By V Fixmer-Oraiz, Johnson County supervisor
The Johnson County jail is in serious disrepair. It was one of the first buildings I toured when I was running for County Supervisor in 2022, and I left the tour with a headache and a sick feeling in my stomach — it is a disgrace that the conditions of the jail have gone unaddressed for so long. It is not a place anyone should be incarcerated in or where our staff should be working. Period. The end.
And — a $90 million-plus facility should not be the only option on the table. I’ll be honest: the process by which we got to a $90 million jail design was flawed. I have extensive experience working in an engineering firm; I own a planning firm that has worked with architects on downtown revitalization projects, designing brick and mortar facilities, trails, parks, and many other projects. What I know is that it is essential to have multiple stakeholders involved from the jump, because once people have a design in front of them, it is what they understand as THE DESIGN, with little room for debate or reconsideration. Despite my best efforts, the $90 million-plus design now before us featured only a singular perspective: that of the sheriff’s department. And while this is a critical perspective to include, it is not the only one.
It is both common sense and standard practice to solicit input on the design of a new jail from formerly incarcerated individuals, their family members, organizations who serve inmates, members of the court system, etc. Why? Because the process will determine the product; because HOW something is created results in WHAT is created. The more stakeholders with direct, lived experience involved in the design process, the better informed the design will be.
What was the methodology? According to Shive Hattery’s report: “the consultant team interviewed law enforcement and jail staff stakeholders to explore and document system-wide operations that affect the size and composition of the law enforcement/jail population, conducted multiple site visits, gathered and analyzed quantitative data and participated in meetings with the sheriff’s assigned personnel (JCSO and Jail Needs Assessment p.10).” While this is a critical perspective — it is not enough.
I have repeatedly reiterated that the data in the report indicates a DECREASE in incarcerated individuals. In fact, the average daily population in the jail has never exceeded 110 in over a decade and is on the decline (you can see the data online here). This decline is in no small part because Johnson County has done well in investing in diversion, and we should continue to invest wisely in diversion programs. Shive Hattery’s final recommendations include, at the top of the list: “Maintain and Continue to Reduce Avoidable Jail Intakes.”
The original report asked for 240 beds. I fought for 120 beds. I was focused on making sure that our jail was “right sized” according to the data.
But we, all five of us on the Board of Supervisors, made an error from the jump: we asked the Sheriff what he wanted — and provided ZERO budgetary constraints or guidance. This is not responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
We should have said: What improvements can be made with $45 million?
That’s on all of us on the Board, myself included, and I am here to ask us to change course. Do we need a jail that doesn’t have plumbing and mechanical issues? Yes. Do we need a jail that allows for humanity in an inhumane system? Yes. We haven’t discussed the numerous tragedies of a carceral system that is born out of the enslavement of Black people in this country, the disproportionate rates of Indigenous People and People of Color in our jails, but that is something that must be admitted. Again and again.
Surely, a right-sized facility could be built for far less than $90 million. Our once-in-a-lifetime federal funding through the American Rescue Plan Act was only $29.3 million. And all of that funding went to projects to create a more accessible and safe county administration building, childcare wage enhancement programs, inclusive economic development grants, and the like. In other words, community investments that improve people’s health, safety, and welfare.
Should we spend three times as much on a new jail? What if there was another option or several options in front of us for half the cost? We don’t know. But I would like to find out.
On another note, I recently voted “no” on the county pursuing potential land for the jail. I did this because I don’t believe the site is suitable for a jail. That’s it. There were other sites that I was more amenable to, ones that had potential for other county investments in upstream solutions, like affordable housing. But they didn’t pan out. So we kept looking.
All of this is to say, I believe we have more work to do when it comes to funding a jail in our community. And I am all in for providing substantive solutions to the challenges we face in Johnson County, like providing people with better opportunities to live with dignity and respect.
I am more than happy to talk with constituents about this — or any — decision. Please come and join me at one of my coffee chats or events or message me. I host a regular coffee chat on Mondays at Kindred Coffee (287 N Linn St) and Fridays at Deluxe Bakery and Cafe (812 S Summit St).
