Meetings Steering Committee(Folders 1-2)

Home Browse Search

contains numerous public entrances and is essentially uncontrollable unless all access is restricted and the restricted access is staffed on a full-time basis by Sheriffs personnel. Facility consultants have also advised the Court of serious structural concerns regarding outside access, lines of fire, and other security related concerns directly associated with physical construction, placement and layout of the courthouse. While the new Security Assessment will provide some funds to help alleviate the more severe areas of concern, it is only a piecemeal approach, which will have limited success in dealing with much broader security issues in the Court's facilities. RECOMMENDATION The Sub-Committee proposes to the Facilities Steering Committee- that a new courthouse structure ("Justice Building") be constructed, tentatively located on the current Senator block. It is proposed that the new Justice Building be adjoined to the courthouse structure via a skybridge. The new Justice Building should contain sufficient space for the present needs of the court and for reasonably anticipated growth in both the size of the Bench and support offices, and for the implementation of major programs including alternative forms of dispute resolution. The new Justice Building would contain courts, security, and related court offices only. The Committee recommends that all Judges remain together in the new Justice Building, although the Courts would continue to process criminal pre-trial matters and juvenile matters at the Court's Annex and Juvenile Department. Video technology should be pursued, connecting each courtroom to all appropriate remote sites, including the Court's Annex, Juvenile Department and State institutions. The Court should consolidate all clerical and administrative functions in the criminal and juvenile areas to the new Justice Building, operating a single clerk's office complex in the new center. The law library and district attorney's offices would remain in the present courthouse. In addition, the Sheriffs Office should have a court services facility available in the Justice Building, including staffing offices for Court security personnel and a number (perhaps 10 to 12) of holding cells for inmates appearing in court. The facility should have a single public entrance to allow for enhanced security throughout the building. Technology should be in place to prevent the introduction of weapons and other contraband into the facility. Parking should be provided, with secure parking available underground for Judges and staff with secure elevator access directly to judicial offices. Separate secure parking should be available for jurors, with separate access to the facility. Public parking should also be accommodated. However, access for the public would be through the primary public building entrance. -4-