Dallas County Proposes New Criminal Court Building to Meet Availability, Security and Accessibility Needs
Adel, IA – Dallas County has proposed a bond referendum for the construction of a new criminal court building to be on the ballot in November. The new facility will address critical issues related to court function, security, technology, efficiency, and accessibility, while also preserving the historic character of the existing courthouse, which will be maintained for civil law, civil equity, family law, divorce, and foreclosure court proceedings.
“The Board of Supervisors is in full support of this proposal, as it will accommodate the next phase of our county’s long-range facilities space plan,” said Brad Golightly, Board Chairperson. “This proposal is the culmination of years of conversational workshops with 5th Judicial District personnel and local Judges, along with our County Sheriff and County Attorney. The new building will be designed with expandability for future growth and future technology needs in mind.”
The proposed bond referendum will ask voters to consider a $56.9 million criminal court building to be located in Adel. Each level of the 78,000 SF, three-story facility will include two courtrooms with associated support spaces, a lobby, offices and separate meeting spaces for staff and the public. Additionally, the building will accommodate the Dallas County Attorney’s offices, Juvenile Court Services, the Department of Corrections Parole and Probation staff, the criminal division of the Clerk of Courts, and Deputies from the Sheriff’s Department. In addition, the facility will include a secure entrance with a security checkpoint and reception desk on the main level, as well as a partial basement for Law Enforcement access.
The project would be financed through the sale of bonds and paid for through the debt service levy assessed to all property owners across the County, including TIF districts. The anticipated tax impact per year on a $100,000 home would be $18.56 for those under 65 years of age and $15.65 for those over 65 through the Homestead Tax Exemption. The increase on agricultural land would be approximately $0.52 cents per acre.
With a 40% overall increase in all types of cases over the past 10 years, combined with an overall county population increase of nearly 45% in the same timeframe, the historic courthouse, which was built more than 120 years ago, lacks sufficient courtroom capacity to handle the large volume of cases.
Courtroom availability is at a premium, often resulting in delays in the scheduling of trials/hearings for court cases, or taxpayer dollars being spent to move cases to neighboring counties. A new criminal court building would alleviate those delays by having six courtrooms specifically for criminal and juvenile cases and would also free up space for other civil court operations to co-locate, resulting in a more efficient experience. In addition, the proposed plan would move the County Attorney’s office into the new building, allowing the County Auditor’s office to move fully into 902 Court Street, easing space concerns related to elections, specifically space for early voting.
One of the most significant concerns in the historic courthouse is the common entrance for the public and for in-custody defendants in criminal cases. Currently, in-custody defendants are brought in through the main public entrance, posing a significant risk to both the public and law enforcement personnel. A new criminal court building would feature a secure, separate entrance for in-custody defendants, greatly enhancing the safety of everyone involved. The new facility would be located directly next to the Dallas County Law Enforcement Center.
To expand the current courthouse to meet these needs would far exceed the cost of constructing a new building, in addition to land space constraints and challenges with construction on a historic building. The proposed new criminal court building represents years of planning and evaluating the County’s options, providing a solution that addresses both the immediate and long-term needs of the County’s judicial system.
Community meetings and informational sessions will be held throughout the county in the coming weeks to provide details and answer any questions regarding the proposed bond referendum and criminal court building. Residents can also find more information at www.dallascountyiowa.gov/2024bond.
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