en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/636795 Comments by JohnNeff http://gazetteonline.com/opinion/editorial/2010/07/30/delhi-dam-an-asset-worth-rebuilding#IDComment90571576 How would you like to live below a dam that is owned and operated by a home owners association? Tue, 3 Aug 2010 13:49:45 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/opinion/editorial/2010/07/30/delhi-dam-an-asset-worth-rebuilding#IDComment90571576 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/08/01/is-southeast-iowa-citys-negative-image-overblown#IDComment90187298 That should be Highway 6 E. Sun, 1 Aug 2010 19:09:16 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/08/01/is-southeast-iowa-citys-negative-image-overblown#IDComment90187298 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/08/01/is-southeast-iowa-citys-negative-image-overblown#IDComment90186911 I think this article is fair and balanced. It would be helpful if southeast Iowa City were defined. It could be either all of Iowa City east of Capital St. and south of Iowa Avenue or it could be all of Iowa City east of the Iowa River and south of Highway 6 W. The areas that have many calls for police services per square block are not very large and they are surrounded by residential areas where the rates of calls for service per square block do not differ from those in other parts of the city. It would be helpful if news reports the were more specific in giving the location of a problem. Sun, 1 Aug 2010 19:04:56 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2010/08/01/is-southeast-iowa-citys-negative-image-overblown#IDComment90186911 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/07/13/iowa-prison-population-on-the-upswing#IDComment86542296 I think the proper headline for your report is "No obvious trend in the number of Iowa prisoners." Tue, 13 Jul 2010 21:26:01 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/07/13/iowa-prison-population-on-the-upswing#IDComment86542296 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/you-are-here-by-jennifer-hemmingsen/2010/05/18/mentally-ill-dont-belong-in-jail#IDComment76443917 Mental illness, personality disorders and developmental disabilities tend to be combined by corrections staff into a single group so think it would be difficult to make a general statement about the mental state of violent criminals. I also have the impression that clinical studies on personality disorders are not very reproducible. It is an interesting speculation but difficult to prove at this time. Fri, 21 May 2010 00:22:38 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/you-are-here-by-jennifer-hemmingsen/2010/05/18/mentally-ill-dont-belong-in-jail#IDComment76443917 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/you-are-here-by-jennifer-hemmingsen/2010/05/18/mentally-ill-dont-belong-in-jail#IDComment76171896 Dealing with a person that is a threat to the safety of themselves and others is difficult under the best of circumstances. Mental illness is a serious aggravating factor and most jails are ill prepared to deal with mentally ill prisoners. This problem is compounded because persons with a history of assaulting the staff at a mental health facility very likely will be refused admission and jail is the only realistic alternative. I am very pleased that the Sheriffs are involved in educating the public about the severity of this problem. Wed, 19 May 2010 14:48:58 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/you-are-here-by-jennifer-hemmingsen/2010/05/18/mentally-ill-dont-belong-in-jail#IDComment76171896 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/05/14/report-16-percent-of-iowa-inmates-are-mentally-ill#IDComment75497162 The 12,215 is probably the estimated populations of both prison and jail populations. The number Iowa prison inmates is well determined and the estimated percentage that are mentally ill has been improving but the 2005 estimate may not have been that good. If the estimate of the number of jail inmates is based on the Iowa Jail Inspectors annual report it is probably not too bad but if it is based on the Bureau of Justice Statistics survey it is mot much better than a guess. The percentage of jail inmates that are mentally ill is very poorly determined. They should have given a range fro the percentage of mentally ill inmates not a single percentage. My best guess is the ranges are 15% to 30% for males and 25% to 50% for females. With our assembly line criminal justice system at the simple misdemeanor level the least expensive option for an innocent person is to plead guilty, pay the fine and move on. If incarceration is a possible outcome it is worthwhile to contest the charge (if you have the money). Sat, 15 May 2010 02:34:36 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/05/14/report-16-percent-of-iowa-inmates-are-mentally-ill#IDComment75497162 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/04/14/jail-diversion-programs-coming-to-johnson-county-for-minor-alcohol-pot-charges#IDComment68123839 In FY09 there were 1,156 bookings at the jail for first offense public intoxication where there was no prior contact with the Sheriff's Office. This set of persons were held an average of 8 hours and all were released within 24 hours. If a substantial fraction of this set of offenders had been diverted there would have been no reduction in the demand on the jail intake facility. I think the benefits of the proposed diversion program are more indirect. I agree with Janet that education and treatment need to to be given greater emphasis in the justice system. We are spending a lot on retribution with no measurable benefits. Thu, 15 Apr 2010 01:59:35 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/public-safety/2010/04/14/jail-diversion-programs-coming-to-johnson-county-for-minor-alcohol-pot-charges#IDComment68123839 