Friday, August 17

Jail Consultant to Johnson County: 92 to 450 by 2030

Study predicts Johnson will need bigger jail from the Gazette


IOWA CITY - Johnson County, which is considering building a new jail, eventually may need nearly five times the number of beds its current jail has, a consultant said Thursday.

Based on demographic projections, the county might require a jail with about 250 beds by the year 2020 and a 450-bed facility by 2030, Michael Lewis of Durrant Group Inc. told the county Board of Supervisors at its informal meeting.

The Johnson County Jail has 92 beds.``The 250 number, I wasn't surprised,'' Supervisor Rod Sullivan said. ``The 450, I definitely swallowed hard.''

Gark comment: I find it interesting that a consultant can predict crime rates based on the general population. I have significant doubt that Johnson County voters are going to pony up for a 250-450 bed jail when even privately we can't get a 75 bed homeless shelter built.


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