Lang
9/2/26
Former leaders of the Iowa City Human Rights Commission are giving their endorsement to the proposal to bond for a new jail and Johnson County Sheriff’s office.
Past chairs and vice chairs of the committee penned an open letter to voters on Wednesday encouraging them to vote “Yes” in November, arguing that “The current facility is wholly inadequate to provide proper care and other basic services to those that are incarcerated there. Its size does not allow all Johnson County inmates to be held here, taking them away from family, legal counsel and court appointments.”
The letter is signed by former Human Rights Commission leaders Jessica Andino, Jason Glass, Sylvia Jons, Roger Lusala, and Cathy McGinnis.
The group notes that their plea is not a blanket endorsement of the actions of the sheriff’s office, but rather acknowledgement that holding people in a substandard facility and sending others across the state is unacceptable.
The full text of the letter can be found below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 2, 2026
Past Iowa City Human Rights Commission Chairs Endorse Jail Bond
To the Voters of Johnson County:
We the undersigned, past Chairs and Vice Chairs of the Iowa City Human Rights Commission, urge you to vote “Yes” this November on the proposal to bond for a new jail and Sheriff’s office.
The current facility is wholly inadequate to provide proper care and other basic services to those that are incarcerated there. Its size does not allow all Johnson County inmates to be held here, taking them away from family, legal counsel and court appointments.
These deficiencies threaten the human rights of these individuals. An improved facility is long overdue, and we can no longer delay providing adequate accommodation for people that live and work there.
Supporting a new facility is not an endorsement for the way we incarcerate people in this country nor every action of the Sherriff’s office. It is acknowledgement that holding people in a substandard facility and sending others across the state is unacceptable. While reasonable people can disagree about varying aspects of the proposal, we believe that it is an acceptable solution to the problems the current facility creates and that it is now time to solve this critical issue with our county infrastructure.
Again, we ask that you please join us in supporting this proposal and voting “Yes” in November.
Jessica Andino—Iowa City Human Rights Commission Chair 2021, Vice-Chair 2020
Jason Glass–Iowa City Human Rights Commission Chair 2022, Vice-Chair 2021
Sylvia Jons—Iowa City Human Rights Commission Vice-Chair, 2023
Roger Lusala—Iowa City Human Rights Commission Chair 2023
Cathy McGinnis—Iowa City Human Rights Commission Chair 2020, Vice-Chair 2019
