Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't the existing jail be renovated or expanded?
The building was not designed or built to accommodate any expansion. The footings are too shallow for upward expansion and the current facility is landlocked, preventing outward expansion.
Is the current jail unsafe?
Engineering assessments have identified structural and operational concerns requiring ongoing monitoring and repair. Leaking pipes and an aging HVAC system lead to poor air quality and mold, creating health and safety risks to staff and inmates.
Has Johnson County had a past jail bond?
Previous jail bond referendums were in 2012 and 2013:
Both measures received majority support, with 56% approval in 2012 and 54% approval in 2013, but fell short of the 60% supermajority required to pass.
How will newly released people get back to Iowa City ?
Johnson County will work with the City of Iowa City to establish a bus route serving this location by late 2029. Public transportation is an important part of making the site accessible to residents, employees and visitors.
How with the new facility affect surrounding neighborhoods ?
Site lighting and security camera systems will meet the facility’s operational and functional requirements while aligning with design expectations for reducing night-sky impacts. The design will also coordinate with the City of Iowa City’s local landscaping requirements and support long-term tree canopy growth as the site matures. Anticipated 12- to 16-foot light and camera poles will include diffusers to direct lighting inward, onto this proposed property, and minimize spillover onto adjacent properties.
Noise will be at a minimum, except for the occasional siren noise if a deputy is responding to a call from the sheriff’s office.
Johnson County Jail operating costs and out of county housing
It is important to understand that this is not an apples-to-apples comparison. The cost to house inmates out of county is an additional expense we incur because we do not have enough space in the current facility.
The current operating cost for the Johnson County Jail is approximately $5.5 million dollars per year, with 87% of that attributed to staff costs, i.e., salary and benefits. The remaining expenses come from food services, medical treatment and medication, and utilities. That comes out to ~$15,000 per day.
In FY25, the Average Daily Jail population was 90.14. The approximate daily cost divided by the average daily population comes out to approximately $166 per inmate.
The Average Daily Population includes everyone in our total custody: inmates within the Johnson County Jail, inmates housed out of county, and those on electronic monitoring.
For FY25, we budgeted $960,000 to cover out-of-county housing. We spent $434,460 of that budgeted amount, and the remaining balance went back into the general fund. For FY26, the budgeted amount was $800,000.
A new facility with an adequate number of beds would eliminate the need for this additional budget to cover out-of-country housing.
What is CMAR Project Delivery?
Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) is a collaborative project delivery method that uses a publicly solicited, competitive, and evaluation-based selection process of qualified firms. The Construction Manager (CM) advises during design to provide cost estimating, scheduling, and constructability input. The CM later becomes the general contractor and delivers the project under a Guaranteed Maximum Price (GMP) contract, which limits County financial risk and may be established before trade subcontractor bids are received. This gives the owner early design and construction input, while phased bid packages can shorten delivery. The owner holds separate contracts with the Architect/Engineer and CM.
Key points:
Early cost modeling and open-book GMP reduce change orders and cost, and increase transparency.
Design and preconstruction overlap, leading to a faster schedule.
The CM shares financial risk with the owner through the GMP.
Early collaboration with the CM during design helps detect conflicts before construction.
The owner sets qualification requirements for CM selection.
Subcontractor work is publicly bid.