NCJ Number
39799
Date Published
1974
Length
60 pages
Annotation
DATED AUGUST 1976, THIS REPORT PRESENTS AN ANALYSIS OF EXISTING COURT CONDITIONS AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT OF THE BREVARD COUNTY COURTHOUSES, WHICH SERVE A COUNTY POPULATION OF 244,700 RESIDENTS.
Abstract
BREVARD COUNTY IS LOCATED ON FLORIDA'S EAST COAST, MIDWAY BETWEEN MIAMI AND JACKSONVILLE, AND IS THE HOME OF THE KENNEDY SPACE CENTER. BREVARD COUNTY IS PART OF THE FOURTH DISTRICT COURT OF APPEALS AND THE EIGHTEENTH JUDICIAL CIRCUIT OF FLORIDA. THE COURT FACILITIES IN ROCKLEDGE AND MELBOURNE ARE USED FOR BOTH THE CIRCUIT COURT, WHICH IS A COURT OF GENERAL JURISDICTION, AND THE COUNTY COURT, WHICH IS A COURT OF LIMITED JURISDICTION. ALTHOUGH SEMINOLE COUNTY (FL) IS ALSO ENCOMPASSED BY THE EIGHTEENTH CIRCUIT, THIS REPORT FOCUSES ONLY ON FACILITIES IN BREVARD COUNTY, WHERE THE NEED IS FOR SHORT-TERM PLANNING TO REMEDY EXISTING DEFICIENCIES IN SPACE MANAGEMENT AND PHYSICAL FACILITIES OF THE COURTHOUSES. PLANNING IS ALSO NEEDED TO MEET PRESENT AND SHORT-TERM FUTURE NEEDS FOR MORE COURTROOMS AND OTHER FACILITIES. THIS TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE REPORT FIRST EXAMINES THE PROBLEMS AND NEEDS OF THE TWO COURTHOUSES, INCLUDING PROBLEMS OF CIRCULATION, SPACE UTILIZATION, LACK OF SPECIALIZED ROOMS, OVERCROWDING, AND PROBLEMS WITH LIGHTING AND ACOUSTICAL INSULATION. THE CONSULTANTS COMPARED EXISTING CONDITIONS WITH CONDITIONS REQUIRED FOR EFFICIENT FUNCTIONING OF THE COURTS. RECOMMENDATIONS ARE PRESENTED FOR SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENTS IN SPACE MANAGEMENT IN EACH COURTHOUSE, TO BE ACCOMPLISHED BY MINOR ADDITIONS AND REORGANIZATION OF SPACE IN THE BULIDINGS. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR SHORT-TERM IMPROVEMENTS IN THE PHYSICAL CONDITION OF THE BUILDINGS ARE ALSO PRESENTED. FINALLY, A PHASED PROGRAM OF ORDERLY IMPLEMENTATION IS RECOMMENDED....DMC