the Jail survey

In April of 2025, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors contracted with the Center for Social Science Innovation to conduct a survey of Johnson County residents regarding their perceptions of the county jail and whether they would support a new jail. This survey entitled, “Community Perspectives on the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and Jail” spanned the course of several months and can be found on the county website under the Board of Supervisors’ meeting agendas during the December 11th, 2025 convening of the Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee (link is here, for reference).

During those meetings, it was my understanding that this survey was more of a marketing poll to understand what the community knows about the current jail, would they support a new one, and to serve as an opportunity for the county to understand what type of marketing would be helpful to convey the necessity for building a new jail. With this in mind, a marketing poll would not be able to provide rigorous or defensible results to say whether or not the public would support a new jail.

Why do I characterize this as a marketing poll? Many of the questions focused on the current state of the jail but didn't offer alternatives. There is an entire section titled, "Messaging: What do you think are the best ways / methods to reach and educate people about the plan to construct a Sheriff’s office and Jail." Here are some of the results from a series of focus groups:

Additionally, ‘cost’ was identified as one of the biggest concerns from individuals who said they would support a new facility, and at the time, we did not have a cost estimate that was included. This absence of information could have an impact on whether or not an individual would support a new jail facility.

How do we interpret 70% of residents supporting a jail if the cost of it was the number one concern and yet the cost of $90-$100M was not included? Since then, there have been discussions amongst the University of Iowa research community regarding the process, content, and interpretation of the results of this survey. I am not a social science researcher and would not have known what questions to ask last year to assure that we are able to interpret the results of this survey correctly or with integrity. Since this survey cost tax payers $60,000, I believe that we owe it to the public to have a more robust conversation about the intent and interpretation of these survey results. Which is why I have asked for this to be on the agenda at our upcoming Work Session, this Wednesday, May 13th starting at 9am. I look forward to discussing this with the team of scientists that created the survey as well as other social science professionals so we can understand how to more accurately interpret these results.

Why does this matter? I think it matters because we are looking at the ecosystem of what a potential new jail facility will look like, and the way we talk about things matters, (full disclosure, I've been married to a feminist rhetorician for over two decades, so I come by this understanding honestly!). If there is a rigorous survey that shows an overwhelming number of Johnson County residents- 70%- support a new jail, then we need to know that. And if not, then we need to stop spreading misinformation, because it is manipulating the conversation around a very important and potentially expensive solution.

What I will also continue pushing for is a similar bond measure that aims to look at the upstream solutions we know work to stabilize and improve our communities- affordable housing!

But that will be for my next V-eekly, so stay tuned! Nothing like an affordable housing cliff hanger, lol!!

And now we're ready for 'Three WITH V':

1. This Friday, May 15th is a very important Joint Fundraiser for me and Supervisor Mandi Remington! I hope you will join us at the Willow Creek Theater (327 S. Gilbert St.) from 6:30-9pm. This is a kid-friendly event! We have bands and spoken word lined up :)

2. We are still phone banking and doorknocking our faces off, so if you would like to join, please sign up! We have a lot of fun and meet cool people!! https://www.vfo4joco.com/volunteer

3. EARLY VOTING IS MAY 13th!!!!!! I can't believe we are so close to the election that early voting is starting! If you would like to vote early, you can go to the county administration building or drive through now through June, 2nd

   

   Maraming Salamat!

   -V