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2009/10/06/linn-sheriffs-office-pays-400000-in-overtime-over-3-months#IDComment37835797 Sorry to respond so late I missed this article. My problem with the comparison is that Johnson County Sheriffs Office uses comp time more than overtime. I have no idea what Linn County Sheriffs Office policy is with respect to comp time and overtime and I do not know if you included comp time in your comparison. Thu, 8 Oct 2009 14:10:35 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2009/10/06/linn-sheriffs-office-pays-400000-in-overtime-over-3-months#IDComment37835797 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2009/09/20/state-homicide-rate-jumps-105-percent-in-2008#IDComment35288025 The appears to be a discrepancy in what the Iowa Department of Public Safety is reporting. The IBR report on their web page for 2007 list 48 homicides not 37. The IBR reports for 2000 to 2007 gives a range of 49 to 65 homicides with an average of 58 not 50. Those seem like large differences to me. Mon, 21 Sep 2009 13:10:05 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2009/09/20/state-homicide-rate-jumps-105-percent-in-2008#IDComment35288025 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/2009/09/02/responsible-drinking-is-the-goal#IDComment32958818 We now have a situation were persons under the legal age that drink in a public place are subject to criminal sanctions (why criminal rather than civl?). The drinking license would leave this situation as is but would suspend enforcement for persons wealthy enough to afford a drinking license. Sounds to me like an escalation of the war against poor people. Thu, 3 Sep 2009 01:40:51 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/2009/09/02/responsible-drinking-is-the-goal#IDComment32958818 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/opinion/editorial/2009/09/01/jail-option-deserves-full-analysis#IDComment32785056 One of the problems with a downtown site is the very high cost of providing parking for the public, jurors and staff. The cost of providing parking at the PC site would be much lower. Tue, 1 Sep 2009 15:15:55 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/opinion/editorial/2009/09/01/jail-option-deserves-full-analysis#IDComment32785056 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2009/08/26/has-higher-drinking-age-created-its-own-problems#IDComment32224071 You are correct. The Iowa ABD gives the dates as 21 prior to July 1, 1972 19 July 1, 1972 to July 1, 1973 18 July 1, 1973 to July 1, 1978 19 July 1, 1978 to July 1, 1986 Thu, 27 Aug 2009 15:35:32 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2009/08/26/has-higher-drinking-age-created-its-own-problems#IDComment32224071 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2009/08/26/has-higher-drinking-age-created-its-own-problems#IDComment32191766 About 1970 the voting age was lowered to 18 and several states (Iowa was one) then reduced drinking age to 18. About two years later Iowa changed the drinking age to 19 and kept it there until 1984 when it was increased to 21 (in order to keep federal road tax revenues). The problem with 18 as the legal age to drink is that there are some 18 year olds in high school and they were providing alcohol to their younger friends. My opinion is the 19 is the best choice for the minimum legal age to drink. The problem with 21 as the drinking age are the drinking venues are changed from licensed drinking establishments to homes, apartments, motels, dorms and outdoor parties and there is no control over the alcohol/drug content of the drinks. It is very difficult to determine what the change to 21 in 1984 did to per capita consumption for persons under 21, buy it appears to me that in Iowa there was no change. Thu, 27 Aug 2009 13:44:45 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/2009/08/26/has-higher-drinking-age-created-its-own-problems#IDComment32191766 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2009/08/22/ic-audience-urges-expansive-approach-to-health-care-reform#IDComment31699408 I am registered as a Democrat but I think HR3200 is a bad bill and I hope the Republicans and Blue Dog Democrats have enough votes to defeat it. The bill does nothing to make health insurance more competitive and contains at least six features that will increase the cost of health insurance. Sun, 23 Aug 2009 12:31:37 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/local-news/2009/08/22/ic-audience-urges-expansive-approach-to-health-care-reform#IDComment31699408 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2009/08/20/johnson-county-may-consider-new-jail-site#IDComment31488887 OK they may or may not do a study but what is new? I suppose they could do a "study of studies" to see how much they have spent on jail studies to date. Fri, 21 Aug 2009 15:03:27 +0000 http://oldgo.gazlab.com.php5-15.dfw1-1.websitetestlink.com/local-news/government/2009/08/20/johnson-county-may-consider-new-jail-site#IDComment31488887 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/you-are-here-by-jennifer-hemmingsen/2009/08/19/be-smart-in-using-prisons#IDComment31322009 The Iowa prison population has not changed much since 2000. The population has decreased the past two years and we will have to wait till June 30, 2010 to see if the population continues to fall. The cancerous growth of the prison population that started about 1980 has stopped and there are several factors that are responsible the first is there are fewer felony convictions because of the slow reduction in the crime rate, the meth epidemic appears to have slowed and the number of parole/probation revocations to prison has also declined. Another factor is that the legislature is not creating new crimes as fast as they did in previous decades. Thu, 20 Aug 2009 13:44:16 +0000 http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/you-are-here-by-jennifer-hemmingsen/2009/08/19/be-smart-in-using-prisons#IDComment31322009