Adams County Detention Center 2024 Ballot Measure Survey

Magellan Strategies is pleased to present the topline results of a survey of 1,522 voters in Adams County, Colorado. The interviews were conducted from May 9th to May 15th, 2024.

Magellan Strategies conducted a survey of Adams County, Colorado voters to gauge public opinion on a potential ballot measure to fund the construction of a new county detention facility. The survey assessed baseline attitudes toward county government before diving into specific questions about the detention center and a proposed property tax increase.

At the outset, voters expressed a modestly positive view of Adams County’s job performance and a slim majority approved of the Adams County Sheriff’s Office. However, residents were more skeptical about the county’s fiscal responsibility, with a notable share disagreeing that Adams County spends taxpayer money wisely. A strong majority of respondents believed crime in the county had increased in recent years.

Familiarity with the Adams County Detention Center was relatively low, with more than half of respondents saying they were not familiar with the facility. Opinions of the detention center were essentially split evenly between favorable and unfavorable, with a large portion having no opinion at all.

Before receiving any information about the facility’s condition, voters were initially opposed to a mill levy increase to fund a new detention center. The uninformed ballot test showed more voters inclined to reject the measure than approve it, suggesting that the proposal faced an uphill battle without a compelling public education effort.

Respondents were then presented with a series of informational statements about the facility’s deteriorating physical condition, including issues with swamplands, mold, water contamination, aging infrastructure, and roof failures. Each piece of information consistently moved voters toward approving the measure, with concerns about civil rights liability and ADA non-compliance proving among the most persuasive arguments.

Information about rehabilitation programs, behavioral health services, and legislative mandates for improved inmate care also resonated strongly with voters. The prospect of expanding these programs in a new facility — and the potential to reduce recidivism and improve community safety — made a significant portion of respondents more likely to support the ballot measure.

After receiving all of the information, support for the measure shifted meaningfully, with a majority now indicating they would vote to approve the tax increase. Those inclined to vote yes cited safety concerns and long-term cost savings as their primary motivations, while those still opposed pointed to tax burden, distrust in government spending, and a preference for alternative approaches to criminal justice.