After decades-long discussions about overcrowding, aging infrastructure, and whether to renovate or replace the current facility, a new Johnson County jail and Sheriff’s Office is one step closer to becoming a reality on Melrose Avenue in Iowa City.
The Johnson County Board of Supervisors approved the land purchase of the new jail and sheriff’s office on July 2. The project will be funded through a $94.5 million general obligation bond referendum, which Johnson County voters will decide in the midterm election on Nov. 3.
Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel said he supports the purchase because the current jail has outgrown its capacity and can no longer meet the needs of staff, inmates, or the public.
Johnson County and the City of Iowa City discussed opening a joint law enforcement facility in 2025, however, Kunkel did not support the proposal, arguing the county’s needs would be better served by a standalone sheriff’s office and jail.
“The concept plan we have developed is a conservative approach to meet the needs of today and the future,” Kunkel said. “Over the last 45 years the population of Johnson County, as well as the Sheriff’s Office staff, have doubled. It is imperative we have a building that supports all operations of the sheriff’s office as well as the Jail.”
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According to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office and Jail Needs Assessment, the proposed facility includes larger housing units, dedicated programming and counseling spaces, expanded medical housing, and areas for attorney and professional visitation.
Kunkel said the county’s long-term need for a new public safety facility should be approved sooner than later.
“Iowa law has very specific minimum space requirements for jail cells, meaning that the law starts to drive the cost of the jail itself,” he said. “And, jails are a specialty project. They are expensive to build compared to commercial construction. The longer we wait to build a new facility, it will only drive up the cost in the future.”
Despite some opposition from the public on social media platforms including Reddit, the Johnson County Board of Supervisors voted in support of this stand alone facility.
Supervisors including Rod Sullivan and Jon Green are supportive of the proposal and said the project is necessary to replace the aging jail and meet the county’s long-term public safety needs during the board’s July 2 meeting.
If approved by voters, construction is estimated to start in 2028, with the new Sheriff’s Office and jail expected to open in 2030.
Kunkel said overall, when Johnson County residents are casting their votes in November, they need to understand the new facility would improve operations beyond the jail itself by providing additional space for training, evidence storage, and specialized law enforcement units.
“The law enforcement component will be able to support the training and space needs of our agency as well as provide space for our digital forensics task force, evidence storage, and equipment, all in one location,” he said. “Public safety buildings are critical infrastructure. We need a facility that meets the needs of today and the future.”