enough courtrooms to be able to give our citizens […]

[Source: “New jail for 195 inmates is immediately necessary,” Press Citizen, 3 May 2013, by John Whiston, a Clinical Professor at the University of Iowa College of Law.] Every year, my students represent about 100 people charged with indictable misdemeanors. I would be one of the first to say that over-incarceration of non-violent offenders is a real […]

[Source: “Courthouse needs much more space,” Press Citizen, 2 May 2013, by Margaret and Chuck Felling] We write in support of the proposal to improve the civil/criminal law complex for Johnson County. That complex is more than courtrooms and jail cells. In 1984, our court-appointed duties as conservator for our son began at least annual reports […]

[Source: “Justice center needs your support,” Press Citizen, 2 May 2013, by Patrick R. Grady, Chief Judge, Sixth Judicial District] Last fall, I wrote about how our caseloads continue to grow in what now is the fifth most populous county in Iowa. Since last fall, we have listened to the voters and have downsized our […]

[Source: “Don’t saddle county with inadequate jail, courthouse,” Press Citizen, 2 May 2013, by Dorothy Whiston] Don’t saddle county with inadequate jail, courthouse People across the political spectrum agree that racial disparities in our criminal justice system are at crisis proportions and have been for some time, both nationally and locally. I also believe opposition to […]