New jail would be safer, cheaper, more efficient

Johnson County is the fourth-largest county in Iowa, yet has the 15th largest jail. When the jail was built in 1981, the county population was around 80,000. Now it is up to 130,000. Police are arresting the same percentage of the population, but since the population is growing, they are arresting more people.

The current jail was built to hold 46 inmates. The capacity was expanded to 92 by putting two inmates to one cell. The proposed new jail would hold about 250 inmates.

In 2010, the jail's average daily population was 167. In a six-day period in 2010, the county shipped 91 inmates to other county jails. Since 2001, the county has spent $6.2 million shipping inmates to other county jails. They spent $900,595 in 2008, $947,216 in 2009, and $1.31 million in 2010.

In 2012, there will be a public vote on the new jail. Sixty percent of voters will have to pass a $39 million bond referendum for the new jail to be built. The new jail would be safer and more efficient. We would be able to classify the inmates better and get them the treatment they need. Building a new jail also would create jobs.

Johnson County is in desperate need of a solution. I believe a new jail is the solution and in the long run will save us money.

Andrew Hein

Iowa City