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Johnson County CJCC authorizes mail survey plan with University of Iowa CSSI to gauge public views on jail project
Summary
The committee reported a plan to mail 4,000 surveys, with a $1 incentive and phone follow‑up, to obtain roughly 400 completed responses to inform feasibility and public engagement for a potential jail project; a small subcommittee will finalize question drafts with CSSI.
Johnson County Criminal Justice Coordinating Committee staff on April 10 told members they had reached agreement with the University of Iowa’s Center for Social Science Innovation (CSSI) to field a public mail survey and possible focus groups to gather community input on a proposed jail project.
Nut graf: The outreach plan calls for 4,000 mailed questionnaires, a $1 cash incentive in the mailing, a telephone follow‑up to nonrespondents and a target of about 400 completed surveys. Results are expected after a data‑collection period that closes around July 18, with a summary report to follow in late July or early August.
Details provided at the meeting: staff said CSSI will mail approximately 4,000 surveys to achieve a projected 12–13% response rate and approximately 400 completed responses. The vendor will perform a second mailing about two weeks after the initial drop and will use telephone follow‑up to increase response rates; the mailed packet will include $1 as a participation incentive. Staff said the field period would span roughly six to eight weeks, with data collection closing around July 18 and preliminary results shared in late July or early August.
A seven‑member subcommittee of the CJCC will work with CSSI to draft about 30 substantive questions and 35–50 total items (including demographics). Staff said CSSI can also convene focus groups if the committee later decides to add that step; the timeline and necessity of focus groups will be evaluated to avoid duplication with a separate building feasibility study that is expected to provide preliminary results this fall.
Budget and approvals: staff said the county will present the contract and budget authority to the board for formal approval and that CSSI can turn on focus‑group work as needed. The meeting record shows the committee asked staff to keep feasibility‑study leads and the sheriff’s office aligned with the survey effort.
Ending: staff asked committee members for timely feedback on draft survey questions; no formal vote was recorded on April 10. Committee members asked that the county’s special projects manager, Melissa, be included in survey planning and that invitations be extended to relevant law‑enforcement command staff for design meetings.
