Democrats Endorse Justice Center

On an 11-2 vote the Johnson County Democrats endorsed the justice center ballot issue at tonight's monthly central committee meeting. Resolution follows:

WHEREAS, the current Johnson County Courthouse was designed in the 19th century and opened in 1901; and

WHEREAS, numerous deficiencies in the Johnson County Courthouse affect safety, security and accessibility of jurors, courthouse workers, the courts and the general public; and

WHEREAS, the current Johnson County Jail was built in 1981 for an inmate capacity of 46 (later modified as 92 inmates); and

WHEREAS, average daily census in the Johnson County Jail is now 160 to 190 inmates; and

WHEREAS, numerous deficiencies in the Johnson County  Jail and having to transport overflow jail inmates outside Johnson County threaten staff, visitors and the general public;

WHEREAS, inadequate jail facilities require that Johnson County spend $1.3 million per year in outside counties in order to house Johnson County overflow jail inmates; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Justice Center is designed to solve current safety, security and space needs of the Sheriff, Jail and Court Operations; and

WHEREFORE, be it resolved that the Johnson County Democratic Party supports the $46.8 million bond referendum in the November 2012 general election, to build a new Justice Center Addition to our existing historic Johnson County Courthouse.  The Justice Center Addition, a 5-story, 153,800 square foot facility would include the Sheriff’s Office, six new court rooms, the Clerk of Court office, and a 243-bed jail.