Around three-quarters of residents surveyed in a recent University of Iowa poll say they would support a ballot measure to fund a new Johnson County jail.
The poll aggregated responses from 751 Johnson County residents through mailed questionnaires, phone interviews and web surveys. The 40-question survey asked residents what they knew about the current jail and whether they would support a new one.
The survey found that 74% of respondents said they would vote “yes” for a ballot initiative to construct a new jail. A county-wide ballot initiative would require a 60% majority to pass. When responses were weighed to match the voting population, support slumped slightly to 70%.
The Johnson County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee commissioned the survey with the University of Iowa’s Center for Social Science Information. The survey was built around the premise that the county plans to seek voter approval for a new jail on the November 2026 ballot.
Respondents were informed about issues the Johnson County Board of Supervisors has with the current jail in Iowa City, noting deteroation and a lack of space.
Current jail conditions for staff and inmates were the top concerns for respondents.
Sheriff’s department, jail could be a joint facility with Iowa City
A new jail is expected to cost about $106 million, which would also house the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and possibly the Iowa City Police Department.
The supervisors passed a measure on Thursday, Aug. 28, asking Iowa City to consider help paying for construction while also moving its police department into the building. The joint law enforcement center would keep the departments seperate.
About 70% of survey respondents said they would support a joint proposal with Iowa City.
The supervisors have not yet settled on a location for a new jail, though Iowa City and Johnson County are surveying land near Highway 6 and Riverside Drive, just north of the Iowa City Municipal Airport.
Early Johnson Co. jail concepts include 140 beds, training and exercise space
Shive-Hattery submitted preliminary designs to the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee that were three or four stories tall. The plans included training space for the sheriff’s office and local law enforcement, exercise and wellness space and evidence storage . The current jail does not have room to house the aforementioned rograms, Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel told the committee.
The new facility would have around 140 beds for inmates. The current Johnson County Jail contains 92 beds but houses only around 65 inmates, which Kunkel said is”operational capacity.”
Kunkel said the county has 86 inmates in custody in Johnson County and other nearby county jails. The county pays to house inmates in other counties.
A three-story jail design is estimated to cost about $106 million. The four-story design will come in at $104.5 million. Even if voters approve the ballot measure in 2026, Shive-Hattery staff estimated that construction would not be finished until 2029.
Ryan Hansen covers local government and crime for the Press-Citizen. He can be reached at rhansen@press-citizen.com or on X, formerly known as Twitter, @ryanhansen01.
This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Survey says 75% of Johnson County residents support ballot measure for new jail. What to know
Reporting by Ryan Hansen, Iowa City Press-Citizen / Iowa City Press-Citizen
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
