Two officials in Dallas County share their thoughts on the proposed Criminal Court Building that will be on the November ballot.

Dallas County voters will be asked again to consider a $60.3 million project for a new Criminal Court Building, after the measure failed last year.  Dallas County Attorney Matt Schultz says he can’t pinpoint a specific reason why the vote didn’t pass in 2024, but believes that the county is doing a much better job delivering information to the public this time. He indicates that Dallas County is amongst the fastest growing counties in Iowa in population, and more deputies are being hired at the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office.

Former Dallas County Attorney and District Judge Chuck Sinnard addresses one of the main questions concerning possible abandonment of the current courthouse. However, he confirms that even if the Criminal Court Building passes this year, the Courthouse won’t be going anywhere.

“It will be fully utilized under the plans that we have now. It’s just going to be a matter of segregating criminals, out in the criminal courthouse, and all civil matters would be handled in the historic courthouse. There is certainly the capacity to use that full time if it is just a civil building. So, civil lawsuits, anything from the nature of estates, probate guardianships, your slip and fall type of cases, breach of contact type of cases, and divorces would all be handled still at the historic courthouse.”

Schultz details the uptick in criminal activity as Dallas County continues to skyrocket with residents.

“With a growth in population. With a growth in officers in law enforcement, there’s just more crimes that occur and more people getting caught.”

Sinnard mentions that the new Criminal Court Building would consist of six courtrooms capable of handling a criminal jury trial. He adds there would be office spaces for Juvenile Court Officers and the Iowa Department of Correctional Services. The ballot measure will be up for a new vote this November.