The Johnson County Board of Supervisors is encouraging residents to be on the lookout, as thousands of surveys about the Sheriff’s Office and Jail facility are expected to arrive in mailboxes across the county in the coming days.

Developed in partnership with the University of Iowa’s Center for Social Science Innovation (CSSI), the survey will be mailed to a representative sample of 3,859 residents to estimate the public’s perspective and opinions regarding the current and future Sheriff’s Office and Jail facility.

Questions will focus on familiarity with the current facility, perceptions of its condition, support for a new building, and broader views on public safety, mental health supports, trust in the justice system, rehabilitation, and infrastructure investment. 

Each survey will be marked with the University of Iowa logo and include a $1 cash thank-you gift to encourage participation. The survey is designed to take no more than 15 minutes to complete and can also be submitted online using the QR code provided in the mailing. The County aims to collect at least a 10% response rate.

CSSI will oversee data collection and reporting and will maintain the confidentiality of respondents' identities when reporting results to the public.

Over the years, the Johnson County Supervisors have worked together to propose solutions to fix or replace the ailing building that houses the Sheriff’s Office and Jail; however, they have struggled to garner enough public support to pass a referendum to finance such projects.

“Any successful proposal will require broad community support, and this survey is one way in which we want to ensure our work aligns with community values and expectations," said Johnson County Board of Supervisors Chair Jon Green.